Australian visa subclasses to be halved in DIAC plans.
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship has released a discussion paper aimed at streamlining the Australia visa program.
The paper is called ‘Simpler Visas – creating a simpler framework for temporary and permanent entry to Australia.’ In it the DIAC have pledged to cut by half, the number of temporary working visa subclasses by 2012 and to halve the total number of visa subclasses by 2015. All Australian visa groups are said to be affected.
The simplification process will take around five years and will be introduced in stages. To ease current applicants’ fears the DIAC have promised to ensure that those who are currently eligible for a visa will remain so throughout the process. They have also promised that broader policy settings within the immigration program will not be affected.
The DIAC say that by cutting the number of visa subclasses and streamlining the program, applicants will find it easier to identify the most appropriate visa for them and the process will be easier to understand and simpler to follow. They also claim that it would strengthen Australia’s competitiveness within the market.
Examples of over-complication include the temporary residence and visitor visa for which there are 18 sub-classes and the family visas which have 27 different visa types. The DIAC claim that such a huge choice is confusing for potential applicants and so by cutting the number of subclasses the process is therefore made simpler and easier to navigate.
Phase One will focus on temporary residence and visitor visas. The DIAC have earmarked 20 visas for review and one idea being floated in the discussion paper is to consolidate some specialist visas into one Long Term Specialist visa which would be valid for up to four years. The working holiday visa will also be under review and could be combined with the work and holiday visas into a single International Relations visa.
As the paper is still under discussion, the DIAC are inviting the general public to share their views on the ideas contained within it. You can read the full discussion paper on the DIAC website and your comments and suggestions can be submitted to the Director, Deregulation Strategy Section, PO Box 25, Belconnen ACT 2615 or by email deregulation@immi.gov.au. All comments and suggestions must reach the DIAC by the 16 July 2010.
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