Members of the Indian community in Australia have trashed the new parent visa announced by government on Thursday.
The new parent visa which is yet to pass the parliament, will allow migrants to seek a three year visa for their parents for $5000, a five year visa for $10,000 and a ten year visa for $20,000.
As many as 15,000 people each year will be granted these visas which could deliver hundreds of millions in visa fees to the government.
Along with visa fees, children will have to bear the financial burden of healthcare for migrant parents, with sponsors legally required to pay for their private health insurance.
The new conditions and provisions revealed by Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to has angered and disappointed members of the Indian community.
Melbourne resident, Ankit Mistry was hoping the new visa, which was expected around July 2017, will allow him to bring his parents to Australia for a long stay. However, the new provisions are ‘too expensive’ he says.
Arvind Duggal, resident of Adelaide, who kick-started the ‘Long Stay Visa for Parents’ campaign that saw national participation before federal elections, told SBS Hindi, 'this new visa is blackmail. We are being blackmailed into shelling out thousands to be able to live with our parents. This is a lot of money plus the health insurance."
Jasvinder Sidhu, community leader in Melbourne told SBS Hindi, “We are not happy with this change as it is exploitative and a joke with migrant communities. After citizenships related changes this is another blow.
“It is also a breach of election promise which the Federal Government made because the bond money has now become fees.
There is an active element of discrimination because even after paying $10,000 for a five year twice there is no provision for renewal.
During these ten years, the fees comes at $20,000 plus private health insurance would cost over $50,000 as the highest level of cover for aged parents costs $400 at least a month.
In short this is worse than even current provision of parent visa or permanent parent visas.”
Online forums have heavily criticised the new provisions.
Melbourne resident Ritesh Chugh , “This is an absolute joke!! Pulling a mickey of the migrants & their parents via this new proposal. Unfortunately naivety prevails. We will all get together & voice against this proposal before it gets through.”
Another member of the community, Riken Pandejee has started a demanding reduction in fees for Long Term Stay visa for parents.
Vishal Patel in one online group wrote, “Coming to Australia and becoming citizen of Australia shouldn't mean we turn our back on our aged parents. Australian government wants all migrants to adapt to Australian values and speak fluent English....fine but they don't want to accept migrants as integral part of the community. They just want to use them as cash generating vehicles.”
The government plans to officially announce the visa along with the Budget next week.
The change follows months of community consultation and is a response to calls from migrant communities who have been pressuring the government for reform to parent visas, arguing that the current system is complex and prone to long delay.
