What do you think? As a migrant myself I have to confess I’m not that on board with expecting aged parents to be part of the package when migrating over, even my own aunts and uncles who are currently going through the process via their own children.
However, it is cruel of the Australian government to keep providing “hope” and taking people’s application fees when they have understandably little intention of increasing the aged migrant intake. I think they should cut the crap and stop offering these visas if reducing aged migrant intake is their intention. Just keep on the long term visit visas for parents, whack on a mandatory private health insurance clause if needed.
They’re not. While the total cost is ~$50k, you only pay $2800 when you apply (for a single person, extra but smaller fees for dependants etc) The remainder of the ~$50k is paid when the visa is approved. So if you don’t get it approved for 12 years, you’ve only paid $2800. If it’s approved you then would have to pay another ~$48k before you come.
edit: odd downvotes for just stating facts. The costs are listed out in the government visa pages. The timelines for the payments are listed on said pages. You do not pay $50k and then wait years and years and years for a visa. You pay $3k and then wait years and years and years to get a visa, and if you do get a visa you then pay the remaining $47k.