Child Visa to Australia: Expected Processing Duration Explained

Australia can be considered as one of the most preferred destinations among the world's families. Parents and guardians have the tendency of taking their children to Australia so that they can reunite, educate and have a higher standard of living. The Australian government has specially designed visa routes to children among them dependent children of citizens, permanent residents or qualified New Zealand children. The child visa (subclass 802) is one of the most widespread alternatives that give children the chance of residing with their parents in Australia temporarily or permanently.

It is important that parents know how to do the visa procedure, how long it is supposed to take, and what they can be eligible to do so that it does not take a long time to come to fruition. This paper is a detailed roadmap on the child visa Australia processing time with subclass 802 and its conditions.

What is an Australian Child Visa?

The Australian child visa aims at children below the age of 18 years or dependent children above 18 years but who cannot support themselves, owing to a disability. It enables eligible children to reside in Australia together with their parent who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand.

Child visas are of two major categories:

Child Visa (Subclass 101) – This pertains to children who are living out of Australia.
Child Visa (Subclass 802) – This is for children who are already living in Australia.

Under subclass 802 visa, children are given a chance to be in Australia temporarily until the visa is completed after which they may be given permanent residence. The child visa Australia processing time is critical and indispensable because it enables the applicants to have real expectations when it comes to planning family reunification.

Child Visa (Subclass 802) Eligibility Requirements

Application criteria: In order to receive an Australian child visa, the applicants should pass certain criteria:

• The child should be less than 18 years or be more than 18 years and have a medical condition that renders him or her dependent.
  
  

• The child should neither be married nor be in a de facto relationship.
  
  

• The parent sponsoring the child has to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
  
  

• The child should also be eligible in terms of health and character to be able to work on the Department of Home Affairs.
  
  

• One must also prove that the connection between the parent and the sponsoring parent is real and that the child depends on the parent to be taken care of and provide financial support.
  
  

Satisfaction of all the eligibility requirements can also play a major role in the time taken to process the child visa Australia.

Processing Time – Child Visa 802

The processing time of the child visa 802 may take different periods of time, which depends on various factors, some of which include the completeness of the given application, validity of submitted documents, and personal factors such as background checks, health checkups, etc.

The average time spent on the Australian child visa is between 18 and 36 months in order to make a decision. Although this might be long, it is worth mentioning that the Department of Home Affairs is quite conscious of processing applications according to urgency and complexity. It is also suggested that applicants should enclose all the supporting documents during the application to minimize delays.

The leading factors which influence processing times are:

• Application completeness – The absence of documents or indistinct information may create delays.
  
  

• Health and character tests – Medical tests and police clearance certificates will be required.
  
  

• Parental eligibility – This may affect time frames, by verifying the citizenship or residency status of the parent.
  
  

• Further information may be requested by the Department of Home Affairs – Sometimes further information is requested, which prolongs the processing.
  
  

Once these factors are known, the family is in a better position to manage their expectations and strategize better to have a smooth application process.

Visa Application – Child Visa Australia

A child visa 802 application has a number of major stages:

• Assemble necessary documents – Evidence of parentage, identity documents, health tests and police certificates.
  
  

• Application online or offline – Make sure that all the documents are attached properly.
  
  

• Pay the visa fee – Visa fees need to be paid during the application.
  
  

• Wait until the visa processing – Keep up with the processing of the visa using the Department of Home Affairs portal.
  
  

• Answer questions of further information – Timely provide any additional documents as requested.
  
  

Children with the subclass 802 visa can be permitted to stay in Australia, study in schools, and receive some healthcare facilities during the waiting period.

Processing Delays: Tips to Minimize Processing Delays

Though the Australian child visa process time may be lengthy, there are active measures that an applicant can take in order to mitigate delays:

• Make sure that all documents are correct, translated and certified in case of need.
  
  

• Send in health and police checks at an early stage.
  
  

• Immediately respond to any other information requirements of the Department of Home Affairs.
  
  

• Keep contact information updated in the application portal.
  
  

• It is advisable to seek the advice of a registered migration agent.
  
  

Through these measures, families can facilitate the process and prevent needless waiting times when acquiring their child visa 802.

General Problems with Child Visa Applications

The challenges that a family may face include:

• Delays caused by missing or misleading applications.
  
  

• Medical or character problems to be reviewed.
  
  

• Difficulties in proving dependency or relationship with the parent.
  
  

• Time wastage because of large numbers of applications.
  
  

The awareness of such possible barriers will allow parents to be better prepared and prevent problems that may increase the time of child visa Australia processing.

Conclusion

The application for a child visa in Australia is an essential procedure for parents wanting to rejoin their offspring in this country. The child visa 802 facilitates minors who are in Australia in gaining residency and residence with their parents and, in time, permanent residency as well. However, it should be noted that processing times might vary between 18 and 36 months, but preparation and sourcing all the necessary information regarding eligibility might ensure greater ease in processing as well.