As of 1 July, the partner visa application fee has increased by 25 per cent, reaching A$11,710. SBS Urdu spoke to couples who are forced to wait not just months, but years, to be reunited with their loved ones.
From 1 July, the partner visa application fee increased by 25 per cent to A$11,710—well above the routine annual increases seen in previous years. Ehtesham Itlaf, who lives in Maitland, New South Wales, lodged his partner visa application in January this year. Since then, the estimated processing time has increased from 15 months to 25 months. He also applied for a visitor visa for his wife, but the application was refused. Altogether, the couple has spent more than A$10,500 on various visa applications.Meanwhile, Saroosh Akram, who lives in Parkes and plans to apply for a partner visa later this year, said the higher application fee, combined with the rising cost of living, means he will need more time to save the required funds—further delaying his plans to reunite with his partner.
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