Decembers holiday season is seeing a record number in migrant families who flock to the Land Down Under. True to its philosophy and belief in the family as an integral unit of society, Australian immigration policies are geared towards reuniting families through its different Australian visa programs in time for the holidays. The governments high priority on families runs alongside its ongoing need for skilled workers.

As such, a significant portion of the visas offered by Australian immigration officials at DIMA is allotted to the Family Migration Program. This has made the Parent visa and the Partner visa two of the most popular Australian visas today, next to the 457 Australian working visa. And with the holiday season well in its way, the number of visa applications is swelling in unprecedented numbers.

Families Again

Indeed Australia reunites families all over the world. The Family Migration Program is divided into four subclasses: Parent Visa, Spouse Visa, Prospective (Fiancé) Marriage Visa, Interdependent Visa, and Remaining Relative Visa. All persons who will migrate to Australia must be either sponsored or nominated by a close family member, partner, or fiancé(e) who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident for at least two years or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Additionally, to be eligible for the Parent Visa, you must also pass the � �balance of family� � test which simply requires that half or at least majority of your children must be permanently residing in Australia.

Three types of Parent Visa

1. Working Age Parent (Subclass 103) Visa � �for parents outside Australia not old enough yet to be granted an Australian age pension.

2. Aged Parent (Subclass 804) Visa � �for parents in Australia who are old enough to be granted an Australian aged pension.

3.Contributory Parent (Subclass 143) Visa -for parents who are willing to contribute an extra application fee to cover health costs.

Sponsors of parents who wish to migrate to Australia must provide a legal undertaking to support them during your first two years in Australia. Parents must also satisfy the health and character requirements for speedy and permanent Australian visa.

How to know whether you should be sponsored or nominated

Its fairly easy to tell whether you should be nominated or sponsored by a family member. A nomination will ensue if the application is made within Australia. If the application is made outside Australia, then the applicant should be sponsored.

According to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA), role of a sponsor is to provide support and ease for the family member during the first two years of their migration to Australia. DIMIA defines support as providing accommodation, financial assistance, information and advice, including employment information. Nomination, on the other hand, aims to make a relative a permanent resident in Australia granted that they are currently holding a temporary resident Australian visa.

For more information, visit the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs now (http://www.australia.gov.au/127) and take a free online Parent Visa assessment at nationalvisas.com.au (http://www.nationalvisas.com.au/parent/parentvisas.htm)