New requirements for family sponsorship visas (partner visas etc).
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To address the integrity issues currently experienced in the sponsored family visa program (the program), DIBP have introduced a Bill into parliament that will extend relevant aspects of this sponsorship framework to apply to family sponsored visas with a view to:
· separate sponsorship assessment from the visa application process for family sponsored visas;
· require the approval of persons as family sponsors before any relevant visa applications are made;
· impose statutory obligations on persons who are or were approved as family sponsors;
· provide for sanctions if such obligations are not satisfied;
· facilitate the sharing of personal information between a range of parties associated with the program; and
· improve the management of family violence in the delivery of the program by allowing the refusal of a sponsorship application; and cancellation and / or barring of a family sponsor where inappropriate use of the program or serious offences are detected – especially those involving family violence.
more details will be provided if/when the bill passes and DIBP explain how these additional sponsorship steps will be implemented.