New requirements for family sponsorship visas (partner visas etc).
———————————————————————————–

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.