Migration agent for aged parent visa

[Bondy]

Hi there,

I'm originally from the UK and live in Perth. My parents (aged 70 and 77) are still in the UK and looking to move over here so they can be near the grandkids. I'm their only child and thankfully they are both currently in good health. I've googled and obviously there are a few (expensive) visa pathways we can go down, and now I'm at the stage of wanting to get expert advice. Has anyone in Perth got a recommendation for a good migration agent who specialises in aged parent visas? Or has anyone successfully brought their aged parents over on a long-term temporary/bridging visa? Thanks for any help!

[Amber Snowball]

Hi @Bondy it’s a different world since my mum moved to Australia on a parent’s visa, so not much use in that way. But @Alan Collettwho posts on here is a registered migration agent and is our go to for parental visas. His company is Go Matilda, so you can contact him via there. Have a read of the threads on here and you’ll see his assistance to many people here who have engaged his services over the years.

Good luck, it is very expensive these days, but just be aware of the downsides of temp visas, such as the health insurance that may be required, the cost of housing as a foreign investor as they wouldn’t be a permanent residents etc.

[Marisawright]

2 hours ago, Bondy said:

Hi there,

I'm originally from the UK and live in Perth. My parents (aged 70 and 77) are still in the UK and looking to move over here so they can be near the grandkids....Has anyone in Perth got a recommendation for a good migration agent who specialises in aged parent visas? Or has anyone successfully brought their aged parents over on a long-term temporary/bridging visa?

The long-term bridging visa is pretty much your only option for your parents at that age.  The waiting time for even the most expensive parent visa is about 12 years. 

I second the recommendation for Go Matilda.  Suncoast Migration is another option. They don't need to be in Perth -- everything will be done by phone and email anyway. 

As Amber says, you need to be aware of the downsides of living on a bridging visa. Your parents won't be treated as pensioners in Australia so they'll get none of the benefits available to the elderly in this country (things like cheap prescriptions, Medicare safety net).  Be aware that it's a migration agent's job to tell you how your parents can get a visa, not to advise you on whether it's a good idea!

[Bondy]

@Amber Snowball @Marisawright Thanks guys and appreciate the advice! I'm under no illusions that it will be easy or cheap, but I'd like to be proactive about helping my folks move over here while there is still a narrow window of opportunity for them to do so. Otherwise they stay in the UK, and I'll need to travel back a lot in future years to look after them when they become elderly/infirm 

[Amber Snowball]

9 hours ago, Bondy said:

@Amber Snowball @Marisawright Thanks guys and appreciate the advice! I'm under no illusions that it will be easy or cheap, but I'd like to be proactive about helping my folks move over here while there is still a narrow window of opportunity for them to do so. Otherwise they stay in the UK, and I'll need to travel back a lot in future years to look after them when they become elderly/infirm 

I understand. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Ferrets]

It really depends on affordability for your parents - if they can bear the costs of the downsides Amber has mentioned then there are other potential upsides on being a temporary resident whilst they wait for a visa, i.e. taxation, which @Alan Collett may also be able to advise on based on your circumstances.

My parents moved over when they were 69 and 77, on a bridging visa waiting for an onshore contributory visa to be resolved.  At that time aged onshore visas were being turned around quickly but then they got hit with a go slow to let the offshore ones catch up.  If they had waited offshore (on an earlier visa application) my father would have failed the medical, and then Mum would have been alone in the UK after he died.  From our perspective the costs of them being temporary residents were more than outweighted by them being onshore for the five years before he died.

We also used Go Matlida for my parents who have been really helpful, the only thing I would reconsider if we were to start again from the beginning of the journey is whether our migration strategy would have been contributory or non-contributory (and live with the limbo), but that is something you need to understand with your migration agent around your circumstances.

Good luck!