The contents of this article are correct as at 31 January 2010.
On 18 January 2011, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, announced a 70% reduction in the Other Family visas to be granted this financial year. This cap limits the number of visas that can be granted under this category to a maximum of 750. The visa types affected include carer, remaining relative and aged dependent relative visas.
Specifically, the Other Family visa category comprises the following visa subclasses:
Offshore (Other Family (Migrant) (Class BO)) visas; and
– Subclass 115 – Remaining Relative
– Subclass 116 – Carer
– Subclass 114 – Aged Dependent Relative
Onshore (Other Family (Residence)(Class BU) visas
– Subclass 835 – Remaining Relative
– Subclass 836 – Carer
– Subclass 838 – Aged Dependent Relative
The visa numbers approved in this category since 2005-06 averaged 2276 visas per year. Visas in this category granted on an annual basis during this period are indicated in the table below:
| Category of Visa | 2005–06 Outcome | 2006–07 Outcome | 2007–08 Outcome | 2008–09 Outcome | 2009–10 Outcome | 2010–11 Planning Levels |
| Preferential/Other Family1 | 1869 | 2136 | 2378 | 2530 | 2468 | 750 |
1 Includes Aged Dependent, Carer, Orphan Unmarried and Remaining Relatives.
The decision to cap the intake at 750 visas will cause significant delays in processing due to the large number of applications already being processed.
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