澳大利亚伴侣签证申请费本月起上调至创纪录的11,710澳元，较前一费率增加2,345澳元[1]。这一涨幅引发广泛关注，因为申请人已经面临漫长的审批周期——离岸伴侣签证申请的中位处理时间约为16个月，90%的申请在27个月内获得决定[1]。许多国际伴侣因此被迫长期分离。
申请人Sarosh Akram表示："这进一步复杂化了我的情况，延迟了我打算与伴侣在澳大利亚开始的生活"[1]。与其他主要英语国家相比，澳大利亚的配偶类签证费用明显偏高——英国配偶签证约3,942澳元，新西兰伴侣签证约4,438澳元，加拿大配偶担保约1,364澳元，美国约1,872至1,955澳元[1]。
政府声称费用增加用于移民系统改革，但专家对此政策效果持怀疑态度。移民部前副秘书Abul Rizvi指出："费用增加可能只会略微减缓申请率，但积压太大，申请率远高于最终率，积压会继续增长"[1]。移民部长Tony Burke表示签证费需与出国相关的其他成本一起考虑[1]。值得注意的是，签证费通常不可退款，仅在家庭暴力或伴侣去世等极少情况下例外[1]。
Australia's partner visa application fee has reached a record high of AUD $11,710 as of this month, representing an increase of $2,345 from the previous amount.[1] The spike comes as applicants face a median processing time of approximately 16 months for offshore partner visa applications, with 90 percent of cases resolved within 27 months.[1] Many couples have been forced to remain separated for months or even years while awaiting decisions on their applications.
Applicant Sarosh Akram expressed the personal impact of the fee increase, stating: "This further complicates my situation and delays the life I planned to start with my partner in Australia."[1] The cost far exceeds comparable visa fees in other countries—the United Kingdom spouse visa costs approximately $3,942, New Zealand's partner visa around $4,438, Canada's spousal sponsorship about $1,364, and the United States charges between $1,872 and $1,955.[1]
Abul Rizvi, former deputy secretary of the Department of Immigration, contended that the fee increase will likely have minimal impact, explaining: "The fee rise may only slightly slow applications, but with the backlog so large and applications far outpacing finalizations, the backlog will continue to grow."[1] Immigration Minister Tony Burke has suggested that visa fees should be considered alongside other costs associated with relocating abroad.[1] Visa fees are generally non-refundable, with exceptions made only in rare circumstances such as domestic violence or the death of a partner.[1]