The supporting finance is one of the most important criteria that are considered while an immigration application is being considered for any country. The same rule applies while immigrating to Australia.

In order to migrate to Australia, one must comply with the necessary requirements that have been laid down by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Australia. These include application fee which is a critical component while an application is being reviewed. This is called the Visa Application Charge (VAC). This charge has to be paid in Australian dollars only and is not refundable, even if the application is rejected.

This application fee is reviewed on the 1st July of every year. So, it is best to decide and apply before this particular date. This would save you in case the amount per application is increased.

If you are applying from outside Australia, this amount along with the application has to be paid at the Australian High Commission or the Embassy or the Consulate. In such a case, an exception is made with an equivalent being paid in the local currency. The exchange rates are renewed every year on the 1st January and on the 1st July. It has to be remembered that the foreign currency rates are fixed only for six months after which it is evaluated again. An alternative option to avoid such a confusion is to ask one of your friends in Australia (if any) to deposit the money at the local office.

Changes in VAC – The Aftermath

As mentioned above, the cost of the VAC is completely based on the date of the application submission and when it is received by the department. You might end up paying more in the following instances:

  • If you submit your application after 1st January or 1st July.
  • If your application is received after the above mentioned dates inspite of you submitting well in advance.
  • You pay for the VAC in an overseas office before the due dates but submit the application in a local Australian office only after the specific days.

However, in all the cases it has to be remembered that an application would only be considered if the right amount has been paid. In some cases, it might even be returned back with a request to submit again with the processing fee.

For more, it is best to contact a registered Visa and Immigration expert who is abreast with all the latest rules and guidelines to be followed.

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