with revenue from the changes supporting “this reform and other government priorities”.
The increased revenue supports the reform of increased revenue? What is this garbage?
I see a lot of comments here blaming the victim, but let’s be hi est: Australia’s visas and passports are stupidly expensive when compared to the rest of the world. I don’t see how an overnight 200% increase in cost is remotely warranted, especially when the justification is this bullshit quote above.
not captive, not no choice
yoona is choosing, she just doesn’t like that there isn’t a perfect choice
I suggest yoona and her family tackle the problem where it originates, the plummet of wages in Australia since the 1970s
Australians now earn one third of what they did in the 70s, that is why everything feels expensive
Yes the non-citizen should be responsible for fixing Australia’s wage stagnation.
Do you even think about the things you comment?
I suggest yoona and her family tackle the problem where it originates,
The problem originates with South Korea’s rules, not Australia. From the article:
Yoona can’t become an Australian citizen without giving up her South Korean citizenship — something she isn’t willing to do.
there is also the issue of money
The misleading headline quote is contradicted by the article.
Yoona can’t become an Australian citizen without giving up her South Korean citizenship — something she isn’t willing to do.
She literally has a choice. She could choose to give up her SK citizenship. She could also choose not to travel at all. Those might have a lot of downsides, even worse than the $1475 fee, so she might be making the best possible choice for her, but it’s still a choice.
this is not a reasonable take when asking whether or not this fee is extractive and exploitative.
My “take” is that the misleading headline quote is misleading and clickbait and ABC should be better with their titles. They could have come up with many other better sentences - even using a phrase such as “extractive and exploitative” in the headline. How about something simple like “Visa fee for permanent residents raised to $1,475”
Oh that’s bullshit. Although 9 years on a pr with a spouse? Get a citizenship already.
Despite living in Melbourne as a permanent resident, Yoona can’t become an Australian citizen without giving up her South Korean citizenship — something she isn’t willing to do.
A few paragraphs in. I wouldn’t make the same choice, myself, but I’m not her, so…
There’s plenty of countries that don’t allow dual citizenship. Relinquishing your right or ability to return to your birth country is no small decision
It was nine years in Australia and married and with PR. Not all of those things happen at the same time.
But regardless, there can be very good reasons why Koreans living in Australia may wait longer to give up their citizenship. Australia has awful (basically non-existent) public dental care that practically forces anyone other than those with a government health care card (who have a very long wait to be seen), regardless of income, to pay for private dental (or just ignore their oral health). Korea has universal dental care that is very affordable and of a high standard. This is particularly important for those who have more serious dental issues from childhood or genetics.
If you have sick or older relatives back home, the freedom to travel back and stay for a long time (5 years) at short notice can also be really important. There are alternative solutions that could be done from the other way around (Australian applying for a Korean visa) but none are as quick and easy, or as flexible, as the Resident Return visa. It’s pretty much instant.
I wouldn’t cast judgement over anyone in this position but definitely not without knowing their personal circumstances first. The idea of renouncing your birth citizenship is probably very easy and painless for those who will never be in a position to consider it.
I just won’t travel outside Australia, then.
They should put the price for a 5 year Aussie passport up to $1,475 as well, so as not to discriminate.
- Australia allows dual citizenship
- Republic of Korea requires you to relinquish your Korean citizenship if you become a citizen of another country
- Girl with ‘no options’ chooses to keep her Republic of Korea citizenship
- Australia imposes visa fees that apply to non-citizens of Australia
- You suggest Australian’s that are born here, or choose to become citizens here, pay more to make it fair
Walk me through this logic? Why should people that choose to join (or are born in) Australian citizenry pay more to make it fair for a limitation of RoK citizenship?
Let’s discuss whether the visa fee is too high, for sure. But suggesting a penalty for Australian citizens to “not discriminate” against someone that has chosen not to become a citizen is absolutely ludicrous to me.
It’s a horrible charge, nothing but a discriminatory money grab. So grab money from everyone, then at least it’s not discriminatory.
I initially thought you meant discrimination between rich and poor, but “grab money from everyone” still discriminates against people that can’t afford the visa/passport.
Citizens have rights and eligibilities that non-citizens don’t. That’s not discrimination that needs to be addressed; it’s national sovereignty. Non-citizens aren’t eligible for HECS, aren’t eligible to vote, aren’t eligible for a passport, and aren’t eligible for federal jobs. Non-citizens aren’t eligible for these because they are not Australian.
Live here and choose to become an Australian, or live here and choose to not become an Australian. Choose the latter and you’ll need a visa.
For the record; I think the Returning Resident visa fee is exorbitant. I also think the suggestion that Australians should pay more so it’s fair for non-Australians is ridiculous.
Regarding the “rich and poor”, international travel is generally beyond the means of the poor anyway, depending on where you draw the line. I’d rather see high fees on stuff like passports and have public dental care and other essentials funded.
Or it could be cheaper for everyone, we already have the world’s most expensive passport
