Some
permanent residents visas will only be granted on the condition that
you (the applicant) obtain an AoS. This is a legally
binding agreement between an Australian Resident (the assurer) and
the Australian Government. The assurer agrees to provide support to
you in Australia and repay the Australian Government any social
security payments paid to you during your first years in Australia.
You may be required to have an AoS for 2 (two) to 10 (ten) years as
determined by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship. The
AoS will remain in force for the two to ten year period, even if
there is no contact between you and your assurer, or the relationship
between you breaks down.
To
be eligible to provide the AoS the assurer needs to;
be
an Australian resident
be 18 years or older
at the present time, the assurer must have an
income of greater than the threshold, for a single person of
AUD$43,818.00 for the current financial year
have had an income greater than the threshold
for the previous consecutive financial years
It is possible to have 2 assurers with a
combined income of the above.
The
assurer will have to pay a bond of AUD$3,500.00 for a single person
or AUD$5,000.00 for a couple for a two year bond period, and
AUD$10,000.00 for a single person or AUD$14,000.00 for a couple for a
ten year period. The bond will be lodged with the Commonwealth Bank
of Australia, which will be returned after the AoS expires if you
have not received any payments from Centrlink in the bond period. If
you do not make any claims on Centrelink the bond amount plus
interest will be released to the assurer.
Centrelink is responsible for assessing the AoS applications and for
administration of same NOT DIAC.