Australian Visa Applications and Debts
One question on the immigration visa application form that confuses some people is this one:
- Has any applicant ever had any outstanding debts to the Australian Government or any public authority in any other country?
I have seen questions where people ask if they include house loans, credit cards, car loans, study loans or other loans. The answer to those is: No, they are not outstanding debts to the Government.
A close description of the debts being referred to is more like this DoF one:
- A sum of money owing to the Commonwealth which is known and not being disputed, due for payment now and legally capable of being recovered in a legal action for debt.
The Commonwealth in this instance probably refers to all Australian Governments
Probable definitions:
Any debt to any Australian government body would be included.
This might even include unpaid speeding fines (Some Tourist Visa holders do get them prior to applying for Migration).
One person said they are only minor, and should not be counted to stop a visa.
The official line, for Citizens and residents, with unpaid speeding fines, is: State Debt Recovery (SDR) may suspend your Australian driver’s licence, cancel the registration of any vehicles you own in Australia, take money from (garnish) your Australian bank account, take property you have in Australia or put a charge on any land you own in Australia.
I guess that Visa Applicants may face that, plus a bit more, such as; Being told to pay the fines before the visa application is decided.
Older forms appear to have had a similar question but referring to “outstanding debts to the Commonwealth”, and that confused some people who consider the Commonwealth to be a group of 53 countries, of which Australia is a member. They actually meant the “Commonwealth of Australia”.
Hi does the unpaid/outstanding University tuition fees count towards the ‘debt owing to the commonwealth’? Thanks
If it is a normal debt, with nothing “overdue”, then it is not an “unpaid/outstanding” debt.
Unpaid to the Commonwealth means debts to the government.
Does the definition of “outstanding debt” include ATO debt that is in payment arrangement/plan?
I am pretty sure the wording is “The applicant does not have outstanding debts to the Commonwealth unless the Minister is satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made for payment“.
And Failure to pay the debt or enter into acceptable arrangements for payment might result in being unable to satisfy the visa criteria, and the visa will be refused.
On that basis, if you are up to date on a payment plan, you should be OK.
Hi may name is Aldrin.i was a student in Australia and i left Australia in 2013 i didn’t pay my credit card (common wealth bank ) which was 20000$ .now i want to apply for a visa to Australia.
Is it gone going to a problem to my visa application.can you please advise me .
In the immigration application form it is saying outstanding debts to the Australian government or any public authority in any other country.
The Commonwealth Bank is no longer a government department or public authority.
Privatisation of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia commenced in 1991 and was completed in 1996.
It would seem that specific question does not apply to your situation.
However, you may find issues in Australia with that debt. Getting property rentals etc. There is every chance that the CBA will locate you, so be prepared to have to repay that debt with the accrued interest.