Wonder if anyone can help on what the correct and easiest / cheapest visa (for long term with possible residence / citizenship ) would be?

The situation is as follows - The mother is Thai, in her twenties, the father is Australian and their new baby is joint Thai / Australian has both passports.

Currently, the mother is travelling back and forward to Australia on a 3 month tourist visa and has been told that to apply for residence it will cost more than 7000 AUD?

I had seen on a website about various categories of "Parent" visas. These range from a couple of hundred AUD to several thousand AUD.

Does anyone know which is the best visa for the mother to apply for to obtain a long term multi entry stay?

The one other factor in this is that the parents are NOT married.

Thanks in advance!

Edited:

I should have also stated that the baby is about 7 months old and has only lived in Australia for 3 months.

Parent visa is for those being sponsored by their Australian citizen child with a current approval waiting list of up to thirty years.

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/103-

As the mother is currently receiving tourist visas it would be possible for the mother to arrive in Australia on Tourist visa 600 (so long as there is not a condition of no further stay) valid for three months and then apply online for a visa for temporary residency one month before expiry which permits stay of two years - normally granted within 24 hours and currently costs AUD6865), then transition to a permanent residency visa at no extra cost which leads to the future facility to apply for citizenship. Alternatively the mother could apply for a partner visa from Thailand, but waiting time is up to 12 / 15 months

A 12 month visit visa could be requested (no guarantee of being granted), but the mother would not be eligible for Medicare or work & should acquire medical insurance.

As usual cross check any advice provided via a forum.

Parent visa is for those being sponsored by their Australian citizen child with a current approval waiting list of up to thirty years.

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/103-

As the mother is currently receiving tourist visas it would be possible for the mother to arrive in Australia on Tourist visa 600 (so long as there is not a condition of no further stay) valid for three months and then apply online for a visa for temporary residency one month before expiry which permits stay of two years - normally granted within 24 hours and currently costs AUD6865), then transition to a permanent residency visa at no extra cost which leads to the future facility to apply for citizenship. Alternatively the mother could apply for a partner visa from Thailand, but waiting time is up to 12 / 15 months

A 12 month visit visa could be requested (no guarantee of being granted), but the mother would not be eligible for Medicare or work & should acquire medical insurance.

As usual cross check any advice provided via a forum.

Thanks, Do you know what qualifies her for the Contributing Parent, Sub Class173

As far as I can make out from the AU website there is a 2 year version, this can then be converted to the 5 year Sub Class 143 (which is only 8,800 Baht if she holds the 173 visa first)

This is the link I am referring to - https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/173-

These is Zero fee for the Newborn Child, then something about 67K Baht as another fee. Still confused!

So my understanding from what I am reading is that she should apply for the Sub Class 173 (which may or may not be 67K Baht, then pay another 8K Baht to change to the Sub Class 143)

Link to Sub Class 143 - https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/143-

Thanks for your help!

Parent visa is for those being sponsored by their Australian citizen child with a current approval waiting list of up to thirty years.

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/103-

As the mother is currently receiving tourist visas it would be possible for the mother to arrive in Australia on Tourist visa 600 (so long as there is not a condition of no further stay) valid for three months and then apply online for a visa for temporary residency one month before expiry which permits stay of two years - normally granted within 24 hours and currently costs AUD6865), then transition to a permanent residency visa at no extra cost which leads to the future facility to apply for citizenship. Alternatively the mother could apply for a partner visa from Thailand, but waiting time is up to 12 / 15 months

A 12 month visit visa could be requested (no guarantee of being granted), but the mother would not be eligible for Medicare or work & should acquire medical insurance.

As usual cross check any advice provided via a forum.

Thanks, Do you know what qualifies her for the Contributing Parent, Sub Class173

As far as I can make out from the AU website there is a 2 year version, this can then be converted to the 5 year Sub Class 143 (which is only 8,800 Baht if she holds the 173 visa first)

This is the link I am referring to - https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/173-

These is Zero fee for the Newborn Child, then something about 67K Baht as another fee. Still confused!

So my understanding from what I am reading is that she should apply for the Sub Class 173 (which may or may not be 67K Baht, then pay another 8K Baht to change to the Sub Class 143)

Link to Sub Class 143 - https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/143-

Thanks for your help!

Just to underline I am not a professional migrant / visa agent, so only my personal thoughts.

With regard to the 173 visa I have not come across this approach before and overall the investment required appears to be greater than the traditional partner visa route. My understanding is such a visa requires an Assurance of Support bond of AUD10,000:

https://www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/34aos

Parent visa is for those being sponsored by their Australian citizen child with a current approval waiting list of up to thirty years.

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/103-

As the mother is currently receiving tourist visas it would be possible for the mother to arrive in Australia on Tourist visa 600 (so long as there is not a condition of no further stay) valid for three months and then apply online for a visa for temporary residency one month before expiry which permits stay of two years - normally granted within 24 hours and currently costs AUD6865), then transition to a permanent residency visa at no extra cost which leads to the future facility to apply for citizenship. Alternatively the mother could apply for a partner visa from Thailand, but waiting time is up to 12 / 15 months

A 12 month visit visa could be requested (no guarantee of being granted), but the mother would not be eligible for Medicare or work & should acquire medical insurance.

As usual cross check any advice provided via a forum.

Thanks, Do you know what qualifies her for the Contributing Parent, Sub Class173

As far as I can make out from the AU website there is a 2 year version, this can then be converted to the 5 year Sub Class 143 (which is only 8,800 Baht if she holds the 173 visa first)

This is the link I am referring to - https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/173-

These is Zero fee for the Newborn Child, then something about 67K Baht as another fee. Still confused!

So my understanding from what I am reading is that she should apply for the Sub Class 173 (which may or may not be 67K Baht, then pay another 8K Baht to change to the Sub Class 143)

Link to Sub Class 143 - https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/143-

Thanks for your help!

Just to underline I am not a professional migrant / visa agent, so only my personal thoughts.

With regard to the 173 visa I have not come across this approach before and overall the investment required appears to be greater than the traditional partner visa route. My understanding is such a visa requires an Assurance of Support bond of AUD10,000:

https://www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/34aos

OK, thanks for your help, I will tell het to talk to VFS in Bangkok, they will probably be able to advise. Cheers!