The New South Wales government says a limited number of interim nomination places has been provided for the 2020–21 financial year.
Highlights:
- NSW says it has received a small number of interim allocation places.
- Applicants with critical skills to fight COVID-19 will be given priority.
- Experts believe the country's overall migration could be impacted.
"Because our nomination places are limited, we have made some temporary adjustments to our application process.
These adjustments will be reviewed if more nomination places are provided to us later in the financial year," reads a published by the government.
According to the statement, only those candidates will be invited who currently reside in New South Wales.
One new community COVID-19 case recorded in NSW as authorities hunt mystery source of infection. Source: AAP Image/Dean Lewins
"To be considered for NSW nomination for the subclass 188 visa, ensure you have a valid EOI in SkillSelect selecting 'NSW' as your preferred state," it says.
Invitation rounds will commence shortly for subclass 190 visa nomination.
Earlier some other states like and Victoria have also announced changes to their migration programs for a limited number of interim nomination places has been provided for the 2020–21 financial year.
Migration experts believe this is going to affect temporary visa holders and students adversely.
Melbourne-based migration agent Chaman Preet says the students who are completing courses, subclass 485 visa holders and other visa holders will face the heat.
"These changes will definitely impact everyone. Very early on the department had announced that the net migration level in 2020-21 is expected to remain around 36,000 seats which include 190, 191, 491 and Employer-Sponsored Visas too. It is the lowest in 40 years."
Source: Getty Images
Australia has recorded a significant decrease of 66 per cent in the number of invites issued for the Skilled Independent visa in 2019-20 compared to the previous year.
Compared to 22,920 invites issued for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) in 2018-19, only 7,720 invites were issued in the last financial year.
