Victoria’s skilled visa nomination program is now closed as the places provided by the Department of Home Affairs for the 2019-20 program year have been filled.
The announcement which was made last week includes both the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Highlights:
- Victoria closes its skilled nomination program which includes applications for subclass 190 and 491
- NSW may open applications for its Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa "soon"
- Tasmania introduces flexible eligibility criteria for applicants affected by COVID-19 pandemic
This means that no new nomination applications for these visa categories will be accepted, until the new financial year commencing on July 1, 2020.
“Applications received prior to 28 May 2020 will continue to be assessed and you will be advised of the outcome in due course. New applications will be accepted in 2020-21,” according to information available on the state government’s website.
Like the rest of Australia, Victoria is also facing multiple challenges owing to the COVID-19-induced health and financial crisis.
Victoria closes skilled nominated program for the current financial year. Source: Getty Images
Former senior Immigration Department official Abul Rizvi says the circumstances are pushing states to prioritise occupations critical to a response to the pandemic and rebuilding the state economy in times to come.
“In terms of skilled temporary migrants, those who are in occupations that are important for the country’s recovery such as the healthcare workers may have an early chance to return to the country depending on the government’s strategy for reopening the borders,” he says.
Update on NSW skilled nomination program:
In a significant update to the New South Wales state nomination program, the state website has declared that it will start accepting applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) "soon."
Melbourne-based migration agent Ranbir Singh says it is anticipated that the applications will open in the month of July.
"It is just being speculated at the moment, there has been no confirmation from the state so far. But things are looking up and this could be a piece of major good news for applicants in the new financial year," says Mr Singh.
ACT offers flexibility to applicants affected by COVID-19:
In Australian Capital Territory, only 81 invitations were issued for subclass 190 in the latest round on June 3, as compared 485 in the previous round. Whereas, no invitations were issued for subclass 491 owing to “sufficient applications in the queue,” as per information available on the state website.
“Reduction in 190 subclass invites is probably due to the fact that the state is close to meeting its 2019-2020 annual allocation. Also, this could be in line with the April and May trends and the fact that there are usually more invites offered in the very last invitation round of the financial year,” says Mr Singh.
Offering some flexibility to 190 and 491 visa applicants impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, the ACT government has created a provision to allow those affected to request a waiver of the ‘continuous employment’ eligibility criteria in select circumstances.
Click for more information on who can request for a waiver.
Tasmania offers flexibility in eligibility criteria to international students and applicants for state nomination. Source: Getty Images/PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou
Tasmania makes temporary changes to eligibility criteria:
Tasmania too has introduced flexible nomination requirements for applicants affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
-International students who were forced to switch to online learning with a Tasmanian CRICOS provider (Commonwealth Register of Courses and Institutions for Overseas Students) and have completed courses during the period that were not able to be delivered on campus will be accepted.
- Graduates who have completed their study in Tasmania but are unable to return to the country due to travel restrictions will be considered eligible for state nomination, provided they have relevant proofs and meet the criteria for 190 or 491 nomination.
- Online study for applicants who commenced their courses in Tasmania, but departed temporarily and have since been unable to return due to the pandemic, will be accepted, provided they have lived and studied in the state for a period of at least 12 months.
- Newly-enrolled students with a Tasmanian institution who have commenced online studies and are yet to enter the country owing to border closure will be eligible for consideration if they:
- a) have completed a two-academic-year course and arrived in Tasmania soon after restrictions were lifted, and
- b) have lived and studied in Tasmania for a period of at least 12 months
-Applications from those currently working in Tasmania who have been stood-down before or after meeting the mandatory six-month full-time employment requirement will be considered on its merits, according to the industry, the skills of the applicant, and the likelihood of being able to return to and maintain full-time employment in the future.
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