1 July 2020 marked the beginning of the new migration programand the quotas for 189,190 and 491 was due to release from the Federal Government. This however, never happened because the Department of Home Affairs has not given the state governments their new General Skilled Migration quotas for the new migration year, thus, indicating that the GSM program will not open from 1 July 2020 as planned.
This comes as a massive setback for thousands of potential applicants who have prepared for a skilled visa application. There is no indication of when the program will open, since the State and Territories cannot open their programs until the Federal Government issues new invitation quotas. However, sighting at the Federal Government budget that is set to happen in October 2020, invitations quotas may be issued sometime in the month of October. Changes in the occupation list are still unconfirmed and it could be some time before the General Skilled Migration program opens again.
The online information provided by Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) for Registered Migration Agents (RMA) indicated that there State Authorities have not set a nomination ceiling for 2021 and the following states and territories have updated the following on their website:
Victoria
Victoria state nomination program will remain temporarily close.Westill await the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for 2020-21. Meanwhile, the applicants will not be able to apply for the following state nomination visas:
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa
- Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
Please check our website for regular update on 2020-21 Victorian state nomination program.
New South Wales
New South Wales is currently closed to applications for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Nominations are expected to open once the Department of Home Affairs allocates the position for 2020-21 and the invitation rounds under the Skilled Nominated visa (190 Subclass) is also expected to commence at this time.
Things are fairly unpredictable at this stage. Please check our website for regular updates.
Tasmania
The applications for state nomination by Tasmania remain open and will continue to be considered, however, no nominations can be made in SkillSelect until quotas are allocated by the Australian Government for the 2020-2021 program year.
All eligible applicants cannot be guaranteed of nominations because Migration Tasmania
Queensland
“Business and Skilled Migration Queensland(BSMQ) has been advised by the Department of Home Affairs (HA) that it will not be in a position to open the 2020/21 migration program on 1 July 2020.
As a consequence, BSMQ’s business and skilled migration program will remain closed on 1 July 2020 until further notice. Please note: BSMQ will not be accepting any Expressions of Interests (EOIs) submitted on Skillselect from 1 July 2020. We will post an advice on this website, should the situation change.
BSMQ appreciates your patience in these challenging COVID-19 times. We thank you for your commitment to Queensland and look forward to opening the business and skilled migration program as soon as is possible.”
Australian Capital Territory
“The ACT Nomination Program (including the Canberra Matrix) will remain temporarily closed while we await the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for 2020-21.”
South Australia
South Australia Skilled and Business Migration programs are scheduled to re-open from early August. This will be dependent on the Commonwealth Government’s allocation of state nomination places for program year 2020-21.
Here’s what you need to know
Applicants who have lodged EOIs and have not been invited may be affected. However, those who already hold 189, 190 and 491 visas, and Applicants who have previously received invitations will not be affected.
We still encourage potential applicants to consider making the necessary preparations and when the program re-opens, you will be well equipped to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
To know more about Australia visa news and updates, get in touch with us
Contact us on +966-547598555 / 966-569521000 / 966-541219841 or info@emigrantz.com