According to SBS News Australia, States and territories across the country have temporarily suspended the nomination program for the General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) while they await the federal government’s allocation of state nomination places for the program year 2020-21.
The General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) is aimed at overseas skilled workers who have the skills needed to fulfill occupations in Australia that is otherwise not fillable by an Australian citizen. Each year, every state receive quotas from the government, based on which states and territories nominate skilled and business migrants for Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 and the Skilled Regional Sponsored Subclass 491 visa categories.
SBS News Australia reports that this year the Department of Home Affairs has advised the states and territories to put their programs on hold until further notice. The Department further stated that the ongoing impacts of the pandemic worldwide, both medically, socially and economically, will have a “significant influence on the shape of Australia’s Migration Program going forward”.
Victoria:
State nomination program remains temporarily closed. But applicants can still lodge an EOI through the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system.
New South Wales:
NSW is currently closed to applications for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). The state will open to new nominations once they receive their quota for the current financial year.
South Australia:
The state’s business and skilled migration programs are scheduled to re-open from early August.
Queensland:
Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) has also announced that its state nomination program will remain closed until further notice. The state has declared that it will not be accepting any EOIs.
The state is now awaiting advice from the Department of Home Affairs with regards to its nomination allocation for the financial year 2020-21.
Tasmania:
Applications remain open and will continue to be considered, but no nominations can be made until the state receives its allocation for the program year.
Northern Territory:
NT Government has also declared that it is currently unable to issue nominations under the skilled and business migration programs.
Western Australia & the Australian Capital Territory:
No update is available for Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
What is important to take away from this change is to know that skilled migration is integral to Australia’s migration program and economic growth, so rest assured that it will not be suspended forever!
Our Registered Migration Agents at Migration Centre of Australia have been in the migration industry for many years and have helped thousands of clients onshore and offshore. We are trained professionals in Australian Migration Law and we are trusted providers in the industry for our services. If you want to know more about general skilled migration, the skilled nominated subclass 190, skilled regional sponsored subclass 491, or working in Australia in general, contact us today on (02) 4626 1002 or send us an email at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au and one of my registered migration agents will be ready to help you.
