Queensland's Department of Employment, Small Business and Training confirmed to SBS Hindi that the nomination round for the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa will open shortly.
Highlights:
- Queensland's migration program for 2021-22 to open soon
- The state government has a quota of 1,000 places for the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa and 1,250 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa
- Pavneet Singh Thind, an onshore applicant, says the wait has been frustrating as all other states have already opened
The department said, "We have very specific skills and labour needs in Queensland, and we have been consulting with industry to ensure the nomination process will meet those needs."
The Australian government has allocated the Queensland government a quota of 1,000 places for the Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa and 1,250 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa for 2021-22.
Earlier this month, Migration Queensland, the nominating body for the state government and a business unit of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), posted on its website that the opening date of the state’s migration program had been delayed due to a final round of industry consultation.
It further asked applicants to consult a registered migration agent or an immigration lawyer for an alternative option to stay in the state, in case their visa was expiring.
Pavneet Singh Thind, a Gold Coast-based IT professional, has been eagerly waiting for the Queensland government to announce the opening of its migration program for this financial year.
The 22-year-old, who moved to Australia in 2016, said he completed his IT course at Griffith University and has been working as a software engineer in the state. He said he was hoping that he met all the required skills to qualify and apply for permanent residence.
“I think I tick all the boxes to apply for permanent residency," Mr Thind told SBS Hindi, adding that the uncertainty has made it difficult for him to plan for the future.
"The delay is frustrating. I cannot think of moving to other states that have opened their migration program as I will have to start from scratch to build on my years of living and working there," he said.
Pavneet Singh Thind, an IT professional who is based in Gold Coast Source: Supplied by Pavneet Singh Thind
Seema Chauhan, a migration expert based on the Gold Coast, pointed out that it has been more than 100 days since the start of the new financial year and the state has yet to present its migration plan for 2021-22.
Ms Chauhan said the state has given various reasons for not opening the migration program, and potential migrants, particularly onshore international graduates, are feeling disappointed.
"The messaging initially was that of 'rebranding' Business and Skilled Migration Queensland to Migration Queensland. This was followed by a message that the program is commencing 'early September', which subsequently changed to end of September," she told SBS Hindi.
Many aspirants are reportedly considering options to relocate to other states and territories, and Queensland's education sector will likely face a long-term, detrimental effect.
Ms Chauhan added that migration is a key motivation for many international students when opting for a study destination.
Queensland is the only state that has not yet announced its migration program for the current financial year.
