Saif Alnajam was looking forward to a new life in Melbourne after successfully receiving his visa as a recognised graduate and lining up a job as a civil engineer.
After packing his bags, selling his furniture and saying goodbye to his home of 19 years in Malaysia, he was ready to fill an engineering shortage in Australia on a subclass 476 visa.
But COVID-19 put the brakes on the 28-year-old's dream to work in Australia when, in March 2020, the federal government shut its borders in a bid to curb the pandemic.
Mr Alnajam's visa was extended by the Department of Home Affairs due to the border closures until March 2021, despite borders still being closed by the new deadline.
But it was not extended a second time - a decision that "emotionally destroyed" Mr Alnajam.
"[The rejection] was very, very difficult because it's a dream that I've worked for so many years, and to just see all my effort run down the drain for no fault of my own," he told SBS News.
As Australia follows through with its national roadmap to reopening the nation, it has allowed temporary visa holders, skilled migrants and international students to arrive in Australia from last week.
The department of immigration also announced it was allowing temporary graduate visa holders, subclass 485, to receive replacement visas if their initial visa had expired due to the COVID-19 border closures.
Mr Alnajam said it is "heartbreaking" that he - and hundreds of other engineering graduates - are left out.
In 2019 Australia recorded 25,350 engineering graduates and almost 75 per cent of them were international students, leaving the country heavily reliant on migrants to fill a skill shortage in the industry.
Mr Alnajam and hundreds of other engineering graduates say they have been ignored by the government's visa-replacement strategy. Source: Supplied/Saif Alnajam
"Why would you give me a first extension and not a second one when the borders are still shut and I still cannot make my way to Australia?," he said.
From 1 February 2020 to 30 November 2021 there have been 2,232 skilled recognised visas (subclass 476) expired that have not been extended since borders reopened.
It comes as Australia continues to face a critical skill shortage within the engineering industry, and industry experts say it is critical that migrants like Mr Alnajam fill the country's employment gaps.
"The reality is that without more people with the right skills that we need, businesses are going to find it harder and harder," CEO of Australian Industry Group Innes Wilcox said.
Australia's population was expected to grow to almost 31 million by 2030, but that pandemic has cut that forecast dramatically to 29.3 million.
It's a stark shift of the average pre-pandemic population growth of 1.5 per cent, which isn't expected to return until 2024-25, when more migrants are expected to arrive in Australia, according to Monday's population growth forecast.
But in the meantime, it leaves Australia without skilled migrants like Mr Alnajam to boost the economy's growth.
"Developed economies have, for the last 50 or so years, relied on population growth to drive economic growth," former immigration department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said.
Other industries are plagued by skills shortages too, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announcing new trucking apprenticeships.
"Our government is investing in the skills and training that Australians need to get those jobs and in the years ahead that is going to be a key challenge for our economy," he said.
For now, Mr Alnajam and his fellow engineering graduates continue to lobby the federal government for more answers but said the last 20 months have been "heartbreaking".
"It's unbelievable ... when you've planned for something, you put in all your efforts, then you don't even get any explanation [as] to why you cannot enter Australia."
In a statement to SBS News, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said the "government is continuing to review visa settings to support Australia's economic recovery".
"Since March 2020, the government has introduced a series of changes to both temporary and permanent visa holder arrangements that seek to protect the health of our community, safeguard jobs for Australians, support critical industries, and assist with the rapid recovery after the pandemic."
Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke previously announced concessions available to other visa holders, like temporary graduates (subclass 485).
No comment has been made in response to why expired visa 476 holders like Mr Alnajam have not had their visa status extended.
