Author: Dong Xing (Read the original article [abc.net.au])
Interview Guest: Kirk Yan (Head of the Melbourne Branch, Newstars Education & Migration; licensed migration agent in Australia with years of experience and in-depth expertise in interpreting migration policy and predicting changes; Chief Editor of the Australia Migration Weekly Bulletin; affectionately known as ‘K-God’ by clients.)
Key Highlights
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- Australia hoped that reopening international borders would ease the labour crisis, yet visa processing times have doubled
- Some skilled Chinese migrants waited up to three years to obtain permanent residency in Australia
- The government says it is prioritising applications for occupations that contribute to the economy
After more than two years of waiting, Huang Yiwen still has not had her permanent residency visa granted.
She says, “I have always considered Australia my home.”
Ms Huang was a part-time teacher at a primary school in Adelaide, but after submitting her permanent residency application, she returned to China for a holiday in December 2019.
For nearly two years, due to the impact of the pandemic, 28-year-old Huang Yiwen has been unable to return to Australia.
Australia’s borders reopened to fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents from 1 November last year, and to temporary visa holders and international students from 15 December.
However, Ms Huang needs to wait for her state-nominated skilled migration visa to be approved before she can work upon returning to Australia.
The Skilled Nominated visa, also known as the Subclass 190 visa, is a permanent residency visa that requires applicants to receive an invitation from a state government and have skills — such as teaching — identified as in-demand occupations by the Department of Home Affairs.
Ms Huang’s application includes an invitation from the South Australian state government.
“I am absolutely a valuable person who can make many contributions to South Australia,” she says.
“I am a qualified teacher, still employed [as a casual teacher] at that school.
“This means I have the critical skills that the education sector needs.”
Ms Huang wrote to Immigration Minister Alex Hawke and received a response from the Department of Home Affairs, which acknowledged that “the time required to process your application may be of concern to you,” but that it was “unable to provide a timeframe for when your application will be finalised.”
“I Don’t Know How Long I’ll Have to Wait”
Australia is struggling with a shortage of skilled migrant workers, and some details related to Ms Huang’s situation have come to light.
Processing times for Subclass 190 visas submitted around the same time as Ms Huang’s have also been increasing.
When Ms Huang submitted her application 25 months ago, 90% of applications were processed within 10 months.
But now, according to the Department of Home Affairs website, 90% of applications are processed within 18 months, and 75% within 6 months.
“Most applicants know that processing times may be affected by the pandemic and could take up to two years,” Ms Huang says.
“But my application has been waiting too long — longer than the maximum wait time.”
“I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait.”
According to Australian government data, as at August 2021, 12,176 people were still waiting for their Subclass 190 visa to be granted.
Businesses ‘Urgently Need’ Skilled Workers
Industry groups have been calling on the federal government to provide pathways during the pandemic to bring in skilled workers from overseas and help address Australia’s worker shortage.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as at August 2021, more than 20% of businesses in construction and manufacturing reported job vacancies, while the figure for the education sector was less than 10%.
The Department of Home Affairs says it is seeking migrants who can help create jobs and rebuild the Australian economy.
Currently, occupations in critical sectors — such as those that can assist Australia’s medical response to COVID-19 — are being prioritised.
However, one migration agent says this approach does not appear to be filling the gaps that are needed.
“There are many contradictions in government policy,” says Melbourne migration agent Kirk Yan.
“They cannot appeal simply because they have been waiting a long time, as the Department of Home Affairs has not yet made a final decision on their applications.”
He says that applicants who hold invitations for the Subclass 190 visa and the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa could help Australia address its worker shortage.
Government Responds to Processing Wait Times
Mechanical engineering graduate Zhang Zitong applied for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa in March 2019.
The 27-year-old has now been waiting 33 months for this visa.
“Mechanical engineering is also a priority occupation,” Mr Zhang says.
“I have a degree in this field, but I’m still waiting for my visa. The assessment process is too arbitrary and lacks transparency.”
Although he received a travel exemption and visitor visa in late November, this visa does not permit him to work in Australia.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said in a statement that, due to privacy considerations, comments cannot be made on individual applications.
The department says that as at November 2021, approximately half of Subclass 189 visa applications were completed within 5 months, although the department’s website states that 90% of applications are processed within 30 months.
“Processing times vary depending on individual circumstances, including the completeness and quality of the application, the applicant’s responsiveness to requests for additional information, and whether the applicant has nominated a critical occupation,” the spokesperson said.
They also said the migration planning allocation — 6,500 places for the Subclass 189 visa and 11,200 places for the Subclass 190 visa — is also a contributing factor.
“Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) and Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visas are not employer-sponsored. These visas are processed according to government policy priorities… Applications for critical sectors will receive higher processing priority.”
“The government is prioritising migrants with critical skills to fill skills shortages, including assisting Australia’s medical response to COVID-19, and helping to create jobs and rebuild Australia’s economy.
Applicants Seek a ‘Clear Answer’
Mr Zhang’s application has been further complicated by changes to government policy.
In mid-2019, employer-sponsored migration visa applications were prioritised by the Australian government, which meant that skilled migrants applying independently, like Mr Zhang, were pushed to the back of the queue.
“When I applied for the visa, I hadn’t decided what I was going to do, so I went back to China first,” Mr Zhang says.
Mr Zhang says this has affected him — without a clear estimated wait time, he is unable to make long-term plans.
“I didn’t plan to stay in China for long, so I haven’t been looking for a particularly good job.”
“I hope the Department of Home Affairs gives us a clear answer.”
Ms Huang is now focused on her teaching career in China, but she still misses her life in Adelaide.
She says, “My church and close friends are all in Adelaide.”
She says that some of the schools she interviewed at for work in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo require teachers to “have no religious beliefs.”
“I am a Christian. I cannot practise my religion, nor can I speak about it publicly.”
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