The latest update received for the prospective skilled migrants that are planning to live and work within the state of Victoria, the government has temporarily closed the skilled visa nomination program for the ongoing financial year.   The skilled visa nomination program for the state of Victoria, Australia has been closed as the positions provided by the Department of Home Affairs for the financial year 2019-20 have been already filled. The announcement released last week by the state government of Victoria includes both the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) and also the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 190).   Important Highlights:  

• The state of Victoria has closed its Skilled Nomination Program which comprises applications for the Visa Subclass 190 as well as 491.
• New South Wales (NSW) might open its applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa soon in the near future
• Tasmania on the other hand, has introduced flexible admission criteria for all those applicants that are being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic

  This directly implies that no new applications for nominations under these visa categories will be now accepted till the start of new financial year from July 1, 2020. Applications that were received prior to May 28, 2020 will be continued to get evaluated and the candidates will be suggested on the outcomes in the due course of time. New applications will now be accepted for the immigration in 2020-21 as described on website of state government. Similar to all other states across Australia, Victoria is also encountering various challenges mainly due to the economic and health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The former official of the Immigration Department, Abul Rizvi says that the circumstances are making the states vulnerable to give priority to only those occupations that are critical for the response of the current situation of the pandemic and are rebuilding the economy of the state in the times to come. With respect to the skilled temporary migrants, those are working in occupations that are important for the recovery of the financial condition of the country and includes healthcare professionals may seek an early possibility of returning back to the country, however this is entirely dependent on the strategy adopted by the government for reopening the borders. COVID-19: Australia releases new visa for the eligible immigrants, but the applications are being closed for the skilled nominated visas   New Update on New South Wales Skilled Nomination Program   In an important update related to the state nomination program of New South Wales (NSW), the website of the state government has declared that it will soon start accepting new applications for the Subclass Visa 491 or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa, soon in the near future. Melbourne-based immigration agent Mr. Ranveer Singh predicted that the new applications should open in the coming month of July. However, it is only being anticipated at this time and there are no confirmations from the state government until now on such information. But as things are improving gradually, this one could be optimistic news for the applicants in the upcoming financial year.   ACT announce flexibility to the applicants impacted by the Covid-19 uncertainity   In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a total of 81 new invitations were being issued to eligible applicants for the Subclass 190 visa in the latest round of invitation that was released on June 3, as compared to that of 485 invitations in the last round. Whereas, no new invitations were given under the Subclass 491 Visa due to the sufficient number of applications that are present already in the queue, according to the latest information available on the state website. Reduction in the total number of Subclass 190 invites could be possibly because the state is close to meeting its target for the 2019-2020 yearly allocation of nomination letters. Also, this could be because in line with the trends of April and May and also due to the fact that there usually arrives more number of invitations that were issued in the last invitation round of the current financial year. Further, offering some flexibility to the Subclass 190 and 491 visa applicants that are affected by the COVID-19 closures, the state government of ACT has also created the provision to enable all those that are being impacted towards requesting a relaxation in the eligibility criteria of the continuous employment in some selected circumstances.   Tasmania made temporary changes to the eligibility criteria   Similar to some states in Australia, Tasmania has also introduced some relevant flexible requirements in the nominations for the eligible applicants that are being impacted by the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• International students who switched to online learning forcefully and possess a Tasmanian CRICOS provider, that is the Commonwealth Register of Courses and Institutions for the Overseas students and have also completed their academic courses during the turbulent period and were not being able to delivered on the campus will also be accepted.
• Graduates who have completed their studies in the state of Tasmania but are not able to return to their country due to the travel restrictions imposed will also be eligible for the state nominations with a conditions that they have the required evidence and they meet the eligibility criteria for the Subclass 190 or 491 visa nomination.
• Immigration related applications received from those that are currently working in the state of Tasmania and are being stood-down before as well as after meeting the necessary six-month full-time requirements of the employment will be taken into consideration on the basis of its advantages, skills and talents of the applicants, demand of the type of industry and the possibilities of maintaining full-time employment for these individuals in the future.
• Online study for the applicants who have started their academic course in Tasmania, but were forced to depart temporarily and have since then are unable to return because of the pandemic situation, will also be accepted, however, provided that they have, in the past, lived and studied within the state for a minimum period of 12 months.
• All the newly enrolled students in the academic institutions of Tasmania who have started their online studies but are not yet entered in Australia due to the border closure will also be eligible for the consideration of acceptance if they:
• Have already completed a academic year course of two-year duration and who have arrived in the state immediately after the restrictions were removed.
• Have lived and also studied in the Tasmanian state for a minimum period of 12 months

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