State Nominating Body and COVID-19 -UPDATE 20/04/20

Business and Skilled Migration Queensland

Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ)’s subclass 190 visa program is currently closed.

BSMQ is still nominating subclass 491 applicants, however, the program is closed to offshore applicants.

BSMQ has reached its quota and will not be issuing any further invitations for these occupations:

  1. 225113 Marketing Specialist
  2. 132211 Finance Manager


Source: Business and Skilled Migration Queensland

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT generally requires applicants to have lived and worked continuously in the ACT for 13 weeks prior to applying for a State nomination.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, applicants may request a waiver of the ‘continuous employment’ criteria where:

  • The applicant’s return to Canberra has been delayed due to the travel ban;
  • The applicants is required to self-isolate for 14 days;
  • The applicant’s work hours are reduced, they are required to take unpaid leave, or have lost their job due to COVID-19.

Request for waiver

If you are invited to apply for ACT 491 / 190 nomination, any request for a COVID -19 waiver must be in writing, attached to the application and evidenced by supporting documentation.

Source: (http://www.canberrayourfuture.com.au/)

MIGRATION TASMANIA

Subclass 491: Category 3A – Overseas Applicant Restrictions

Migration Tasmania has temporarily restricted eligibility for subclass 491 nominations. Offshore applicants will only be able to apply if they are applying for an occupation listed in the ‘High Demand’ section of the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List. High Demand occupations include healthcare occupations such as Registered Nurses.

Applicants will High Demand occupations will be given priority, meaning that processing times for other applications may be extended.

Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List (TSOL) 2019 – 2020

https://www.migration.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/147267/Tasmanian_Skilled_Occupations_List_TSOL_2019-2020_-_19_March_2020.pdf


Source: Migration Tasmania

IMMIGRATION SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia is prioritising the processing and nomination of health and medical professionals. This affects South Australian graduates and applicants who are currently working as a medical or health professional in South Australia.

190 Nominations

Immigration SA has closed its subclass 190 program for applicants who have not been working in South Australia for the past 12 months, or the past 6 months if in a country area.

Further, South Australia will no longer nominate the following occupations for a 190 visa:

  • 132211 Finance Manager
  • 149914 Financial Institution Branch Manager
  • 221111 Accountant (General)
  • 221112 Management Accountant
  • 221113 Taxation Accountant
  • 221211 Company Secretary
  • 221213 External Auditor
  • 221214 Internal Auditor
  • 222112 Finance Broker
  • 222311 Financial Investment Adviser
  • 222312 Financial Investment Manager
  • 224711 Management Consultant


The following occupations are now only available for applicants currently living and working in South Australia:

141111 Cafe or Restaurant Manager

  1. 351311 Chef
  2. 351411 Cook

Medical and health professionals in specified occupations who are currently working in South Australia for the past 12 months – or the past 6 months if in a country area – will receive priority processing of their 190 nomination applications.

491 Nominations

Applicants not currently working in South Australia will be considered for a Subclass 491 visa only.

Immigration SA is waiving their work experience requirement for specified medical and health professionals who are currently living and working in South Australia. Just the minimum 65 points (including state sponsorship points) is required. This applies to the 491 visa only.

Source: https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/news-events/news-releases/general-skilled-migration-changes

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT

Important Information about Victorian Government visa nominations and the impact of COVID-19 

  • If you have received a Victorian state visa nomination and are affected by the travel ban, you should still lodge your visa application online within the nomination timeframes (60 days).
  • If the travel ban is impacting on your ability to meet the Victorian Government’s state nomination or Department of Home Affairs visa requirements, keep the documents and evidence on how they have been affected.
  • If you are an Australian visa holder and believe your visa has been cancelled due to the travel ban, you’ll have to email immediately at visa.cancellations@homeaffairs.gov.au

All other travellers to Australia, including people who hold temporary, provisional and permanent residency Australian visas, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.

Source: Live in Melbourne

MIGRATION NT

In response to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak the Australian Government announced closure of its borders effective from Friday 20 March 2020 at 9pm EST (Eastern Standard Time).

In light of this MigrationNT will stop accepting offshore General Skilled Migration applications for the Northern Territory nomination effective from 12 midnight on Tuesday 24 March 2020 until further notice.

Existing applications received and paid will still be processed in accordance with current service standards.

Source: TheTeritory

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – WA Migration Services  

The April invitation round for WA state nomination has been delayed to 23 April due to the Easter holidays, but otherwise applications are still processing.

Occupations on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) and Graduate Occupation List (GOL) are under review. The occupations under review on the WASMOL are:

Audiologist (ANZSCO 252711); and

Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (ANZSCO 254413).

The occupation under review on the GOL is:

Accountant (General) (ANZSCO 221111).

Invitations to apply for WA State nomination for these occupations will be limited. If you have already received an invitation, your application will not be affected.

The occupation of ‘Chef’ on the Graduate Occupation List is currently under review, which means that invitations will be limited.

Source: https://www.migration.wa.gov.au/services/skilled-migration-western-australia/latest-news

New South Wales

The NSW government advises that they intend to continue to process nominations as usual, however, they are reviewing their requirements and processes. Changes may be made to the program to address any critical needs as a result of COVID-19.

There is an ongoing delay in opening the Subclass 491 visa program, with no estimate on implementation date.

Source: https://www.business.nsw.gov.au/live-and-work-in-nsw/visas-and-immigration

Check Your Eligibility Now

Qualifications Skills Review