Indian international students who are graduating from Australian universities feel their chances of getting a Permanent Residency (PR) is almost negligible.
These graduates with degrees in areas of skill shortage often find it hard to gather the required points to get the NSW government-sponsored visas.
Seema Chauhan, who is the Director of Abode Australia Migration, told The Australia Today that this affects Indian international students who are attracted to study in Australia to gain permanent residency through engineering, IT and accounting streams.
The Australian federal government during the recent Jobs and Skills Summit has increased permanent migration places by 35,000 to 195,000 for 2022-23.
NSW has the greatest demand for skilled migration visas and has also allocated 12,000 places. This includes 7160 places for 190 skilled visa applicants and 4870 for applicants to live in regional areas, or the 491 visa.
In September, Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet called the Australian Prime Minister’s announcement to increase the skilled migration cap and accelerate the visa process “a step in the right direction.”
To be eligible for NSW nomination a person must be skilled in an occupation that BOTH:
- appears within an ANZSCO unit group identified below, AND
- is eligible for the respective visa
Further, to be eligible for NSW nomination a person must meet the minimum point score AND minimum years of work experience in your occupation’s ANZSCO unit group.
For example, if a person is skilled as an Accountant (occupation code 2211), they must have a minimum point score of 110 and 3 years of eligible skilled work experience to be considered in an invitation round.
Karl Konrad, who is the founder of Australian Immigration Law Services, expects a mass exodus of engineering, IT and accounting graduates to other Australian states in the hope of getting permanent residency.
He told AFR that gaining sponsorship on 190 or 491 visas in jurisdictions with less arduous requirements than NSW:
“The NSW government is sending a clear message to accounting, ICT and engineering graduates with the high points and work experience requirements that with these occupations you are unlikely to find a pathway to state sponsorship unless you find a job in your profession.”
It is reported that an estimated 45,000 people will put in expressions of interest for the 12,000 NSW state-sponsored visas available this year.
These people will also be able to check the minimum points test scores and minimum skill requirements along with the complete skills list on the NSW government website.
Rani Patel* (name changed on request), an International student studying at a premier institute in Sydney, said that this issue may escalate and act as a deterrent to future Indian international students who are considering NSW as a preferred study destination. She adds:
“IT IS A BIG BLOW TO THE ASPIRATIONS OF INDIAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO NURTURE THE AMBITION OF CALLING AUSTRALIA HOME.”