Australia’s federal government has turned away a large number of people who aspires to live in Australia by eliminating the group of visas and telling them that their applications were never existed.
Around 16,000 people which also include many families are getting affected by this decision. Many people have waited for as long as 8 years for getting a response and the migrant agents are also saying that some of the applicants are now too aged to apply for other visas.
Michaelia Cash, Former Assistant Immigration Minister ruled that the annual limit of 284 places for 3 types of visas for skilled migration have been reached, and all the other outstanding applications are not been taken or have been cancelled.
Last week itself, Senator Cash was promoted to become Minister for Women and Employment by the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Meanwhile, migration agent of Perth Robert Chelliah had called the decision as “callous and indifferent”. He also said that some of the applicants are now too aged to apply for other type of visas.
This change came into effect from 22nd September, and it also affected these 3 low priority skilled visas. It will also apply to all those visa cases that had not been decided by the Tribunal of Administrative Appeals.
In the mid of 2012, these visa types were closed to the new applicants, but all the outstanding applications were processed. All those applicants would get a refund on the charges they had paid.
Australia’s Migration Institute has raised a question of legality of the decision of government, and it also said that it will raise the concerns with the Immigration Department.
Most of the applications were for those occupations which are currently not in demand, which will affect the employment chances of people in Australia. Department Spokeswoman said.
But the government believes it was unfair to keep many people waiting for long period of time and that those affected can apply for other type of visas. She added.
