M Kaur moved to Tasmania in the hope of better prospects of getting an Australian PR, as her chances were shrinking in Victoria.
“I had read many posts on Facebook about better chances in Tasmania. Many migration agents were suggesting migrants move to Tasmania. Many students were going there. So I went there too,” says Ms Kaur, who does not want to reveal her identity.
However, she returned to Victoria just two months later.
Many migrants are moving to Tasmania. The trend is ever increasing, since the federal government is tightening the rules around various visa programs, that had made it difficult for on-shore migrants to receive permanent residency.
However, experts opine that moving to Tasmania cannot be a pathway to the PR as the aspirants need to consider many other facets as well.
“Tasmania’s skilled migration program has been ever changing. The requirements to obtain state nomination have been toughened quite a bit over the past one year. The new financial year (2018-19) has seen these requirements being further tightened.” says Chaman Preet of Migration And Education Experts.
In some recent changes, Tasmania increased the work experience requirement to six months from the previous three. That means, before an applicant is sponsored for a provisional regional skilled visa (489) and skilled permanent nominated (190) visa, he or she needs to work for six months in the state.
Moreover, getting a job in the desired relevant occupation has not been easy for the migrants. “Picture is not as rosy as it sounds. I am an accountant. I wanted a job in my field but I could. I could get some casual work here and there, but it was not enough to support my PR application. I think it was a wastage of time and money to move to Tasmania,” Ms Kaur explains.
Many students who have moved to Tasmania from different parts of the country are feeling the heat.
A Hobart based student told SBS Hindi on the condition of anonymity, “There are no part-time jobs in Hobart. Getting an accommodation in Hobart is not easy too. Students are suffering. Moreover, consultancies are bluffing students. They send them here without any clue.”
“Introduction of 6 months required to be working in the state seems quite difficult to achieve for applicants who are currently on 485 visas. Those who are pursuing the trade pathway only get an 18-month visa out of which they spend one year in the Job Ready program. This leaves them with just six months of visa. Most of the applicants in this category may find themselves falling short of visa to work in the state for six months unless they complete their Job Ready Program in Tasmania,” says Chaman Preet adding, “Applicants pursuing the professional pathway may be in a similar situation. They get a two-year visa post qualification, however, they find it difficult to get jobs in their nominated fields due to lack of ample opportunities in Tasmania.”
However, qualified migration agent Rohit Mohan of Lakshya Migrations does not agree. He opines that it is still a good idea to move to Tasmania as the chances are better.
"Moving to Tasmania is definitely a good option for those who are not able to meet the points benchmark for 189 visa or conditions and points requirements for other states," says Mohan adding, "Tasmania differentiates itself from other states by offering the most generous skilled occupation list."
However, Mohan adds a word of caution too. He says, "Before moving to Tasmania, make sure that all other migration options for other states are exhausted. So we recommend doing proper research and seeking professional advice before deciding to move to Tasmania."
Ms Kaur, who has been to Tasmania and back, advises the aspirants to look before you leap. “Moving to Tasmania only will not get you a visa. I think one should research if there are ample opportunities in their respective fields. Going there and working odd jobs will not help,” she says.
