The federal government has followed through on a promise to fast-track visas for workers coming to Australia from overseas, but many migrants already in the country who remain on temporary visas are furious.
More than 3,000 people had signed an online petition by Thursday calling on the Department of Home Affairs to give equal priority to overseas and onshore applicants.
Meanwhile, experts warn the policy is undermining faith in the system.
On October 6 the government issued more than 12,500 invitations for skilled independent 189 visas, targeting engineering, healthcare and education occupations.
The 189 visas are sought after because they are a permanent visa and have fewer restrictions, with applications determined on a points-based system.
However, most of the invitations were sent to applicants living outside the country, according to Melbourne-based migration agent Kirk Yan.
Mr Yan, who organised the petition, told ABC that preferencing offshore applicants was "unfair".
"Compared to offshore applicants, many onshore ones already have relevant jobs and work experience," he said.
"Besides, they have higher English levels and stronger connections with Australia.
"The government might push them away."
He said the policy could jeopardise Australia's economic recovery by failing to bring the right labour force into the market.
"The worst-case scenario is that Australia cannot attract the most desired talents from overseas while losing the existing skilled workforce in the country," he said.
'I decided to try jobs overseas'
Under Australia's visa system, potential applicants submit expressions of interest (EOI) which are given points based on factors, including their experience, education, skills and English proficiency.
The department then selects suitable applicants and invites them to make a formal application.
Applicants spoken to by the ABC said they were under the impression that their EOI would be prioritised on their scores, not where they were coming from.
Chinese civil engineer Albert Tang, 35, was surprised when he received an invitation to apply for a 189 visa this month.
Dr Tang moved to the UK earlier this year after failing to obtain a permanent visa while in Australia.
After completing a doctorate degree at Southern Cross University in 2021, he had lodged an expression of interest for a regional visa but hadn't heard back.
"I felt hopeless, and I decided to try jobs overseas," he said.
Dr Tang said he still wanted to return to Australia if he could find a tenure position at an Australian university, and so lodged an EOI for 189 visa on October 3.
He got the invitation just three days later.
"This must be a big joke, as I was invited with 75 points," he said.
In contrast, Michael Lin was still waiting for an invitation to apply this week, despite having skills and experience worth 90 points.
Mr Lin, a Chinese civil engineering graduate from RMIT University living in Melbourne, lodged his EOI nine months ago.
"I am speechless," he said. "Ninety points is very high score for applicants majoring in civil engineering."
Mr Lin is struggling with whether to return to China and change his visa application status to offshore to accelerate the invitation process.
"I am worried that if the government changes policy again to invite onshore applicants next time, then my efforts could be wasted."
Is it good for Australia's economy?
It is not the first time the Department of Home Affairs prioritised overseas visa applicants over onshore ones.
For other skilled migrant visa categories like regional skilled 887 visa and state-nominated 190 visa, preference was also given to applicants outside of Australia.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said: "The department is prioritising visa processing for applicants overseas to facilitate travel to Australia to reunite with family and to stimulate economic activity through work and tourism."
However, Hyeseon Jeong, the research and policy officer at the Migrant Workers Centre, said by keeping workers on temporary and bridging visas in limbo, the government was denying them the certainty they needed to build their lives.
"Migration makes an important contribution to growing the economy," Dr Jeong said.
"The current point-test system needs significant reform because, among other reasons, it does not give enough credit to the time migrant workers have spent working in Australia."
Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles on Thursday flagged that the prioritisation of overseas visa applicants may just be a temporary measure.
Answering a question from Mr Yan at the Migration Institute of Australia National Conference in Hobart, Mr Giles said the policy was intended to respond to a "short-term crisis".
"And when we get the position under control, as we are getting there with the additional resources that we have applied, it does enable us to make choices rather than simply respond," he said.
