The number of Chinese on bridge visas rose to 25,299 from 18226 a year ago, according to the Ministry of the Interior. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation Photo)
The surge in the number of visa-holders in Australia has reached the highest in history and over 2 million.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as of the end of March this year, there were as many as one hundred and ninety five thousand people staying in Australia on bridge visas. The largest numbers are Indians, with 25478, followed by 25299 by Chinese and 37000 by unannounced nationality.
The number of cross-bridge visa holders rose by more than 40,000 a year, nearly 90,000 more than in 2014, according to the Home Office. The number of Chinese has increased from 18226 to 25300 in a year.
Cross-bridge visas are usually issued to those migrants whose subsequent visa applications are being approved. Granger (Jonathan Granger), former president of the Australian Immigration Society (MIA), criticised Australia's immigration system as "chaotic" and said "the government has limited resources allocated to the Home Office every year." Resulting in a serious backlog of visa approvals. "
Prime Minister Tam Po (Malcolm Turnbull) has said the government plans to reduce the number of immigrants it absorbs this year from the traditional one hundred and ninety thousand to about one hundred and seventy thousand, but the large number of temporary visa holders will affect the government's plans.
Australia added one hundred and fifty thousand temporary visa holders last year and 32,999 foreign students alone. Many temporary visa holders, such as students, backpackers and many cross-bridge visa holders, have the right to work in Australia.
Granger believes a combination of factors has led to a surge in the number of people holding bridge visas, including an increase in applications due to changes in major immigration plans and a lack of resources for the Ministry of the Interior.
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior stated that the duration of the approval period was affected by a number of factors, including the number of applications received, completion of the application form, the applicant's response to the Ministry's request, and the complexity of the assessment such as health, character and national security requirements.
Nationality of the person holding a bridge visa. (source: Ministry of Internal Affairs)
