The number of temporary foreign residents on bridge visas has soared by 45 percent in the past nine months, thanks to increased scrutiny by the interior ministry, especially from china and India.
Mr. Tan on Monday defended a 20, 000 drop in the number of permanent immigrants last fiscal year, saying it reflected a rigorous review of future immigrants. Australia issued only 163000 permanent residence visas last year, the lowest in a decade, the prime minister said, despite a record number of foreigners demanding immigrants to come to Australia.
"We have received more immigration applications than ever before, so how do we achieve this goal? Is through absolutely more selective and cautious procedures to ensure that every immigrant who comes here is the person we want, and that's our goal. "
Mr Tan said the goverment saw the immigration program as a "recruitment" activity. "We want to recruit the best and smartest people, but we should not bring any extra people into Australia as immigrants, except for those we need or want."
The number of future immigrants on bridge visas reached an all-time high during the review of immigration applications, according to the Home Office.
A department spokesman said a cross-bridge visa allows a person to stay legally in Australia while applying for a technical, family or asylum visa.
The number of people crossing the bridge is an indicator of the gap between visa demand and sectoral supply for foreigners (and all types) who already live in Australia.
In the nine months to March, the number of cross-bridge visas rose from 137400 to 194900, according to departmental data.
While the slowdown in visa approval affects applicants from all countries, applicants from China and India are most affected.
During the period under review, the number of Chinese holders of bridge visas increased from 14100 to 29200 over the past nine months, while the number of Indian visa holders rose from 16700 to 28200.
(Peter McDonald), a demographer at the University of Melbourne, said the increasing scrutiny of visa applications, including whether they were linked to terrorists, had slowed the pace of visa approval. The increase in the number of foreign students has also led to an increase in the demand for permanent residence.
In addition to stricter scrutiny, the increase in cross-bridge visas reflects changes in the goverment immigration program, in particular the decision to cut the 457 visa program and replace it with a temporary skills shortage visa.
The agency estimates that by June 30, the number of people on bridge visas will be down from 176000 at the end of March, but still up 30 percent from last year. Interior Secretary Dutton said the department has carried out a more stringent review of the application. "We worry about fraud. Some people claim to be qualified for a job without a job, and we are really cutting back on immigration," he said.
