Multiculturalism advocate Eddie Whitham has called on the Australian government to support migrants who are "stuck in a time warp" due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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Alongside countless Australians, some migrants here on working visas have lost their jobs.
However, some of them won't be able to access government benefits while they wait for permanent residency.
"They're stuck in a time warp," Mr Whitham said.
"If it's going to be three months or six months, the government needs to say 'this is what's happening', transparently, so we can go to the people and help them.
"I am getting enquiries from people asking 'what are we going to do?'.
"Multicultural Tamworth wants to know what will happen to all the thousands of migrants who are here now and going for their permanent residence."
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The Northern Daily Leader was also contacted by a group of onshore skilled migrants, who are transitioning from SC489 (skilled provisional) to SC887 (permanent residency) visas.
In an email, they said they faced uncertain times.
"Our families are not entitled to get help from the government, discounts for childcare and older children's university fees - yet we are paying taxes, just like citizens and permanent residents," the letter read.
"In order to transition to 887, we all have satisfied conditions of our provisional visa, i.e. settled and worked full time in designated/regional areas for a set period. We have done the hard yards and became a part of this country.
"We are ready to develop further, continue to enjoy Australia and contribute to the nation's wealth. Instead, we seem to be suspended in a never-ending limbo with not many rights but obligations. Uncertainty is mentally exhausting."
New England MP Barnaby Joyce told The Northern Daily Leader there were options for migrants.
"Under the package which passed Parliament on Monday night, the Government has waived the Newly Arrived Resident Waiting Period," he said.
"This means migrants who are permanent residents will temporarily be able to access income support payments sooner in the wake of the coronavirus economic downturn.
"Welfare assistance may be available to some other temporary visa holders if they face significant financial hardship under the Special Benefit payment."
