Trying to kick start my dating life in a new country

I left my home country when I was 19 to study in a completely new place. I had dated one girl only before but I quite quickly understood it wasn't going to work out, so my experience is pretty meagre. I thought I'd get my degree and come back home but for political reasons, I couldn't and still can't. I moved to the country where I'm living right now, Australia, and at the age of 25 I realise that I practically have never dated anyone for a long time. Sorry, I misspoke, I have dated someone for a long time but I was never happy dating them. However, here I have the stamp of being an immigrant. I have a noticeable (not a very strong one though, or so I was told) accent and everyone here knows that getting married to a citizen is one of the ways to stay in the country. That's why a lot of people are wary of dating immigrants. Don't get me wrong, I totally get it, if I were in their shoes, I would've been as cautious. A lot of other immigrants coming here also either come already married or looking for someone local. But apart from that, I find my overall dating ineptitude a bigger problem. I grew up very introverted and now I'm trying to force myself to go out and meet other people. However, without a social circal that people usually for in their late teenage years, it's quite hard.

What I'm also worried about is that even if I do meet a person that I have feelings for and that has the same feelings for me, I might become a very needy and clingy partner as they would become the closest person for me. My only attempt at dating in my home country didn't work out because I was the only friend of that person and they held on to me so tight, I snapped from their grip. I fear becoming one's worshiper like this.