The Australian dream is over for a South African couple following a visa processing mix-up, allegedly caused by the Department of Home Affairs.
The couple, who spent the past 12 years living in regional Queensland, claim it was a nine-day affair that has left them with no choice but to pack their bags.
Rory and Michelle will board a flight next week, leaving behind their jobs and family.
“The crazy thing is we feel like we’ve done everything,” Rory told A Current Affair.
“There are a lot of hoops — and that’s fair enough. Immigration is a sensitive thing. But we’ve done everything right.”
Rory first arrived in Australia from South Africa on a skilled work visa after serving as a riot squad police officer, hoping to give his family a safer future.
“It was clean … sleeping with no burglar bars, no walls, no electric fences. I fell in love from day one,” he said.
The call that changed their life
The couple found work in regional Queensland, helping fill skills shortages while raising their two sons and embracing the Australian lifestyle.
But earlier this year, they received a call from the Department of Home Affairs informing them they had been unlawfully in Australia for nine days in 2023.
“We got the phone call, and they said, ‘Well, you’d been unlawful for nine days back in 2023’,” Michelle said.
“I was sort of taken aback, and I said ‘I’m sorry'”.
The couple claim the issue stemmed from the department taking an extra nine days to process one of their visa renewals — despite them lodging the application on time.
“I’ve got the emails to prove that we weren’t at fault during that time. It was purely their processing time,” Michelle said.
Visa battle leaves family unable to work
Rory said they had spent months trying to overturn the decision, while appealing, they are unable to work or study.
“The boxes are packed and we’ve got to make a decision,” he said.
“We can’t afford to be here without being able to work.”
The couple have a bringing visa until October and are currently without work. Source: ACA
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Michelle said that although their bridging visa remains valid until October, they cannot afford to stay in Australia without an income.
If the ruling stands, the couple say they could also be barred from returning to Australia for at least three years, which would mean they would miss valuable time with their sons and granddaughter.
“We’ve given Australia all we have over the last 12 years,” she added.
In a statement to the program, the Department of Home Affairs said it could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons, but encouraged visa applicants seeking a review to apply as early as possible to help maintain lawful status.
Yahoo News has contacted the Department of Home Affairs for comment.
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