Women might leave Australia after being embraced by the country for many years due to unfair visa changes
Maria (changed name) came to Australia in July 2019 from France. She intended to live permanently in the country. For this purpose she worked hard even during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
She joined the Country Fire Authority during the pandemic time and helped the needy in the best way she could. She was hoping to get her permanent residency but is now forced to leave Australia because of unfair Visa changes.
She applied for the medium stream of 482 temporary skill shortage visas which would give her the option of applying for the permanent residency after living for three years in the regional area.
.
Maria is a winemaker. Her visa application was sponsored by a business in the Shepparton in Victoria country. For her application, she put her all efforts in her work and was considered as an essential worker.
She worked through the pandemic and was very helpful for the community. She joined Country fire Authority in 2020 after the Black Summer bushfire. She also worked in the flood impacted areas. She helped in evacuation, sandbagging and clean up works.
Now she finally was eligible for her permanent residency but was shocked by the new unfair changes in the visas after consulting with her migration lawyer.
Her lawyer informed her about the changes made by the Government in 2019 which make her ineligible for the permanent residency application.
She was shocked and frustrated after getting the shocking news from her lawyer. She said it was unfair and heartbreaking. I worked hard for my permanent residency application but the changes in the rules have left no option for her.
She said that she spent three years of her life in Australia making friends and a home to live. I love the place and have some stuff which is precious to me.
Now suddenly I have been told that I can not live here as I thought I would three years ago. Now I have to leave everything and start fresh. It is unfair.
Especially when the government claims to have more migrant workers and regional workers. They are opening permanent residency for many categories and want more permanent migrant workers.
The Home Affairs department says that 482 visa changes were announced on 20 March 2019. Anyone who applied after this will be considered ineligible. Also the 482 visa was replaced by a 494 visa.
But Maria said she has no information about the changes and she started her process of permanent residency application in the December month of the previous year.
She contacted her employer and chose the 482 visa as her best option for permanent residency. She got her nomination on June 5.
This is a nightmare for her. She said that she was informed about the changes and now left with no choices. After living and working in the country for years now she might be forced to go back.
