Please sign a Petition to Peter Dutton, Minister of Immigration
My name is Jeffrey, I am 46 years old and live in Perth with my family. I was granted a 457 visa in December 2016 as the primary applicant and my sponsor offered me a permanent full time job contract.
It was always our intention to apply for PR and whilst it was never a certainty we thought we had a pretty good chance as I have a permanent job offer in my current place of work. Taking that into consideration we decided to sell everything we had- house, car, belongings we had built up over nearly 20 years- for the opportunity of a better life for my family in Australia.
However due to the changes in immigration rules this chance is now slipping away fast. Every avenue I have explored is blocked as far as I can see, as each pathway is just out of reach every single time.
I tried the direct entry route (as of July 1st 2017 age limit 45)(1) – I have 2 years work experience (3 years required)(2)
Expression of interest/ General skilled migration – as above
I tried applying for regional sponsorship (as of July 1st 2017 age limit 45)(3) – Perth and surrounding suburbs are no longer a regional area since March 2017 (4)
I don’t reach my 2 year time requirement with my sponsor until December 2018 – 9 months after the age limit drops to 45 from 50(1)
We as a family are devastated by this and are now faced with the very real prospect of having to return to the UK having spent so many years and many thousands of dollars in making the move down under.
Why should we be punished when we arrived in Australia before the rules were changed?
Is there anyway our case could be looked at, and for us to have the opportunity to apply for PR?
1) http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/186
3) https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/187
Please sign the Petition here: change.org
This petition will be delivered to:
- Peter Dutton
- DIBP
- Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull
