AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Mother who faced deportation over cost of son's autism celebrates official news of permanent residency
A Townsville nurse who was told she would have to leave Australia because of the cost of her son's autism on the healthcare system said she was "jumping for joy" when she received official word she had received permanent residency.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton indicated in May that Maria Sevilla and her 10-year-old son Tyrone would be allowed to stay, but the family only heard officially on Thursday.
The pair have lived in Australia for eight years, where Ms Sevilla finished her nursing degree and has since started working as a nurse with stroke victims in Townsville Hospital.
Her application for a skilled worker visa for regional areas was declined, with the Migration Review Tribunal citing the "significant cost to the Australian community" of health care for Tyrone due to his autism.
That meant the mother and son would have had to go back to the Philippines, where she emigrated from, despite her extended family and support networks all being in Townsville.
But now, Ms Sevilla said her lawyer had been informed the pair had been given permanent residency.
"[My lawyer] told me to sit down before she started talking, and told me I had been granted permanent residency," she said.
"I was jumping for joy, hysterical, I was crying, I was smiling. It was good news, it was a good day.
"That evening we celebrated with my family."
Permanent residency means the pair can live in Australia without any restrictions.
Ms Sevilla said the last few months, when she was unsure if she would be allowed to stay in the country, was a "rollercoaster of emotion".
"We would have to start all over again if we were sent back to the Philippines, and I was just very worried about Tyrone being in a new environment and having to start all over again," Ms Sevilla said.
"I was really terrified."
Her case received national attention after a friend of Tyrone's, Darwin boy Ethan Egart, raised their situation on the ABC'S Q&A program.
"If he can get along with us and we can get along with him, why does he have to leave?" he asked on the national program.
Ms Sevilla said she was grateful to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton for his decision, as well as the Queensland Nurses Union for their support.
"[Mr Dutton] may never know how much he has changed our lives," she said.
"Thank you Australia for giving us a fair go."
SOURCE: Mother who faced deportation over cost of son's autism celebrates official news of permanent residency - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Mother who faced deportation over cost of son's autism celebrates official news of permanent residency
A Townsville nurse who was told she would have to leave Australia because of the cost of her son's autism on the healthcare system said she was "jumping for joy" when she received official word she had received permanent residency.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton indicated in May that Maria Sevilla and her 10-year-old son Tyrone would be allowed to stay, but the family only heard officially on Thursday.
The pair have lived in Australia for eight years, where Ms Sevilla finished her nursing degree and has since started working as a nurse with stroke victims in Townsville Hospital.
Her application for a skilled worker visa for regional areas was declined, with the Migration Review Tribunal citing the "significant cost to the Australian community" of health care for Tyrone due to his autism.
That meant the mother and son would have had to go back to the Philippines, where she emigrated from, despite her extended family and support networks all being in Townsville.
But now, Ms Sevilla said her lawyer had been informed the pair had been given permanent residency.
"[My lawyer] told me to sit down before she started talking, and told me I had been granted permanent residency," she said.
"I was jumping for joy, hysterical, I was crying, I was smiling. It was good news, it was a good day.
"That evening we celebrated with my family."
Permanent residency means the pair can live in Australia without any restrictions.
Ms Sevilla said the last few months, when she was unsure if she would be allowed to stay in the country, was a "rollercoaster of emotion".
"We would have to start all over again if we were sent back to the Philippines, and I was just very worried about Tyrone being in a new environment and having to start all over again," Ms Sevilla said.
"I was really terrified."
Her case received national attention after a friend of Tyrone's, Darwin boy Ethan Egart, raised their situation on the ABC'S Q&A program.
"If he can get along with us and we can get along with him, why does he have to leave?" he asked on the national program.
Ms Sevilla said she was grateful to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton for his decision, as well as the Queensland Nurses Union for their support.
"[Mr Dutton] may never know how much he has changed our lives," she said.
"Thank you Australia for giving us a fair go."
SOURCE: Mother who faced deportation over cost of son's autism celebrates official news of permanent residency - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
