by SEAN BURKE – A 16-YEAR-OLD girl could spend Christmas separated from her Australian family due to a two-tiered immigration system that favours foreign families above Australians.
The girl’s Melbourne step-father, Robert Mierendorff, says Australian immigration officials appear to be setting the bar “way higher” for some families than for others.
- It turns out her mother was treated as an out-patient during the birth.
- Because of this, “acceptable” medical records could not be provided to the Australian Embassy, which then denied the visa application.
“If the Australian Government can allow millions of immigrants into Australia on one-way visas, why are they making it so difficult for my step-daughter to visit for just two weeks over Christmas?” he said.
Mr Mierendorff said his step-daughter’s grandfather (and carer) had died earlier this year.
CITIZENS
“Her mother, Jonnalyn, and I have two young children who are both Australian citizens,” he said.
“In November last year, I applied for a Subclass 600 visa for my step-daughter to spend time in Australia with us.
“After providing the Australian Embassy in the Philippines with her birth certificate and passport details, we were asked to provide additional details from the hospital where she was born.
“It turns out that her mother was treated as an out-patient during the birth and spent only four hours in hospital.”
He said that, because of this, he could not access “acceptable” medical records for the Australian Embassy, which then denied the visa application.
Following the death of the teenager’s grandfather, Mr Mierendorff re-applied to the embassy – this time for a tourist visa.
“We were hoping she could spend Christmas with her mother, brother and sister, but they are making it almost impossible,” he said.
“On advice, we secured a DNA test – which was ultimately processed by a medical lab in the USA – to prove that she is my partner’s daughter.
“But, the Australian Embassy has since advised us that they would not accept DNA results from the USA and that we would need to repeat the test using a Manila-based facility – at a further cost of $1500.
“Having already spent more than $1000 to apply for the visa, spending another $1500 appears completely unnecessary and wasteful.
“Even if we do proceed, there’s no assurance the Australian Embassy will issue a visa.
“This is about a young family just wanting to spend Christmas together,” he said
“The Australian immigration system, however, appears to be setting the bar way higher for some families than for others.” PC
Your 16-year-old daughter can’t vote. She is of no use to Mr Albanese. Good luck. My prayers are with you Robert.
You have no hope buddy. What made you think this was your country?
What do you expect. This nation-wrecking government has sided with their immigrant voting bloc at the expense of traditional Australians. And, if a visa applicant is from a Christian nation, you can expect maximum pushback from Albanese’s immigration department.