When Abdul fled his home to save his life, he left behind his wife and 5 children. Little did he know he would not see them again for more than 10 years.
Abdul, an Afghan Shia Hazara, arrived in Australia in 2012 by the only means possible – boat. Before he was granted a protection visa, Abdul spent time in detention and faced desperate uncertainty. Upon receiving his visa Abdul immediately set about bringing his family to Tasmania.
In 2018, the Federal Government had decreed, via Ministerial Direction 80, that any family reunification visa submitted by refugees who had arrived by boat would be placed to the bottom of the processing queue.
This news rocked Abdul – he was still waiting for his family reunification visas to be processed. This announcement seemingly all but shattered his dreams of ever being together again with his wife and children.
In 2023, Ministerial Direction 80 was revoked and TRLS began immediate work to have his case expedited. It had been 10 years since Abdul first lodged the application. During this time Abdul’s family endured ongoing persecution, including the heartbreaking deportation and disappearance of one of his sons, who is presumed deceased.
Abdul’s struggle to reunite with his family faced another hurdle when his youngest son was diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability. An immigration medical officer deemed that the condition was likely to cause ‘significant cost to the Australian community’ and the entire family’s application would be refused unless the Minister was persuaded otherwise.
TRLS meticulously prepared over 300 pages of supporting legal documentation and appealed to the Minister directly – the last hope for Abdul and his family.
After an emotionally draining experience for Abdul, the Minister eventually greenlighted his family’s visas, paving the way for them to be together again.
Abdul has now finally been reunited with his wife and four remaining children after more than a decade apart. They are now rebuilding their life together in Tasmania and reconnecting with one another after a traumatic and life-altering time apart.
*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the client