Eight years ago, Liezle came to Australia to study nursing on the strength of a student’s visa. Somewhere along the line, she met Michael Antonio. They eventually fell in love and got married.
As a student, Liezle was entitled to work a maximum of 20 hours a week. She got herself employed in a nursing home. Somehow, Liezle managed to make both ends meet on the meager income she made as a working student.
But things abruptly changed when she suddenly received a letter from the Department of Immigrations. She was informed that she was no longer entitled to work in Australia because she had already completed her studies. The letter also stated that she had to pack up and leave within a short period. Her bridging visa was denied. All of a sudden, the joy brought by her achievement of becoming a registered nurse in Australia disappeared. She was classified as an international student and therefore had to pay upfront fees.
The shock delivered by the letter from Immigrations was intensified by the fact that Michael and Liezle Antonio had a baby to look after. “Where will I get the money to feed my baby?” was the first thing that struck Liezle.
Her ordeal was somehow assuaged when Neil Galang came into the picture. Galang is president of the Blacktown Migrant Workers Union, a non-profit entity he organized to help migrants in distress. In the past, he has succeeded in helping many Filipinos in similar situations.
Ministerial Intervention
In a desperate move to help Liezle and her young family, Mr. Galang sought ministerial intervention. He introduced Liezle and her baby to Julie Owens, MP for Parramatta who in turn organized an audience with Migration Minister Chris Evans.
While waiting for a final decision, the Antonios survived on assistance provided by the Red Cross.
After a long and arduous process, Michael and Liezle got word from the Department of Immigrations that their migrant’s visa has finally been approved. The decision was handed down on 25th May 2010.
Other influential people who helped the Antonios were Michael Vassili (Barrister) and PCC-NSW president Elsa Collado. Many other Ministers of Parliament endorsed the petition of Liezle.
Australia immigration law have not long ago re-structured there proficient jobs list, does any one understand if this is gonna have an effect on working-holiday-visa, any kind of promises to change this kind of Australian permit?