When Marie Caussy returned to her native Mauritius in early March, she was desperate for it to be a quick trip.
The Melbourne chef was seven months pregnant and had only returned to her home country to apply for her daughter’s visa. Born in Australia, her two-year-old had become ‘illegal’ because Marie didn’t fill out the correct paperwork after giving birth, a mistake she was scrambling to fix.
The only way to rectify the situation, as instructed by the Australian Border Force, was to leave the country and apply.
The plan: arrive in Mauritius, apply for her daughter's visa and return within four weeks.
Less than two weeks after she landed, the coronavirus pandemic escalated. Marie’s daughter still didn’t have her visa, so she couldn't rush home as instructed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on March 17. Three days later, the government shut all borders to non-citizens and non-permanent residents.
Marie told SBS Dateline that her life and her future is in Australia. She arrived with her husband, Rajiv Caussy, in 2016, began a career as a chef, had her first child, and eventually plans to become a permanent resident. She currently holds a working visa, sponsored by the Dandenong Pavilion.
Ready for the birth of her second child, Marie had a gynaecologist and a hospital ready in Melbourne. So after the borders closed, Marie appealed to the Australian Border Force for an exemption to the ban to return home in time to give birth.
Marie and Rajiv Caussy with their daughter. They have been separated since March. Source: Supplied
Her first application was rejected. She needed more proof she was pregnant. The second was also rejected. Then, she was too pregnant to travel.
Marie gave birth by cesarean in a Mauritian clinic in May. COVID-19 restrictions meant she was alone.
“I heard my son crying. I said to him, ‘listen, your Daddy is not here to hold you’.”
Almost four months later, Marie is still in Mauritius and Rajiv is yet to meet their newborn.
“My husband won’t tell me how sad he is but I can tell. I can hear it in his voice.”
Marie has applied five times for an exemption. She hopes the sixth will be successful.
In Australia, Rajiv has been busy during the pandemic, working for a laundry cleaning service that cleans health-care goods, like bed-linen and scrubs from Melbourne hospitals.
Although she’s been living with her mother, who has helped care for her second child while nursing her newborn, the uncertainty and separation from her partner has exacerbated severe postpartum depression. Rajiv was close to leaving Melbourne to go to Mauritius to support his partner, but it was financially unfeasible and likely the pair would then be unable to return.
“I said no, if you do this, we will run out of money.”
Instead, they wait, as Rajiv watches his two children grow-up over FaceTime.
“My daughter won’t say daddy anymore.”
Marie’s story is one of hundreds of experiences facing temporary migrant visas holders, stuck outside Australia.
Building lives, establishing homes and paying taxes in Australia
Senator Nick McKim, the Australian Greens immigration spokesperson, told SBS Dateline he is working through around 400 cases, including 28 where parents are separated from their children and 140 where couples are separated.
“Temporary visa holders are guests in our country. Many have built their lives here, they have homes here and have taxes here,” he said.
According to government data released on Wednesday, two-thirds of permanent residency visa grants last year were made to those already living in Australia under temporary visas.
“As soon as the going got tough, the government slammed the door in their faces.”
The government has argued that the ban was necessary to prevent a huge spike of COVID-19 cases at the beginning of the outbreak, and to prevent hotel quarantine from being overloaded.
In a statement to SBS Dateline, a spokesperson from the Australian Border Force said: “The current travel restrictions have been implemented on the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.”
“Each case is unique and is considered on its own merit based on the information provided in the application, and supporting evidence must be provided.
“These decisions are not taken lightly, but the government’s priority is to protect the Australian community against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Senator McKim is one of the only politicians who has raised the issue in parliament. He introduced a motion in earlier this month to grant travel exemptions for all temporary visa holders who are separated from either their immediate family (including children, partners, and spouses), their established homes, or their jobs in Australia.
Senator Nick McKim has attempted to pass a motion to grant more temporary visa holders exemptions. Source: AAP
It was voted down.
“Labor didn’t support that motion, I was surprised and disappointed.”
Labor said while Australians are still trapped overseas, they should be the priority.
Senator McKim then raised the issue with the ABF Commissioner Michael Outram, who promised to . Since then, Senator McKim has seen a small uptick in exemption approvals.
This week, the Department of Home Affairs to be automatically exempt from Australia’s travel restrictions. This will amount to a fraction of total temporary visa holders.
“Ninety-nine per cent of outwards requests are currently being finalised within 48 hours, and 99 per cent of inwards requests are being finalised within seven days,” a spokesperson from the Australian Border Force told SBS Dateline.
Registered nurse Harjot Kaur had her exemption approved this week. It was her eleventh attempt since March.
The 25-year-old returned to India in January to visit family and has been living in Australia since 2016. She was unable to return before the border shut.
Ten applications for an exemption to enter Australia had been denied by the ABF, despite her occupation being an essential service.
“If we come back to Australia we are going to help the Australian people. I am a nurse, I can help people in hospital and aged care.”
Senator Nick McKim said that while there appears to be movement toward , he isn’t hopeful they will be at the pace and volume needed.
“It would also be helpful if the commissioner released guidelines on how applications are being assessed.”
“It’s been nine months with no hope and no ray of light.”
In the meantime, other families wait. Gaurav Malik moved to Australia in January as a skilled migrant working as a software engineer. His wife and son, who had valid visas, were expected to follow him in March.
“Every time I go outside and see families enjoying themselves, it reminds me of my family and the time we used to spend together,” he told SBS Dateline.
“It’s been nine months with no hope and no ray of light.”
Gaurav Malik cannot return to India because there are no jobs and he values his work in Australia. He is desperate for his wife and son to join him here.
Guarav Malik, his wife and son have been apart since January. Source: Supplied
“Most painful part is seeing your son grow on FaceTime,” he said.
On the other side of the world, UK national Lawrence Rolfe has been sleeping on his daughter’s couch in Edinburgh. He returned to England earlier in the year to have a memorial service for his wife, Judy, who died.
Judy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, it metastasised to her bones in 2011. The couple moved to Australia in 2014 to be close to two of their other children and enjoy the Australian lifestyle during Judy’s cancer treatment.
Lawrence explains that his life and community is in Australia. The 69-year-old is so desperate to get home in time to scatter Judy’s ashes by the anniversary of her passing in November.
Lawrence has been grieving the death of his wife Judy while desperate to return to Australia. Source: Supplied
“Judy ashes are still in my bedroom at home [in Melbourne] it has been an absolute nightmare.”
“I would have been 9 months out of the country and it’s almost a year from passing.”
Even if Lawrence is granted an exemption, he will be in the same position as hundreds of Australians stuck overseas unable to get flights to return home.
Senator Nick McKim argues the government can do more to help Australians and temporary visa holders return home.
“Of course the government needs to do more to help Australians come home. But we also need to do more to help temporary visa holders come back to their homes in Australia.”
