Tongan family re-united after six-years [1]
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 - 14:01
A Tongan man who was disallowed from living with his Australian wife and son in Australia for over six years because of visa regulations, has finally been allowed to enter the country to live with his wife and son.
Neil Naufahu (28) and his Australian-Tongan wife Lopa (31) had been married since 2009, and their son Josiah was born in Australia a year later in 2010.
The six-year ordeal began in 2010 when Neil Naufahu was restricted from entering Australia unless he applied for a partner migration visa. The cost of applying for the visa (regardless of rejection/acceptance) was a non-refundable $6,800 AUD.
Living in Tonga was out of the question for the couple as their son suffered from asthma and would lose access to Australia’s quality healthcare system. Lopa resorted to posting a fundraiser on gofundme in order to raise money to cover the application costs.
Australian news outlets reported Lopa’s struggle, prompting local criticism against Australian Immigration Department’s handling of visas. A local immigration agent even offered to take on Neil Naufahu’s case, free of charge.
Finally, after six-years, Neil was told by Australian immigration officials that he could reside in the country. Neil has already found work as a labourer, contributing to his new home.