A British husband and wife who made a new life in Australia have been told they have to leave Australia within weeks as they claim they have been told they are “too old” to gain permanent residency (PR). Glenn and Sheena Tunnicliff, 57 and 50 respectively, relocated from East Sussex to Perth in 2015, accompanied by their daughters Tamzin and Molly and their jack russell Roxy.
After settling down in Warwick, in north Perth, Mr Tunnicliff got a job as a sought-after plasterer.
Mrs Tunnicliff opened a branch of Helloworld Travel, while Tamzin, now 21, works as a nurse and Molly, 18, is studying Australian Sign Language (ASL).
But their lives look set to be majorly disrupted after being unable to obtain a PR due to various visa changes since their arrival.
The family of four is currently allowed to stay in the country thanks to Mr Tunnicliff’s work visa – but the company employing him has shut down, leaving the family without a sponsor.
After settling down in Warwick, in north Perth, Mr Tunnicliff got a job as a sought-after plasterer.
Mrs Tunnicliff opened a branch of Helloworld Travel, while Tamzin, now 21, works as a nurse and Molly, 18, is studying Australian Sign Language (ASL).
But their lives look set to be majorly disrupted after being unable to obtain a PR due to various visa changes since their arrival.
The family of four is currently allowed to stay in the country thanks to Mr Tunnicliff’s work visa – but the company employing him is to shut down, leaving the family without a sponsor.
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“Australia classes us as too old [but] we are the ones with the experience and training.”
Mrs Tunnicliff, whose family now has until August 4 to leave Australia, added she and her husband spent £63,200 over the years on visas, and didn’t always receive the best advice from agents.
Of the four members of the family, only Tamzin can currently stay in the country due to her career choice.
Molly’s course, on the other hand, doesn’t qualify her for a student visa.
To add further heartache, Roxy, being 14, would unlikely be able to sustain the long flight back to England, so would need to remain in Australia without the rest of the family.
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Immigration law specialist Joanne Kinslor explained the age limit has been enforced amid concerns regarding the costs older, skilled migrants can have on society when it comes to providing Medicare and pensions to them in their retirement years.
The 45 year limit, however, was criticised by migration agent Mateja Rautner, who called it “unreasonable” given the fierce international competition for skilled migrants.
She told the Australian news outlet: “The Australian government is actively promoting Australia as the destination for skilled migrants and we are amid global competition for talent and yet we are limiting the options for skilled words over 45.”
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