'Don’t Deport Us Over a Health Condition,’ Plead British Couple Facing Visa Battle in Australia
A British couple facing deportation from Australia after one partner was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis say it’s unfair their future could be taken away “at any minute.”
A British couple living in Australia are fighting to remain in the country after their application for permanent residency was rejected due to one partner’s medical condition. Jessica Mathers, a 30-year-old project manager and DJ from Macclesfield, was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2020 — a condition that has now put her and her partner, Rob O’Leary, at risk of being deported.
Mathers, who moved to Sydney in 2017, applied for permanent residency alongside her boyfriend in 2023. However, their application was denied on the grounds that her condition could place a financial burden on Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare. Despite the diagnosis, Mathers said her MS has been “well managed” under a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK.
The couple say they’ve been living in limbo for years as they await the result of their appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. “It’s held up our whole life,” said Mathers. “We’re stuck not knowing what to do, and it’s really upsetting. We know we could be given 28 days to leave the country at any moment.”
Rob O’Leary, 31, originally from East London, met Mathers while they were both backpacking in Australia in 2017. Since then, they’ve made a life together in Sydney. O’Leary started a carpentry and construction business three years ago, and the couple have built deep ties in the local community.
“We’ve made the most of our lives here,” said O’Leary. “We’ve always paid taxes, Jess has done heaps of charity work, and we contribute to society in meaningful ways.”
Despite offering to cover Jessica’s medical expenses themselves or take out private health insurance, the couple’s residency was still refused. According to Australian immigration law, non-citizens must meet strict health criteria, including not placing “undue costs” on the healthcare system.
“We’re not asking for special treatment,” said O’Leary. “We just want a fair chance to stay and keep contributing to this country.”
The Australian Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
In a bid to raise awareness and challenge the broader immigration policy, the couple have launched an online petition urging the Minister for Home Affairs to review their case and consider the impact of health-related visa rejections on individuals with manageable conditions.
“It would be heartbreaking to walk away from everything we’ve built here,” said Mathers. “Australia has given us so much opportunity, and losing it all because of a health condition feels incredibly unfair.”
The couple remain hopeful but know the tribunal’s decision could come at any time. Until then, they continue to live with the uncertainty of not knowing whether they’ll be allowed to stay in the country they now call home.
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