MAKE HIM AN AUSSIE
FOREIGN-born rapists, criminals get to stay in Australia BUT beloved local Italian chef & family man can’t become a resident to avoid deportation TODAY we appeal to authorities ...
WHILE overseas-born criminals are avoiding deportation, a loved Geelong family man and Italian chef fears his pathway to permanent residency has been cut off.
Luciano Gandolfo’s inability to meet the requirements for permanent residency leaves him forced to reapply for temporary skills-shortage visas if he wants to stay in Australia.
If he loses support and vital sponsorship for these visas, his future in his adopted country would be at risk. Mr Gandolfo is now pleading with the authorities for special consideration so he can achieve his dream of becoming an Australian resident.
The Centra head chef and Italian national, 50, says he does not meet the requirements for a permanent residency because he is too old and does not have “competent” English skills.
“I am a good citizen. I work and pay taxes,” Mr Gandolfo said.
WHILE overseas-born criminals are avoiding deportation, a loved Geelong family man and Italian chef fears his pathway to permanent residency has been cut off.
Luciano Gandolfo’s inability to meet the written English requirements for permanent residency leaves him forced to constantly reapply for temporary skills shortage visas to prevent being deported from Australia.
Without residency his family’s future in their adopted home is immediately at risk if he loses support for his temporary visas.
Mr Gandolfo is now pleading for special consideration so he can achieve his dream of becoming a “true Australian”.
The Centra head chef and Italian national Mr Gandolfo, 50, says he does not meet the requirements for a permanent residency because he is too old and does not have “competent” English skills.
Mr Gandolfo, who does not have any Australian relatives, was hoping to apply for a permanent skilled visa. He is currently working as a head chef under a sponsored 457 visa that is due to expire in March 2019.
The Department of Home Affairs’ website states a person has competent English if they have “achieved a score of at least six in each of the four test components in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test that has been undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging the visa application”. Other visas, including the distinguished talent visa do not have age or an English requirement, but Mr Gandolfo does not believe he is eligible for them.
Documents indicate Mr Gandolfo has not achieved a score of at least six in all of the language testing components outlined in the English Language Testing System.
Migration Institute of Australia fellow Jack Ta, who has successfully assisted families with visa concerns including deportation, said applicants must meet the English requirement at the time of application unless they were a citizen of the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland.
The Geelong Advertiser understands Mr Gandolfo has not been able to formally apply for residency because of his lack of eligibility.
While he is able to apply for another temporary visa, Mr Gandolfo is pleading for special consideration.
“I am a good citizen. I work and pay taxes,” Mr Gandolfo said.
He said this week he would do everything possible to secure residency.
Mr Gandolfo has the full backing of his employer and sponsor Cameron O’Keefe who described the Italian as the “heart and soul” of the kitchen.
Mr Gandolfo fears he could be deported if at any point he cannot gain a new temporary visa.
Mr Gandolfo wants to be granted residency so he can ensure his daughter Catherine has stability.
A department spokeswoman said a person who does not hold a valid visa at the time their current visa expires would need to be deported.
The department confirmed it does not administer the English language test.
“There is no limit to the number of times a person can retake the English language test and there are a number of English languages tests accepted by the department,” the spokeswoman said.
While Mr Gandolfo, a model citizen, struggles for residency many foreign-born criminals are extended ongoing stays.
There have been 164 cases since 2010 where the Administrative Appeals Tribunal came to the rescue of foreign-born criminals by overruling deportation and other visa decisions made by delegates for the Immigration Minister.
Irish pedophile Finian Egan, Zambian sex offender Likumbo Makasa and Brazilian armed robber Pedro Fernandez were among the crooks spared deportation.