Wait game over visa
WHEN Abdiaziz Mohamed married his childhood sweetheart in Kenya almost two years ago, he never expected he’d spend their wedding anniversary apart, separated by an ocean, and in the throes of a global pandemic.
And with the birth of his daughter Ahlam last September, he’s had to navigate the trials of first-time fatherhood 11,000km away from his child.
Abdiaziz, an Australian citizen, has been playing the waiting game for the past 19 months since he first applied for his wife, Iklas, to be granted a partner visa.
And in that time he has tried to hold on to hope, despite missing out on his daughter’s precious first milestones.
“I wanted my daughter to be born in Australia, but it didn’t happen … Now it’s been one year, and she is one year and one month (old),” Abdiaziz said.
“She calls me baba (on the phone) and I feel emotional, like crying.”
After the couple’s wedding in December 2019 and Abdiaziz’s return to Townsville, he thought their separation would be short-lived, but the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to international travel.
Instead, he threw himself into work to afford the more than $7000 needed for the partner visa application.
He said being in this state of limbo was extremely stressful, despite throwing himself into study and volunteer work.
“I come to work every day and smile but there is always something behind it,” he said.
“I have printed their photos, and I have hope every morning. (I look) at them and it’s like they wake up with me … I think we are connected because when she (Ahlam) is sick, I get sick.”
In an email from the High Commission in Nairobi, he was told visa processing was being “impacted” and delays were being “experienced” due to the pandemic.
In a second email he was told visa applications would be expedited only if they involve “compelling and compassionate circumstances” such as travel to a funeral.
With partner visa processing times taking up to two-and-a-half years to approve, it isn’t clear when Abdiaziz will next see his family and with study, work, and financial commitments in Townsville, Abdiaziz cannot risk returning to Kenya.
After contacting the High Commission in Nairobi for months, Abdiaziz has recently had some welcome correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs, requesting more details from him.
Even though he has months left to wait, he welcomed the request as a sign there was light at the end of the tunnel.
“Because of that (message) I feel like there is a bit of hope … I pray and she prays, so she can come (here),” he said.
He said he just wanted to provide a better life for his family, and shared his dreams of volunteering with Iklas.
The Department of Home Affairs did not answer questions about how long the processing of visa applications were being delayed as a result of the pandemic, and said there were “many factors” that affected processing time – including the quality and completeness of the application.
A department spokesperson said in the year to 2021, 44,325 partner visa applications had been lodged.