American man takes visa challenge to minister

American man takes visa challenge to minister

Twenty-eight year old Zachary Simms is determined to call Australia home, taking his bid for a permanent visa all the way to the Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.

The 28-year old had applied for a Remaining Relative Visa (RRV), a category granted to less than 300 people every year who have close relatives in Australia. However, the backlog and demand for RRVs means there’s a 16 year wait for successful applicants.

After his father passed away Mr Simms applied for the visa but his application was denied because he has step-siblings in his native United States.

“I don’t really consider them part of my family, because my blood family is all over here,” Mr Simms said.

“Zach is my son,” his mother says.

“Zach needs to be with his mother, and his brothers, and his stepfather. We’re his family – to send him back to the States would be devastating”

Simms’ mother has set up a petition to try and convince the Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to let Mr Simms stay. After his appeal with the Migration Review Tribunal was rejected, Mr Simms’ lawyer lodged a bid for ministerial intervention

If the ministerial intervention does not grant Mr Simms the visa, then he will have to be deported to the United States.

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