My name is Navninder Kaur and I have been living in Australia with my husband, Vikramjit Singh, for 18 years. We are living in Goolwa, SA with our rescued cats, dogs and rabbits. We have embraced Australia as our only home but the government wants to tear apart my beautiful family. Please help me appeal the government's rejection of our Permanent Residency visas.

In the last four and a half years, Vikram and I have run a successful Indian restaurant together. We are proud of our commitment to our Goolwa community and growing the local economy although it has now closed due to my visa situation. In addition to my job as a care worker in Estia Health, I am also completing a nursing program. My husband, on the other hand, is pursuing a career in aviation. Our two dogs, seven cats, 2 rabbits, birds and chooks are all the family we will ever need and it is right here in Goolwa, Australia.

Our application for Permanent Residency was refused because of a fraud lawyer who was later found guilty by tribunal and has been disqualified from working for any law firm. Even though we are still struggling to get our status in Australia, we have built a life here and we give back to the community. We are contributing significantly to the community through our role as small business owners, animal lovers and critical workers. We have rescued so many animals in the past and made them a part of our family. It will be devastating if we are forced to leave all our friends and family here and everything we have built in the last 18 years.

This is a very stressful time for us, and it is utterly disappointing that our contribution and participation in the wider community have not been considered. We are very hurt that even after living and doing business in this country we are forever uncertain about our future.

In 2017, when my dad passed away, I couldn't even spend his last moments with him because of our visa condition that prohibited us from leaving Australia. We chose our future, we chose our home, Australia and yet we are struggling every day to belong here. Although we are not yet citizens we see ourselves calling this place our home regardless of our status.

Our love for this beautiful country and the wonderful, generous people keeps us going. Please sign and share the petition to urge the Minister for Immigration Hon Mr.Andrew Giles to intervene on compassionate grounds and grant our visa.

Kind regards 

Navninder Kaur