A British couple who relocated their family to Australia eight years ago is facing deportation because they are deemed "too old" to qualify for permanent residency. Glenn Tunnicliff, 57, and his
wife Sheena, 50, have been instructed to leave the country within seven weeks due to changes in visa regulations since their arrival in Perth in 2015.
Having left East Sussex in the UK, the Tunnicliff family embarked on a new life in Australia, settling in Warwick, Perth. Glenn found employment as a plasterer, while Sheena established her own travel franchise. Their daughters, Tamzin (21) and Molly (18), have pursued their own careers, with Tamzin working as a nurse and Molly studying Australian Sign Language (Auslan).
However, the family has now been informed that they must depart Australia by August 4 due to the age limit for obtaining permanent residency (PR), the pathway to citizenship, which is set at 45 years. This means that individuals over the age of 45, including Glenn and Sheena, are no longer eligible for the permanent residency visa, leaving them with no choice but to leave the country they now call home.
Expressing their frustration, Sheena stated, "We don't want to go back to the UK - we've made a life here. Now we are over that magic figure of 45, there is no route to PR for us. Australia classes us as too old, but we are the ones with the experience and training."
The family currently resides in Australia on Glenn's work visa, as his plastering skills are in high demand. However, with the sponsoring company about to close down, they will lose their pathway to a permanent visa. Sheena explained that seeking a new sponsor would be futile due to the age limit, which prevents them from attaining permanent residency.
The Tunnicliff family has spent approximately $80,000 on visas over the years, often receiving suboptimal advice from agents. While Tamzin can remain in the country due to her nursing career, Molly will have to leave as she does not qualify for a student visa. Moreover, there are concerns about whether their 14-year-old dog, Roxy, will be permitted to accompany them on the return flight due to its age.
Migration experts have criticized the age limit, arguing that it is unreasonable given the intense international competition for skilled migrants. Joanne Kinslor, an immigration law specialist, acknowledges the contributions of older skilled migrants but highlights the challenges of providing healthcare and pensions for an aging population. However, the Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on individual cases, citing privacy regulations. Photo by Mark, Wikimedia commons.