It’s been over a year since Wentworthville resident Vikram Manuja has seen his wife Sudha, after COVID-19 erupted just as she was scheduled to get back from a trip to India.
Like over 30,000 other Australians stuck overseas, the couple have faced many obstacles in their quest to return home.
From passenger caps and limited flights, to cancellations after cancellation, the journey home for many is a complex one.
But these roadblocks have been only the beginning for the couple, as physical and mental medical conditions prohibit Ms Manuja from being able to quarantine alone.
Despite this, their application for an exemption to hotel quarantine was denied.
Mr Manuja said the process isn’t fair and he just wants his wife to be able to come home safely.
“I am happy to home quarantine with her, even with those tracking bracelets; we have no issues in doing that,” he said.
“Even our local doctor agrees she is not fit to quarantine alone.
“This is not about the money for us it’s about her health.”
Ms Manuja is currently staying with family near Delhi who are taking turns in caring for her.
India has been one of the hardest hit countries in the world.
The country has had 8.3 million COVID-19 cases and 124,000 deaths.
Whilst cases are currently on a steady decline, Mr Manuja said he has grave concerns for his wife’s health.
A NSW Health spokesperson would not comment specifically on the couple’s case for ‘privacy reasons’.
“NSW Health and other government agencies make available medical, mental health and well-being support for those staying in quarantine to ensure their stay is as comfortable as possible,” the spokesperson said.
“The NSW Health managed Special Health Accommodation is managed 24/7 by a team of medical, nursing and allied health clinicians.
“This quarantine option is available to people who require medical oversight or higher levels of support during their stay.”
Mr Manuja said their objection was on the basis that he needs to book a flight before they can receive the exemption, which is no easy feat.
He is then concerned that if they are lucky enough to get on the plane that there won’t be enough time to get the exemption processed and she will have to face hotel quarantine, at risk to her health.
The Federal Government recently announced eight charter flights to ‘rescue’ around 5000 of those stranded in the United Kingdom, India and South Africa.
This has received criticism from those who have had their regular flights cancelled due to strict passenger caps.
Federal Parramatta MP Julie Owens said the Morrison Government needs to come up with a better solution and that these charter flights “aren’t going to touch the sides”.
COVID-19 impacts immigration
The pandemic has not only torn apart unlucky travellers but added to an issue that has been looming in this country for some time.
Prior to the pandemic, married couples, families and the like had been separated for years, awaiting the approval of their Partner Visa Applications.
Director of Australian Visa and Migration Consultancy Services in Harris Park, Sanjay Deshwal said this backlog is a huge issue in the Parramatta Indian community and is only worsening as a result of the pandemic.
“I have clients who got married in 2013 or 2014 and their spouses are sill in Bangladesh and now with COVID-19 they can’t even see them,” he said.
Abdul Mur is one of Mr Deshwal’s clients and married his wife in 2009. He applied for a Partner Visa in 2013 and still awaits its approval.
“My wife and two kids are in Bangladesh waiting but they are from Burma and so they are there illegally, hiding; it is very dangerous for them,” he told Parra News.
Mr Mur fears he won’t see his family for many more years.
A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs confirmed there would be delays.
“Some applicants may currently have difficulty providing requested checks, such as health, character or biometrics, because these services may be unavailable in their country,” the spokesperson said.
Priority will be given to Partner Visa applicants already in Australia.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.