Deported for failing spelling test
© heraldsun.com.au
IN A broad Top End accent, Trinesh Adari says he wants to be an NT copper.
But after living in Darwin for four years, he and his family must return to India because his father failed an English language test.
His father Appa Rao's last attempt to keep working in Darwin - an appeal to Federal Immigration Minister Chris Bowen - failed.
A letter dated November 29 said the family had until December 20 to leave, which they were informed of by their immigration agent on December 3.
Mr Adari was sponsored to Australia as a welder in 2005 under a temporary work 457 visa. His wife Sirisha and sons Trinesh, now 19, and Rakesh, 16, followed in 2006.
In 2007 Mr Adari's visa was due for renewal but regulation changes meant he had to pass a spoken, comprehension, writing and listening English test.
He has now failed this test seven times at a cost of more than $300 a throw despite undertaking night language classes, passing a forklift driver's test and a workplace health and safety test.
He has been on bridging visas since attempting to stay, having worked continuously since his arrival and being supported by two businesses to stay.
"I can work but what can I do for my son's future?" Mr Adari said in a strong Indian accent. "I'm disappointed, my wife's disappointed." His wife has been a volunteer for Red Cross for a year and Trinesh, who had to quit a job at the airport, said going back to Andhra Pradesh in India's south east was the saddest thing in his life.
"Mate, when I came here and went to school I decided whatever it takes I was going to be an NT police officer," he said. "I came at 15 right, I found it pretty hard getting into this society, getting into school, getting English, finding mates.
"I didn't expect I'd ever be talking like this, mate."
"I know they have to follow the rules but this is like the most saddest thing that could ever happen."
The family is applying for a Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme to be sponsored for a permanent work visa but can only do that from overseas and they expect a three-month wait for a decision.
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