Missing Commonwealth Games athletes' visas set to expire at midnight

ABC NewsLeonie Mellor · May 14, 2018

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Eleven athletes from three African nations who disappeared during last month's Commonwealth Games have until midnight tonight to apply for protection visas or risk mandatory detention and deportation for overstaying their visa.

The missing visitors include eight athletes from Cameroon, two from Uganda and one from Rwanda.

Immigration lawyer Simon Jeans said he believed they will almost certainly have already applied for protection visas online.

"That application might take between one to one and a half years based on current processing trends," he said.

In the meantime, they would automatically be granted bridging visas until their protection claims could be assessed.

Mr Jeans said the interim visa would enable group members to work, access a temporary Medicare card and remain lawfully in Australia until a decision was made by the Department of Home Affairs.
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The Cameroon athletes left in three waves during the Games — the first three departing from the village on the night of April 8, the following day. Two more were declared missing and a few days later, three others left their rooms and didn't return.

Infographic: The Cameroon athletes missing from the Commonwealth Games Village on Queensland's Gold Coast. (LtoR, top row to bottom row): Fotsala Simplice, Fokou Arsene, Ndzie Tchoyi Christian, Yombo Ulrich, Ndiang Christelle, Minkoumba Petit David, Fouodji Arcangeline Sonkbou and Matam Matam Olivier Heracles. (ABC News)

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Two Ugandans and a Rwandan power-lifting coach are also unaccounted for.

"I think they're still here. If they've disappeared from the Games, it means they're going to stay [in Australia]," Mr Jeans said.

"They've either gone to the African communities in Sydney or Melbourne.

"Many of the African people who have come to Australia have either been through offshore refugee cases or onshore refugee cases and they're very well aware of their rights and immigration possibilities."

Regular occurrence at large sporting eventsA department spokesperson would not confirm exactly how many athletes were still missing.

In a statement, the spokesperson said visiting accredited athletes and officials were able to remain lawfully in Australia until May 15 when their visas expired.
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It is not uncommon for athletes and officials from poorer countries to go missing during major sporting events.

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