Perth man facing deportation over postal mix-up

His bridging visa expires on 9th October and he may have to leave Australia, leaving behind a million dollar business that employs seven workers.

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By Shamsher Kainth
 

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A Perth man who planned to spend the rest of his life in Australia with his wife, is facing deportation over a bureaucratic mix-up.


54-year-old Paul Henwood moved to Australia on a state-sponsored business owner visa and bought a café for $800,000 in 2015 which currently employs seven workers. He has now been told he would be deported after his application for permanent residency was declined.


Mr Henwood’s original state-sponsored visa was running out on 19th September. On 13thSeptember, he sent his paperwork to immigration’s Adelaide office for processing. But he did so by Express Post instead of using a courier.


“I went to a post office and asked my documents to be sent to Adelaide via courier so that they reach Adelaide the next day. I was directed to express post which is the next day service,” Mr Henwood told SBS Punjabi.
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He said his application was declined as it wasn’t sent via courier.

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I feel, I have been charged with a crime and I am going to be convicted. And I am not even given a chance to defend myself- Paul Henwood

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FOR FULL STORY PLEASE CLIK THE LINK BELOW:
www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/article/2017/10/05/perth-man-facing-deportation-over-postal-mix