By Soraya Caicedo
Melbourne-based Yessica Ramones, who is now an Australian citizen pictured with her Venezuelan mother during her 2015 visit (Supplied)
"It is not uncommon for Venezuelans to overstay or apply for protection," is a response from the Immigration Department that has generated confusion and disappointment among Venezuelans, some of whom are now Australian citizens.
"It is not uncommon for Venezuelans to overstay or apply for protection," is a response from the Immigration Department that has generated confusion and disappointment among Venezuelans, some of whom are now Australian citizens.
Juan Pablo Alvarez and his family - who are Australian citizens of Venezuelan origin, were hoping to welcome his wife's family for a Christmas visit downunder from Venezuela, in December 2016.
Alvarez 's parents had only recently returned back to Venezuela after spending three months with them had come to Australia to meet little Sofia.
Christmas would have been the best opportunity for the other set of grandparents, but the answer received from the Department of Border Force and Immigration to their tourist visa applications left them speechless.
Alvarez tells SBS Spanish that the response received by Mr Heber Garbi from the Australian embassy in Chile explained that his visa was denied even though the decision was not "a reflection of your financial capacity or professional and personal profile," but was due to the current situation in Venezuela."
"I cannot be satisfied that you genuinely intend a temporary stay in Australia."
Ongoing political and economic unrest in Venezuela, involving months of violent protests against President Nicolas Maduro, resulting in many deaths, appears to have far-reaching consequences for its people.
For Alvarez meanwhile, to his surprise, the Immigration official in Chile said, "I cannot be satisfied that you genuinely intend a temporary stay in Australia."
His parents-in-law have already visited Australia on several occasions and have never overstayed their visas - nor did they intend to do it this time.
"My father-in-law [aged 71] has a farm in Venezuela where he produces agricultural products," says Alvarez. "He has plenty of reasons to go back to Venezuela and my mother in law has all her family there."
He adds that they have no motives or intentions to even ask Australia for protection. "The only intention they have is to meet his one-year-old daughter."
FOR FULL STORY, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW
www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/spanish/en/article/2017/08/16/venezuelans-being-denied-australian-visas-due-countrys-volatile-situationhttp://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/spanish/en/article/2017/08/16/venezuelans-being-denied-australian-visas-due-countrys-volatile-situation
Alvarez 's parents had only recently returned back to Venezuela after spending three months with them had come to Australia to meet little Sofia.
Christmas would have been the best opportunity for the other set of grandparents, but the answer received from the Department of Border Force and Immigration to their tourist visa applications left them speechless.
Alvarez tells SBS Spanish that the response received by Mr Heber Garbi from the Australian embassy in Chile explained that his visa was denied even though the decision was not "a reflection of your financial capacity or professional and personal profile," but was due to the current situation in Venezuela."
"I cannot be satisfied that you genuinely intend a temporary stay in Australia."
Ongoing political and economic unrest in Venezuela, involving months of violent protests against President Nicolas Maduro, resulting in many deaths, appears to have far-reaching consequences for its people.
For Alvarez meanwhile, to his surprise, the Immigration official in Chile said, "I cannot be satisfied that you genuinely intend a temporary stay in Australia."
His parents-in-law have already visited Australia on several occasions and have never overstayed their visas - nor did they intend to do it this time.
"My father-in-law [aged 71] has a farm in Venezuela where he produces agricultural products," says Alvarez. "He has plenty of reasons to go back to Venezuela and my mother in law has all her family there."
He adds that they have no motives or intentions to even ask Australia for protection. "The only intention they have is to meet his one-year-old daughter."
FOR FULL STORY, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW
www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/spanish/en/article/2017/08/16/venezuelans-being-denied-australian-visas-due-countrys-volatile-situationhttp://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/spanish/en/article/2017/08/16/venezuelans-being-denied-australian-visas-due-countrys-volatile-situation
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