Help Keep My Family Together So We Can Move Home

Hello! My name is Chantel. Lewis is my partner and we’re both proud parents to Elijah.
We're a young family who currently reside in the United Kingdom.

 

We aren’t the type of family to ask for help, in fact I’ve had to hide this entire fundraiser from them so that I can proceed without them knowing.

People that know us know mine and my partners story. How much we have grown and how far we have come together as a couple. 


OUR STORY:

Lewis and I met in my hometown of Sydney, Australia in late 2016. He's was a British backpacker travelling Aus with his best mate. When we met we were both recovering from broken hearts. After a few successful dates, we decided to give it a go.
Then came the time Lewis' work visa was due to run out in Australia and the prospect of being seperated or having to end things became all too real. What choices did we have at the time? Break up? Try out a long distance relationship? For how long? Do they work?

The fear of not giving a potential 'great love' a real shot made our hearts sink. 

So I came back with him to England. My father is British so I was able to live and work here freely as I have dual citizenship.
4 years later we have lived in two countries, created some great memories, had child amidst a global pandemic, and everything else is history.

 

Not long after we moved to England, my dear mum (who resides in Australia) was told she has terminal cancer. We were not the slightest bit prepared and when COVID hit, our small family have already had to access our only savings to get us by throughout the period of not being able to work.

 

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we welcomed our son Elijah into the world on 6th of June, 2021. We couldn't be more happy or more proud of the smart, cheeky little man he's growing up to be!

 

Elijah will be 8 months in February (2022) and my parents haven't met their grandson.

Whilst mum has been telling us that she's 'holding on' for the day she can give Elijah the biggest kiss and cuddles, she is very tired and in a lot of pain every day.
I've always known my mum to be a strong, resilient woman. She has been through so much and has been trying to 'ride' out her illness until we are able to move back. But lately has been saying she doesn't feel like she will be able to hold on for another two years. :(

Now more than ever we can feel the clock ticking.

 

My parents have not been able to travel due to my mum's deteriorating condition and my dad, bless him, isn’t getting any younger.
We haven't been able to travel back to Australia to help or spend time with them in the last 3.5 years and Our BIGGEST fear and regret will be if the clock runs out and aren't able to get back in time before their health plummets and the worst happens..

 

We haven't told anybody how hard we have been struggling these last few years.

 

After every phone call with my parents, I put the phone down with tears in my eyes because I don't have the heart to tell them we're struggling financially and for all of us to move back home just doesn't seem feasible at present...

 

My partner Lewis, the most gentle, kindest soul with the biggest heart has been my rock throughout all this but  has also been carrying the weight of his own guilt as he feels like it's his 'fault' we are not able to just pick up and leave. 
This also causes my heart to feel heavy because it's not in the slightest. What kind of partner(and mother) would I be to leave him behind and take Elijah away with me for an indefinite amount of time? 

 

The weight of everything is starting to pile up on us.
 

I've also had to hide this from my certain people at my work. Not because I am hiding anything - they are all aware of our story and our wishes to move back home, I just would hate for them to think I'd abandon them by upping a leaving without a second a thought. That's not the plan and that's not who I am and I know they would support us no matter what. That's the type of people they are and I am so grateful to have met and work with such amazing colleagues. However, I'm not ready for them to know how tough times are on us.

and this how I have ended up here..

Where I am on my hands and knees asking for help in order to keep my little family together and help us get back to mine.

 

Australian Partnership Visa's are a bloody rort.

The current cost of the Australian Partnership Visa is over $7,000. In 2008 the fee was only $1,390!

 

Not only can it take 17 to 26 months to process - yes, you read that right.. it can take up to 26 MONTHS to process - Visa's to Canada are like $500 and yet take four months to come through compared to Aus.

Back in 2017 it took me less than 6 months to obtain a visa for the UK, and then in 2019, when I had applied for citizenship with indefinite leave to remain, that was only a 2 month wait and cost less than $1000 overall. The entire process amounting to less than a third of the cost of an Australian partnership visa.

 

The application process to move my family back to Australia feels exhausting, and the thought of being stuck in limbo while the government make a final decision just sends my anxiety through the roof. The thought of the whole process makes my stomach knot up..

 

It just feels like my partner and I are being penalised and would have to wait to be 'allowed' to give our son the life in Australia he deserves.
If there’s any place where the Australian government shouldn’t be trying to gouge out an immigration fee, it’s when an Australian wants their loved one to live here. They’re just taking advantage of people’s relationship. The fear of not being approved and losing all $7,850, airfares, and time is also a restricting factor. I have heard and read stories where others have given up altogether.

 

All the uncertainty and financial outlay feels too difficult and stressful to follow through. The price is so extreme that at this stage it feels we will never be able to afford it. :(

We'd also love Elijah to grow up around his aunts and cousins. 
My sisters and their children would love to be able to build a bond with my son. I'd love for him to grow up around family his age. Speaking of, my younger sister gave birth to her little girl the day BEFORE Elijah was born. It would be so lovely if they were able to grow up together. 

 

It's hard, it's really hard... and to top it all off, the guilt I have not being able to be with my mum throughout her cancer ordeal is just too much. I keep thinking 'what kind of daughter am I, for not dropping everything to go back my mum when she needs me?'

 

If you made it this far, thank you for listening(reading).

Any help, even just a small amount of help or even sharing our cause would be so deeply appreciated.

 

Thank you so much.

With love and gratitude,

 

Chantel,

Lewis & Elijah