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Much married Aussie refused sponsor visa for Filipina girlfriend
| Published: | 26 Aug at 6 PM |
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‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again’ seems to be the mantra for a romantic Australian pensioner who’s just been refused a sponsorship visa for his Filipina girlfriend.
Rex Peterson, 69, at present divorcing his third wife, telephoned the immigration department to find out the process for importing his latest girlfriend as he was intending to sponsor her immigrant visa. However, the ice-cream vendor received a shock when the immigration offer refused, saying he’d been married three times before and could not bring his girlfriend into the country even after they were married.
The officer quoted a little-known immigration law which states that two sponsorships of brides is the limit, adding that he had already sponsored his first two wives. Peterson, not best pleased, suggested he should throw his passport away, buy a boat, sail with his girlfriend to Australia and arrive as stateless refugees, leaving the immigration officer speechless.
Peterson explained that his first marriage had lasted for 15 years, his second for 18 years and his third – apparently just bad luck – lasted for four years before divorce proceedings set in. His lawyer told the press that immigration’s decision was more about border control and love and marriage.
According to an immigration spokesperson, if the much-wed Aussie stays with his new girlfriend for a full two years, he might get his wish when he applies again. The two-bride limit, added the officer, had been put in place to minimise abuse of the sponsorship partner visa and increase its integrity.
Rex Peterson, 69, at present divorcing his third wife, telephoned the immigration department to find out the process for importing his latest girlfriend as he was intending to sponsor her immigrant visa. However, the ice-cream vendor received a shock when the immigration offer refused, saying he’d been married three times before and could not bring his girlfriend into the country even after they were married.
The officer quoted a little-known immigration law which states that two sponsorships of brides is the limit, adding that he had already sponsored his first two wives. Peterson, not best pleased, suggested he should throw his passport away, buy a boat, sail with his girlfriend to Australia and arrive as stateless refugees, leaving the immigration officer speechless.
Peterson explained that his first marriage had lasted for 15 years, his second for 18 years and his third – apparently just bad luck – lasted for four years before divorce proceedings set in. His lawyer told the press that immigration’s decision was more about border control and love and marriage.
According to an immigration spokesperson, if the much-wed Aussie stays with his new girlfriend for a full two years, he might get his wish when he applies again. The two-bride limit, added the officer, had been put in place to minimise abuse of the sponsorship partner visa and increase its integrity.
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