A British couple who are due to have their first baby in ten days have issued a desperate plea for help as they face deportation from Australia.
Sarah Maxwell, 32, from Wales, and Lewis Christie, 30, from Scotland, are waiting on a decision from the federal government.
Ms Maxwell has been living and working in Australia for nine years, while Mr Christie has been here for five.
The pair have plans to become permanent residents and have already spent $40,000 on a range of student, working and Covid-era visas.
The couple are currently on temporary visas and have until August before they expire.
Ms Maxwell is hoping to get onto the 491 Skilled Regional Visa, which will allow her partner to remain in the country, but has yet to receive an offer despite waiting for an answer since September.
The pair have launched a change.org petition, begging for help as they fear it won’t be granted in time and they will be forced to leave the country.
‘Our whole lives are here, and we are proud and grateful to call Queensland our home,’ Ms Maxwell said.
Sarah Maxwell, a child protection worker, and Lewis Christie, a personal trainer, have spent years building their life together on the Gold Coast
‘We have a baby on the way in May, two dogs, a beautiful and secure rental property, full time jobs, careers, pay taxes, have adequate healthcare, (and) have a solid support network.
‘All of our pregnancy, midwifery and post-partum care arrangements are here in Australia too.
‘We have always dreamed of raising our family here and we are so close to this dream coming true, though (we are) running out of time.’
Ms Maxwell previously told Daily Mail Australia the situation has made it hard to make long-term plans.
‘We’ve not bought anything for the past 3 months for the baby, and tried to buy things we should be able to take with us, in case we have to leave,’ she said.
‘We didn’t bother setting up a nursery just in case (either)!’
Ms Maxwell works in a state government-funded role in child protection and hoped to acquire a 491 Skilled Regional Visa.
Mr Christie, a personal trainer, is not eligible for the visa.
Their current visas expire in August, but Ms Maxwell’s child is due in ten days
The loved-up couple said they were not looking for a free ride, but a chance to keep contributing to the country they love
In the 2024–25 financial year, Queensland had 1,200 skilled visa nomination places.
That includes 600 Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visas and 600 Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visas.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesman said the skilled migration program is designed to target areas of need.
‘The size and composition of Australia’s migration program delivers on the Government’s commitment to carefully manage migration levels,’ he said.
‘The Skilled stream of the migration program is designed to attract migrants who make a significant contribution to the Australian economy, and fill positions where no Australian workers are available.’
Mr Christie and Ms Maxwell said they had previously spoken with Immigration Minister Tony Burke about their intention to stay permanently in the country.
But the last correspondence from his office came on May 9, advising them to ‘try again after the election.’
The ‘caretaking’ period over the course of the election meant the minister could not further investigate the case.
‘It breaks our hearts to think of having to leave the life we have worked so hard to create for ourselves and our family here in Australia,’ the couple said
‘Whilst this wasn’t entirely bad news, it does leave us playing with time we don’t really have,’ they said.
‘It took over 12 weeks for us to get this response, and if it takes the same again, then it will already be too late for us.
‘We are desperate to remain in our secure, safe home and in this incredible country.’
The couple said they are not asking for a free ride, but a fair chance to continue contributing to Australian society.
‘It breaks our hearts to think of having to leave the life we have worked so hard to create for ourselves and our family here in Australia,’ they wrote earlier in the petition.
‘If we have to go back to the UK, we have nothing and would be starting all over again with a newborn baby.’
