A SENIOR who has lived in Busselton for over a decade is making a plea to spend the rest of her life in Australia.
Eve Crompton-Couvela arrived in Australia with her husband 16 years ago on a retirement visa from Britain.
The visa allows temporary residence for people over the age of 55.
The seniors cannot work and must be able to demonstrate they can financially support themselves for the time they spend in Australia.
Ms Crompton-Couvela, with 2,000 other visa holders in Australia, is asking the federal government to allow those who have lived in Australia for longer than 10 years the opportunity to apply for a permanent resident visa.
After recently losing her husband to Leukaemia two months ago, Ms Crompton-Couvela has been left to fight the battle alone.
“One of the biggest upsets of my life was Brian passing away and not being accepted as an Australian resident,” she said.
“All we wanted was the chance to apply for this visa and demonstrate how we had contributed to the community.”
A spokesperson for the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Senator Michaelia Cash said permanent residence and citizenship for Retirement visa holders would require whole of government consideration including budget discussions.
"Retirement visa holders are not precluded from applying for a permanent visa, if there is one for which they are eligible," the spokesperson said.
Ms Cash’s spokesperson said the visa was closed and replaced with another in 2005 due to concerns that the income and asset requirements were insufficient for the person to maintain their stay in Australia long-term.
The late Brian Crompton-Couvela fulfilled many volunteer roles within the community including treasurer for the Masons, a life member and board member at BESS Home and Community Care and board member at the Senior Citizens Centre.
“Brian was very well known in the community and helped out wherever he could, he was committed to this county and loved living here,” Ms Crompton-Couvela said.
When the couple arrived in Australia they had to update their visa every two years, this has now changed to 10 years.
Ms Crompton-Couvela said her renewal was in a couple of years and she was scared she would have to leave her immediate family in Busselton and move back to England.
“After so long in Busselton my friends and life is here,” she said.
“Another distressing aspect of this visa is I can’t access old age facilities and I’m now 76 years old.
“I would like to call Australia home and prepare for my later years.”
Ms Crompton-Couvela is continuing with her campaign and asking residents to help by signing a petition which she hopes to present, with others, to the House of Representatives.
Visit www.retirementvisa410.com to sign the petition.
