A grandmother who fights deportation to the UK after 43 years in Australia was demolished in tears after the government gave her a surprising postponement.
In recent years, Mary Ellis has had to apply for a non-stop current of 35 bridging visa to stay in the country after migration officials accusers her of lying about her past.
And in a final 'torture' act, immigration chefs even stood that she changed her name to that of her deceased ex-husband that she did not see in decades.
She has spent the uncertain in the last nine years, even though she is a model citizen, who has worked on a charity for homeless people five days a week.
But according to the Ministry of the Interior, she was a non -citizen – until a few days ago.
In an unexpected turn, Mrs. Ellis and her migration agent were suddenly asked to attend the office of the Brisbane department to give up her last bridge visa.
For 45 minutes in the offices of Adelaide Street, Mary technically became an illegal immigrant while she waited for Gold Coast Migration Agent Stan Shneider.
But an official then came up for her one Permanent residence visa that was granted by assistant minister of immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite.
Mary Ellis, 74, broke off and wept 'Tears of Joy' when he was called in the immigration department offices and presented her permanent visa
Mrs. Ellis, 74, broke and cried with 'tears of joy'.
“This is my home. I love Australia, “she said.
She had survived a diet of anxiety tablets when the stress of her uncertain future took its toll, her migration agent told Daily Mail Australia.
“All the pressure was finally away from her, after a considerable time that added her life for years,” he said.
Mrs. Ellis told Daily Mail Australia that the residence granted was a huge weight of her shoulders after years of uncertainty.
She insisted that she had lived in Australia for four decades since she had arrived at her then partner Martin Ellis, who has since died.
Migration officials tried to send Mrs. Ellis back to the UK after she had left Australia for a period and used other names and Aliases when she said she hadn't done that.
She said the new visa proves her case that she told the truth all the time.
Mrs. Ellis had lived here and worked for about 25 years for the NSW government, before he retired and took on community work as a volunteer at a charity organization.
Mary, who loves Australia 'has lived and worked for more than four decades, as a model citizen, even while immigration officials said she was not a good citizen
While Mrs. Ellis fought civil servants, the only spark of hope for the hard -working gran was nominated for the latest New South Wales Senior Volunteer of the Year Award for the second time
Mr. Shneider said that Mrs. Ellis had paid her taxes, she saved life, she has a pension and lives an economical life. '
Until last week, the only spark of hope for the hard -working grandmother, in the midst of her debilitating struggle with immigration, was NomiNatted for the newest senior from New South Wales Volunteer of the Year Award for one Second time as recognition for her service to her community.
This was for her work that served meals for around 400 people a day at Agape Oteach in Tweed Heads.
Mr. Shneider said that both he and Mrs. Ellis wanted to thank Mr Thistlethwaite – 'a very good person' and wanted to send her appreciation to the Minister of the Interior, Tony Burke.
In response to the articles of Daily Mail Australia about her plight, Australians responded overwhelming to support her to stay in the country.
“In my eyes, the 40 years of good behavior and a good character are sufficient cause and reason for the good Australian immigration department to enable her to live there,” said a reader.
Another posted: “She has been legal here for 40 years … has worked and contributed to this country … has not committed any crimes and has been a model citizen.”
Normally a person who brings a permanent residence visa must wait 12 months until he can apply for Australian citizenship.
However, Mr. Shneider will take up a request for Mary's citizenship next week, hoping that it will be granted under special circumstances to mint her as a 'real Aussie'.
