International travel still off the table for thousands of visa holders as Australia moves to Covid normal

The long-hated international travel ban is finally going next month – but thousands of people that Australia desperately relies on have been brutally left out.

OPINION

A few days ago the government announced that the international borders will open at some point in November, after being shut for the last two years.

While most of my friends were laughing with joy, I was crying uncontrollably.

In the announcement, I saw the words I feared. Yes, Australians can travel overseas again. Australian citizens and permanent residents. Not me. Not the rest of us. I checked every article I could, but the wording was the same.

I have lived in Australia for almost six years now, but what the past two years have shown me is how differently you are treated, if you are not a voting citizen.

Andrea Thiis-Evensen is hoping to get back to Norway to see her family. Picture: Supplied

I was told by the Prime Minister to “go home” if I did not have enough savings to help me for the foreseeable future.

When I lost my job, I was not eligible for JobKeeper or JobsSeeker.

In the end, I managed to get across the visa hurdle for once and got a full-time job doing what I love.

But now, after struggling to be able to stay in this country that I love so much, I am not able to leave.

I will have to stand by and watch my friends go on holidays to Europe, while I cannot go home to Norway and see my sick grandmother.

I had to tell my desperately sad mother I cannot come home and help her after her surgery in a few months.

I will not be able to visit my 45-year-old aunty, who has been diagnosed with dementia, and might just have a few more years to live.

Andrea and her grandmother. Picture: Supplied

I posted a rather bleak photo of myself crying that day, when it was all announced, and the comments were flowing in.

One woman said she had been separated from her husband for 21 months, another said she applied to see her sick mother but it got rejected.

A father who missed the birth of his daughter.

A mother who has not seen her son for three years.

A boy who lost his dad and could not attend his funeral.

The stories are endless.

Andrea Thiis-Evensen crying after hearing the announcement. Picture: Twitter

It is so incredibly unfair that a huge proportion of people living in this country are being treated differently, just based on our visa status.

We work, pay tax, contribute to society, yet are not given the same opportunities as others.

I am also painfully aware that I am very lucky. I sit here and write this as many people are in far worse situations than me, but it still hurts.

My mother leaves me voice messages, crying.

My baby sister is drawing pictures of me, where I am sitting on a plane, flying back to her.

When my dad explained I cannot fly home, she added a stairs up to the plane on her drawing, saying she will climb up and get me. It breaks my heart.

The drawing done by Andrea’s little sister. Picture: Supplied

I can see the guilt in my friends’ eyes when they mention their plans for next year.

Going on a trip to Italy in June. Going skiing in Japan. Visiting friends in London.

That in itself makes me so sad, because I am happy for them.

Some of them have spent almost two years in lockdown, they deserve it.

It is still unfair, but it is not their fault.

My partner was supposed to celebrate Christmas with his family in England, but their plans have now changed, after I broke down – quite selfishly – begging him not to leave me all by myself on Christmas.

Not my proudest moment, but I am terrified of being alone on Christmas again.

Andrea and her partner. Picture: Supplied

So here is to hoping. Hoping the government will allow us all to go see our families. Not just citizens and permanent residents, but the international students who have been stuck here. The parents separated from their children. The husbands separated from their wives. The ones who just want to go home to say goodbye to a loved one.

I want to hug my mum. I want to help her after her surgery. I need to see my grandmother again before it is too late. I want to spend time with my aunty before she forgets who I am.

I want my father to be able to tell my baby sister that I am finally coming, on a plane. She will see me again.

Please let us go home and see our loved ones. But more importantly – please let us come back in.