content material coming from — www.dailymail.co.uk
A German expat who has lived in Australia for greater than two years is begging the federal government to let her come residence after she was left stranded abroad.
Katie Arenkova, 23, left for a Bali vacation on March 11 with a good friend however is now caught overseas after the Australian authorities banned non-citizens and non-permanent residents from getting into the nation to fight coronavirus.
For the previous two and a half years, she has studied, labored and rented a house in Perth along with her French restaurant-manager fiancé Thomas Petrillo, 27.
However Miss Arenkova, who’s on a scholar visa, now finds herself shut off from her life in Australia and going through an unsure destiny.
Scroll down for video
Katie Arenkova, 23, has been locked out of her residence in Australia after entry bans have been put in place whereas she was on a week-long vacation in Bali
‘I am devastated. I’ve by no means cried a lot in my life,’ she informed Each day Mail Australia on Saturday.
‘Yesterday was so laborious. I’ve all of my belongings in Australia, my fiancee, my assist, a automotive, a job, a home, well being care, every thing.
‘All these years, I’ve felt at residence in Australia and I’m so unhappy, that I can’t depend myself as a resident by having every thing I personal in Perth.’
Days earlier than she was resulting from fly residence the Australian authorities shut the border to non-residents.
The principles of the border closure say companions of everlasting residents are allowed again in. However Miss Arenkova’s fiancé is non permanent resident on a expertise scarcity visa.
She desperately tried to re-book flights, however all of them cancelled hours earlier than they have been resulting from depart.
She has six flights with pending refunds, however airways are solely providing flight credit right now.
The Social Media and Advertising and marketing scholar met her fiancée Thomas Petrillo, 27, (pictured collectively) when she moved to Perth two-and-a-half years in the past
Her journey insurance coverage has simply expired and she or he says her solely choice appears to return to Germany, however one-way flights have soared to $8,000 one-way as aviation demand internationally has halted.
The German embassy in Australia mentioned it cannot assist. Germany’s repatriation efforts from Indonesia stay a low precedence, leaving her doubtlessly in limbo for months.
The advertising and marketing scholar is now holed up in a Balinese lodge as funds dwindle, being supported by her buddies again residence, and fiancé, whose enterprise has taken a significant hit.
She fears her scholar visa might be cancelled as she cannot attend faculty, which is able to means she might be locked overseas or completely banned.
Miss Arenkova mentioned she wouldn’t have left Australia if she knew what was to come back, however there have been no warnings in place when she departed.
Ms Arenkova is asking on the Australian authorities to make exception to permit individuals who have their lives arrange within the nation to have the ability to return residence
She mentioned she understands the Australian authorities cannot let everybody into Australia however particular consideration ought to be given to those that have their lives arrange in another country.
‘I do know it’s a good rule to not everybody in, however there needs to be exceptions for individuals who have a life there,’ she mentioned.
‘I perceive utterly that they cannot let in each scholar traveller, however I’ve a job, a home lease, a automotive, and I am finding out.
‘Even when there was an authorisation kind that individuals may use to show that they’ve a life in Australia and might be let in.
‘I’m asking with all my coronary heart, to please give me authorization to enter the nation as a resident.
The federal authorities has mentioned it would think about making exemptions to the border closure on compassionate grounds.
— to www.dailymail.co.uk
