An Aussie retiree has slammed the government as an \u201cabsolute disgrace\u201d after being left stranded in Vietnam following a stroke, with his wife refused a visa to accompany him home.<\/p>\n
Robbie Elsom, 81, lives in Ho Chi Minh City with his Vietnamese wife, Dinh Yen Ly Le, 49, and has an 18-year-old son finishing Year 12 in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
Mr Elsom was due to fly back to Brisbane in late April to spend time with his son, but suffered a stroke on April 20, throwing his travel plans into chaos.<\/p>\n
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He was hospitalised in ICU at Cho Ray Hospital in April and May and now requires care from his wife at home.<\/p>\n
With Mr Elsom unable to travel alone, Ms Le applied for a three-month tourist visa so she could accompany him to visit his son \u2014 but on June 9, the Department of Home Affairs refused the visa.<\/p>\n
A delegate for the Minister said in the letter they were \u201cnot satisfied that the applicant genuinely intends to stay temporarily in Australia\u201d.<\/p>\n
The delegate cited a lack of information on Ms Le\u2019s financial circumstances, family ties and employment or other commitments in Vietnam as evidence she may intend to remain in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn balance, I am not satisfied that the applicant\u2019s economic circumstances demonstrate they will return to home country at the end of their proposed stay,\u201d the delegate wrote.<\/p>\n
Mr Elsom vehemently denies his wife intends to remain in Australia and says the decision has left him \u201cstranded\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is this government is going to allow another 300,000 migrants to come to Australia who will require housing and Centrelink payments but they cannot accommodate a stranded Australian citizen to come back with his wife on a tourist visa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The \u201cborn and bred in the bush\u201d Aussie who has \u201cpaid my taxes all my life\u201d argued that if the Australian government \u201creally cares about Australian people\u201d, it would have a \u201ccompassionate understanding\u201d for someone in his circumstances.<\/p>\n
Mr Elsom wrote to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, with a representative for the department replying in a June 12 letter, informing him \u201cno further action\u201d would be taken on the application.<\/p>\n
\u201cApplicants must satisfy all criteria for a visa as set out in Australian migration law before a visa can be granted,\u201d the representative wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe legal criteria for the grant of a visitor visa require, among other things, that applicants meet Australia\u2019s health and character requirements, have adequate funds for support for the period of the visit and intend a genuine temporary stay in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen deciding whether an applicant intends a genuine temporary stay in Australia, the delegate must take into account relevant considerations such as the applicant\u2019s personal circumstances, immigration history, incentive to return home, financial situation and ability to support themselves while in Australia. The likelihood of an applicant overstaying or seeking to remain in Australia is also a matter that must be assessed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile offers of support by family or friends in Australia are given due consideration by delegates, this in itself is not sufficient evidence that an applicant intends a genuine temporary stay.<\/p>\n
\u201cApplicants must be able to satisfy the visitor visa requirements in their own right. This includes being able to demonstrate to the visa processing officer that they have sufficient ties to their home country.\u201d<\/p>\n
While he says he\u2019s been left \u201chigh and dry\u201d by the government, Mr Elsom also claims living in Ho Chi Minh City means he is \u201cbetter off than most Australians\u201d, taking a swipe at declining living standards under the Albanese government.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood is good, people are respectful, people work hard and things get done today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll foreigners are monitored by the police and have to provide where they live and why they are here and have to justify their qualifications to work in Vietnam and the employers have to justify why they are employing a foreigner. All accommodation houses must report every tenant to the local police [and] in turn to immigration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia \u201ccould do this but there is no co-ordination or communication between immigration, AFP and state police\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia is the laughing stock of the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow I feel is how real Australians feel and my boys feel the same way \u2014 disillusioned, no prospect of a future in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The number of temporary visa holders in Australia hit another record high of more than 2.6 million in the year to March 2026, Department of Home Affairs visa statistics<\/a> show. <\/p>\n