Sameer Mutreja had passed all his health checks and was about to be approved for permanent residency when the pandemic hit.
Share this @internewscast.com

Exclusive: Sameer Mutreja has spent eight years living in Australia and says he considers it his home.

Upon his arrival in Sydney from India in 2017 on a student visa, Mutreja completed two degrees in project management while working part-time in the construction sector.

His skills made him an attractive candidate for permanent residency, prompting the New South Wales government to invite him to apply for a state-sponsored visa in January 2020.

Sameer Mutreja had passed all his health checks and was about to be approved for permanent residency when the pandemic hit.
Sameer Mutreja had passed all his health checks and was about to be approved for permanent residency when the pandemic hit. (Supplied: Sameer Mutreja)

His future in Australia seemed all but assured.

With all necessary health and police verifications successfully cleared, Mutreja—now a co-owner of a local construction company—anticipated that his visa would be approved within months.

Then the pandemic hit, and visa processing times blew out.

Mutreja waited almost two years for his visa application to be processed.

Then, his health took a turn for the worse after having a bad reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine in November 2021.

“A week after I had the vaccine, I started getting double vision and vertigo,” Mutreja said.

Thinking he needed stronger glasses, Mutreja went to an optometrist and then an eye specialist, who diagnosed him with an inflamed optical nerve.

A few months later, in April 2022, Mutreja said he started noticing other strange symptoms.

“I had issues with my hands, they went numb. I couldn’t hold a spoon. I had pins and needles going from my legs all the way up my chest.”

After seeing a doctor and getting an MRI test, Mutreja was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). 

The construction site manager said his doctor did not believe the COVID-19 vaccine had caused his MS, however, he advised him his body’s reaction to the shot might have triggered the onset of his illness.

Mutreja said it didn’t occur to him that his MS diagnosis would pose a problem for his visa application, which was still pending.

In October 2022, Mutreja was asked to complete another health check as his first one had expired.

A few months later, in January 2023, Mutreja received a notification from the Department of Home Affairs that his permanent visa had been refused and he was now facing deportation.

“I was in shock,” Mutreja said.

“I had to speak to multiple lawyers to understand what was happening, because I didn’t even know what it meant.”

In its ruling, the Department of Home Affairs said Mutreja exceeded the “significant cost threshold”, which calculates the hypothetical cost of an individual’s healthcare needs over 10 years and triggers deportation if it is more than $86,000.

Sameer Mutreja has been living in Australia for the past 8 years.
Sameer Mutreja has been living in Australia for the past eight years. (Supplied: Sameer Mutreja)

Mutreja said the decision did not seem right.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I followed the rules to a T and I’ve been a tax-paying resident from day dot, it’s not fair,” he said.

The construction manager said his condition was being well-managed through lifestyle changes and medication.

The current drug he was taking for his MS was also a generic one, which cost far less than the amount triggered by the significant cost threshold, he said.

Mutreja said he was willing to pay for his healthcare costs, however, this was not an option the department would accept.

Like Mutreja, Mathers was deemed an economic burden to Australia because of her MS diagnosis.

Days after 9news.com.au published the article, Immigration Minister Tony Burke personally intervened and granted the couple permanent residency.

Mutreja said the fact that the minister needed to intervene showed the policy of issuing blanket rejections for visa applicants with certain health conditions was wrong. 

“It (the policy) does need change,” he said.

“There has to be someone looking at it case by case. There has to be some kind of personal understanding.”

Mutreja has lodged an appeal with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), however, he now faces a wait of up to four years for his case to be assessed.

Immigration lawyer Adrian Joel, who is acting on behalf of Mutreja, said his client’s case was concerning in many respects, chief among them was the refusal of the department to take into consideration the actual cost of his treatment.

“In Sameer’s case, he’s being treated with off-label, generic drugs (prescribed) by leading experts in Australia, but the government just won’t recognise the medicine,” he said.

“I just think it’s absolutely appalling that they won’t even consider it, particularly in the case of Sameer, who is an extremely competent, senior-level professional.”

Mutreja was diagnosed with MS and deemed an economic burden on Australia.
Mutreja was diagnosed with MS and deemed an economic burden on Australia. (Supplied: Sameer Mutreja)
Last year, the Department of Home Affairs conducted a review of its use of the significant cost threshold to determine visa applications, after a push from the Greens, who have called the policy “discriminatory”.

The report found almost 2300 visa applicants exceeded the significant cost threshold in 2022-2023.

The total estimated costs of the health services hypothetically required by those visa applicants was $1.06 billion. 

However, the 30-year-old policy was not in tune with medical advancements and prevented some people living with stable and managed health conditions, such as HIV, Crohn’s Disease and skin disorders like psoriasis, from being granted a permanent visa, the report found.

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said the department was unable to comment on individual cases.

“The Department of Home Affairs administers the health requirement to protect the community from public health and safety risks, contain public expenditure on health care and community services, and safeguard the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to health care and community services,” the spokesperson said.

“The health requirement is not condition-specific and the assessment is undertaken individually for each applicant based on their condition and level of severity.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Stock image extra cash

Many Australians Uninformed About Significant Financial Growth Awaiting Them

Millions of Australians are about to get a boost to their super,…

“Bob Vylan Stands by Glastonbury Performance Amid Police Investigation”

Key Points Police are investigating performances at Glastonbury for chants against Israel…
Kevin Proctor (left, pictured with Jordan Simi, right) has revealed to fans on Instagram that he is 'doing good' after being involved in a sickening collission during a 'run it straight' event

An NRL Player Shares Health Update After Being Knocked Out While Attempting Australia’s Riskiest New Sport

Former NRL athlete Kevin Proctor has shared that he is recovering well…

Watchdog Uncovers Favoritism: Public Servant Gave Unjust Advantage to Sister’s Fiancé in Job Appointment

A senior official at the Department of Home Affairs engaged in corrupt…
Windsor, UK - April 2018: Royal Windsor castle in Berkshire

UK Royal Family to Gain Approximately $180 Million from Government Funding

The British Royal Household released its financial statement on Monday, revealing that…
Illegal dumping at a clothing donation bin.

Illegal Dumping Puts Clothing Donation Bins in One State at Risk

Private waste companies in Victoria are facing financial challenges due to residents…
Sarah Waters

New Cancer Screening Program Launches Today, Aiming to Save Thousands of Lives

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia, but…
PM dismisses US rift concerns, says Trump meeting will happen

PM assures there is no rift with the US, confirms upcoming meeting with Trump

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed concerns around his lack of face-time…
Appeal for help to find missing woman Aanisha Sathik

Sydney Teenager’s Family Makes Urgent Appeal for Assistance in Search

The family of a western Sydney teenager who has been missing for…

Melbourne Homeowner Discovers Intricate Model Train Setup Under Home

Key Points After finalising the purchase of a home in Melbourne’s northern…
Donald Trump says a buyer for TikTok may be finalised soon.

Trump Claims to Have a TikTok Buyer: Meet the Potential Buyers Competing for the App

After months of speculation and multiple bids from would-be American buyers, TikTok…
Tammy Hembrow (pictured) has been spotted putting on a brave face in New Zealand with her family in the wake of her marriage breakdown with Matt Zukowski

Tammy Hembrow Enjoys Queenstown with Her Half-Brother Max Thynne and Kids Amidst Split from Matt Zukowski

Tammy Hembrow has been spotted putting on a brave face in New…