Tamil asylum seeker Neil Para has completed his 40-day journey on foot from Ballarat to Sydney with some welcome news about his own visa status.
Neil Para took 40 days to complete the goal.When Neil Para fled Sri Lanka, he carried few possessions.
Neil says the experience of his family - and thousands of others living in visa limbo - inspired him to walk 1,000km from Ballarat in Victoria to the prime minister's office in Sydney. And late last week, he received some welcome news on his own status. His immigration lawyer Carina Ford confirmed to SBS News that Immigration Minister Andrew Giles used his special ministerial powers to grant him and his family permanent residency.
Neil Para is pictured with his wife, Sugaa and their three daughters. He says he and his wife learned English through their volunteering efforts.He volunteers with the State Emergency Service in the evenings, while his wife volunteers in aged care and for the local community centre. Para said he and his family wouldn't have been able to survive without the support of the local Ballarat community.Long-term uncertainty takes a toll
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