A migrant’s journey

Although Brent Allan wasn’t HIV positive when he first arrived on Australia’s shores from Canada, it would come to be a critical factor in his decision to stay.

I never planned on staying, Allan said. I was recruited here to work for ACON, as a manager for their education program in 1997.

Previously working for the UN, Allan said his intention was just to get some overseas experience for his CV, but once here learned he contracted HIV.

I’d only been in the country for 18 months; it was a very difficult set of circumstances, he said.

There was an unnecessary amount of shame that I put upon myself, because people in the HIV sector hold themselves up to a much higher set of standards.

I remember thinking when I was diagnosed, well, I can always go back to Canada, they have a better health care system anyway.

But a few months later Allan met his Australian partner Paul Kidd, they adopted labradors and a year later Allan decided it was important for him to become an Australian resident.

Everyone with HIV gets rejected, first by immigration and then by the health check. Only after can you apply on humanitarian grounds.

Twice throughout the process Allan was told to leave the country, something every applicant with HIV must face.

It’s pretty shocking getting a letter saying you have 28 days to leave the country – imagine being told you’re not allowed to make this home, not allowed to be an Australian.

Allan said the initial decision rocked his sense of identity, like being told he wasn’t allowed to be a gay man.

It’s too costly, you’re not the right type, so who cares if you love an Australian? You’re not the person we want.

Allan said the process was exhausting and left an incredible strain on their relationship.

Honest to god, I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t loved an Australian; twice I found myself packing my bag, thinking -˜I can’t do this, it isn’t worth it,’ he said.

Allan said he and Kidd avoided discussing the situation, but eventually had no choice.

It was so disheartening. We have two dogs. Where would we live if we had to go to Canada? Paul has a life here, family here, no-one in Canada; it was hard to watch your partner break down so I didn’t want to talk about it with him, he said.

Allan said his partner’s family was supportive and wrote statutory declarations for his application.

But when they saw what it was doing to Paul they became angry, because then it was starting to sink in for them as well, especially his mum who worried she’d never see him again.

Allan admitted he was in tears whenever he talked about it during that period.

Five years into the process and after a lot of money spent on fees, the Migration Review Tribunal overturned the decision, though Allan is still unclear what factors swung the case.

To celebrate the victory the couple took a trip back to Canada to get married.

I had no idea how emotional a wedding ceremony can be; and now we have our licence it’s on our wall and god damn it eventually it’ll be recognised in this country, he said.

Six months ago Allan became a full citizen of Australia to demonstrate he really had grown to love Australia.

I really am committed to residing in Australia and contributing to Australian culture, despite the fact this whole thing hasn’t been a pleasure.

Allan said he felt it was his duty and responsibility to assist those with HIV contemplating or already embedded in the migration process.

I think in that way I’m a better person now because I’m helping people go through it now, he said.

I’m very frank and honest with them about how intense it can be, how exhausting, and testing it is on the relationship, and be open and honest about accepting it as part of the process.

Allan said he knows of gay couples that haven’t been as lucky as he was.

I guess the compelling aspects of your case make the difference. You have to sell the sob story and prove that you are worthwhile, that your relationship is important.

Your whole private life is put on display, everything.