The Mills family said they were returning to the UK after 13 years in the county of Sutherland caring for sick relatives

A family was “almost devastated” after receiving 35-day marching orders to leave Australia despite one of their children being born in the country.

Nathan and Emma Mills are “completely devastated” over their immigration disputes in the country they have called home for the past 13 years.

The couple arrived in Australia from the UK in 2010 with two young children and have since had a third child who is an Australian citizen.

The family came on 457 skilled worker visas to care for Emma’s father, an Australian citizen who suffers from severe spinal and mental health problems.

Nathan and Emma Mills arrived in Australia from the UK in 2010 with two young children and have since given birth to a third child who is an Australian citizen (pictured with their family, who is now at risk of deportation).

When the family arrived in Australia, they settled with their children in the Sutherland Shire south of Sydney.

But now, 13 years later, despite repeated attempts to obtain a permanent visa, they are threatened with expulsion from the country.

On April 13, Emma received a letter from the Home Office saying they had 35 days to leave the country or they could be arrested and deported.

“To be told you have 35 days to pack up and leave the country is just crazy and not even an option for us,” Emma said A topical matter.

“It almost destroyed our family and as a mother it’s extremely difficult not to be able to reassure your children that their future is here.”

The family have since been granted a bridging visa while awaiting their fate and have been advised not to leave Australia while their status is unclear.

Nathan had to stay in the country while his mother fell seriously ill in the UK a few weeks ago.

‘[I was] “Devastated absolutely devastated it’s not just my mom it’s my dad who is 80 and needed help and there was nothing I could do and it was awful,” said a tearful Nathan.

The family was told that their children’s school registrations were invalid as their visas had been cancelled.

This is despite the fact that their middle child Harry is in the middle of his HSC and their daughter Daisy Grace was born in Australia.

A “devastated” Nathan (pictured) has had to stay in the country while his mother was seriously ill in the UK a few weeks ago with her visa status in limbo

The federal government denied several attempts by the Mills family to obtain a nursing visa to care for a sick relative. After 13 years in the country, they are told they must return to the UK (pictured: Emma Mills with her Australian-born daughter Daisy Grace)

Emma told 2GB Drive host Chris O’Keefe had tried three times to apply for permanent residency.

“This is our home.” “We’ve made a life here… It’s just hard to believe that’s even happening,” Emma said.

She says changes in immigration rules are further shifting Australian residency targets and that the family applied for a caregiver visa because of the support Emma’s father received, but was refused.

Emma said she learned they were being sent back to the UK from their children’s schools.

“The principal has informed me that as of Monday they will… [Daisy Grace] was not allowed to return to school. “I was shocked and in disbelief,” she said.

“Then I got a call from Engadine High School with the same message.” should take the exam.”

The family won an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which they believed should have been granted the caregiver visa, but that never came about.

They then received the scathing letter to leave the country.

Emma says she’s been trying to make everything right and will keep fighting, adding that her father is “completely devastated” by the news.

The couple have three children, one born in Australia and the other just halfway through the HSC year (Emma pictured with eldest son James)

“Are we now being sent back to a country that is fundamentally foreign to all of us?” she said.

‘My children have no life or memories of Britain, they have memories of Australia.’ This is their home.’

The Home Office website states that in order to qualify for a caregiver visa the person must have an eligible sponsor who is either an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen.

Immigration Secretary Andrew Giles is unable to comment on individual cases for privacy reasons, the ministry said in a statement.

Daily Mail Australia has also reached out to Home and Immigration Secretary Andrew Giles for comment.