The immigration minister has intervened to grant a Launceston family permanent residency, ending months of uncertainty after they were told last year that they could not stay in Australia.
Cesar Penuela and Claudia Castillo have lived in Australia for 13 years, the past five in Launceston, and had been working towards permanent residency through the regional employer sponsorship pathway.
"I started crying," Mr Penuela said of when he was told of the minister's decision.
"I was expecting to hear those words for so many years."
The Colombian family has long dreamt of becoming residents, buying a home and raising daughters, Maria and Janah, in the local community.
"When I met my wife … I said to her if we go to Australia, it's going to take two years to become a permanent resident," Mr Penuela said.
"Unfortunately, it took 13 years, seven months and one day for that to happen, but I feel great because I made her a promise, and it's finally here."
Their dream looked dashed after the Administrative Appeals Tribunal knocked back their application for permanent residency in October.
Mr Penuela claimed in November that the rejection was due to his employer at the time not providing the necessary documentation to process his application.
His employer was contacted by the ABC but declined to comment.
The family made preparations to leave the country but were granted a last-minute bridging visa, offering them a temporary reprieve.
But now they can plan for the future, after Immigration Minister Andrew Giles personally considered their case and granted them permanent residency.
Mr Penuela said it was a big moment when he could finally tell his wife that they would be allowed to stay.
"I found my wife and at home, she was getting ready to cook dinner, and then I just gave her a big hug saying that we won, that the struggle has finished, and she started crying as well," he said.
"Today is a new day for us, we can finally start moving forward, taking new steps in our life."
Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service principal lawyer Patrick O'Connor, who represented the family, said it was a wonderful outcome.
Mr O'Connor said Mr Giles had multiple issues to consider, including the age of the children, the economic benefit the family brought, the time they had spent in Australia, compliance with previous visas and community support.
Community, politicians rally behind family
The case garnered support from local politicians of all stripes, including federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer and Labor senator Helen Polley, as well as state Liberal MP Lara Alexander, and state Labor MP Michelle O'Byrne.
The Launceston community also rallied behind the family, including the St Vincent de Paul Society, as well as the Northern Rangers Football Club, which set up a GoFundMe account to help cover legal and immigration costs.
"The community support that we received in this case was just overwhelming and made a major difference," Mr O'Connor said.
"I think it's a really good example of many people coming together to get a great outcome for the family and for the community, and that's wonderful, to end the story on such a positive note."
Delivering the good news was a special moment for Mr O'Connor.
"It'd been such a long journey for him … and now that he's got a future that is certain in the country, it was a great feeling for me to be able to talk to him about that," he said.
"I'm just so glad they can stay in Tassie and contribute to the community."
Mr Penuela was incredibly grateful to the community for all its support in helping to get his family's case over the line.
"It was incredible to go to bed last night without that weight in my back of not knowing about the future," he said.
"I woke up this morning, I got ready to go to work with a big smile on my face and … without the pressure, and knowing that everything has come to an end in regards to immigration."
