Our story...it's a love story...💛💙💜💚❤️
My Way Visa was officially born in December 2017 with registration of the business, insurance purchases, website published and all the boring stuff. The journey, however, started many years earlier....and is much more interesting.
Cold Cold Glasgow - What was she thinking?
Jasmine Sallis moved to Glasgow, Scotland to pursue a Masters Degree in Equality and Human Rights at The University of Glasgow. Her parents lived there at the time.
While studying she decided to do some volunteering. She came across The Unity Centre online which seemed a good fit. They had many projects to get involved with - english classes, drop-in centre, food bank, charity clothes shops, a bike workshop...so many projects! Whats more the centre focused on acting in solidarity with migrants.
After the first day of volunteer training Jasmine was hooked. She finished her studies but the work of The Unity Centre was the highlight of her time during that first year. She made friends with people from all over the world, stories were shared of travels to the UK, food and company filled every day, events were held and she learnt about colonialism, anarchism, the no borders movement and while privilege.
While studying she decided to do some volunteering. She came across The Unity Centre online which seemed a good fit. They had many projects to get involved with - english classes, drop-in centre, food bank, charity clothes shops, a bike workshop...so many projects! Whats more the centre focused on acting in solidarity with migrants.
After the first day of volunteer training Jasmine was hooked. She finished her studies but the work of The Unity Centre was the highlight of her time during that first year. She made friends with people from all over the world, stories were shared of travels to the UK, food and company filled every day, events were held and she learnt about colonialism, anarchism, the no borders movement and while privilege.
The Unity Centre - didn't look like much but the work inside was boundless.
The Unity Centre held protests and demonstrations about the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK and were particularly vigilant against Dawn Raids. This was the first time Jasmine had seen direct action first hand.
Jasmine quickly became interested in talking to people in immigration detention. There was a box of files in the office that hadn't been opened for a while so she started calling people and getting to know their situations. From there she started calling their lawyers or MPs and other specialised organisations that may be able to assist in individuals' release from detention.
Jasmine quickly became interested in talking to people in immigration detention. There was a box of files in the office that hadn't been opened for a while so she started calling people and getting to know their situations. From there she started calling their lawyers or MPs and other specialised organisations that may be able to assist in individuals' release from detention.
Jasmine met someone who became a dear friend and together they started 'The Bajuni Campaign'. Other campaigns followed 'Isa Must Stay' and 'Stop Somali Removals'. She became very preoccupied with charter flights/mass deportation.
Jasmine learned many skills from those around her, how to get journalists to pick up a story and how to get lawyers to take a case. Importantly, however, she was entrusted with individuals' experiences of the racism of the immigration system, their strength in overcoming this and living their lives in spite of those obstacles.
Jasmine learned many skills from those around her, how to get journalists to pick up a story and how to get lawyers to take a case. Importantly, however, she was entrusted with individuals' experiences of the racism of the immigration system, their strength in overcoming this and living their lives in spite of those obstacles.
Here he is....shy one
One such individual she met lived at the other end of the kingdom. He became special to her, would call her Jazleen and had a sense of humour she enjoyed. Somehow and they kept in touch regularly and developed a friendship despite the distance.
During a trip to a conference in London with others from The Unity Centre, Jasmine convinced everyone to meet up. The visit was comfortable, they shared stories, had a laugh and from then were communicating more and more.
She invited him to Glasgow for Christmas and they fell in love. They moved around between Birmingham and Liverpool and finally settled in Glasgow. Jasmine's work with The Unity Centre continued as did the supportive friendships around them.
Life was good.
During a trip to a conference in London with others from The Unity Centre, Jasmine convinced everyone to meet up. The visit was comfortable, they shared stories, had a laugh and from then were communicating more and more.
She invited him to Glasgow for Christmas and they fell in love. They moved around between Birmingham and Liverpool and finally settled in Glasgow. Jasmine's work with The Unity Centre continued as did the supportive friendships around them.
Life was good.
They had a baby!!! She was fondly called 'The Unity Baby' until she had her own name. She was loved by so many and was always being carried and cared for by someone new!
It was hard to continue the work done before with a newborn. To fill the time Jasmine and a dear friend started a charity called 'Roots to Return'. This charity was to monitor and overcome obstacles for those sent out of the UK before their appeal.
Packed and ready to leave
After The Unity Baby was born, plans to move to Australia, Jasmine's place of birth, began. Firstly, he went back home, to a place he hadn't been for 8 years. This was tough. They sent their life to his home country in a huge container.
Jasmine needed a visa so returned to Australia. Once there, the travel doctor said the baby was too young to have the required immunisations for his country so she applied for him to visit Australia until the immunisations could be taken.
He was frustrated by the process, getting biometrics, health checks and certifying documents!
Jasmine needed a visa so returned to Australia. Once there, the travel doctor said the baby was too young to have the required immunisations for his country so she applied for him to visit Australia until the immunisations could be taken.
He was frustrated by the process, getting biometrics, health checks and certifying documents!
Back in cold Glasgow. Brrrrrrrrr.
He was happy to be back with his daughter and together with Jasmine's Mum they travelled around Australia: Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra and the countryside (or bush). They decided they could be happy here. Jasmine continued the work of Roots to Return.
He left and they applied for an offshore Partner Visa. They imagined it would take 15 months to be processed, the long wait began. Jasmine returned to Glasgow, missing life there. The Unity Baby turned 1! She was jabbed with all the immunisations imaginable - ready to visit her roots!
He was getting fed up with his country, he was getting sick and running out of money. He wanted to go to the USA so they applied for a visa. At the same time they applied for a second Tourist Visa for Australia.
Happy Birthday - she got sick and slept through the party but the rest of us enjoyed the food...
And then...after just 4 months...the Partner Visa was granted! They both received a call from a case officer asking to withdraw the Tourist Visa Application so that the Partner Visa could be issued. They were both overjoyed. A few weeks later they both left their separate lives and met in Qatar on board their final flight to Adelaide. He was already seated as she and the baby boarded. Relief to be together again.
Roots to Return was now in a state of waiting. A number of appeals had been lodged and had been taken over by legal professionals. Jasmine wanted to once again work with people experiencing immigration related issues. She started the Graduate Certificate in Migration Law and became a Registered Migration Agent. They lived at the beach and enjoyed their one year old rolling around the house.
The USA visa was not put to waste. After almost a year in Australia they went to see Texas! He likes it, Jasmine doesn't. Their are regular 'discussions' of USA living.
Two years on and a second baby has arrived. My Way Visa has been operating well with happy clients.
AND Roots to Return recently received news that an individual they supported will be taken back to the UK after successfully winning his appeal!!!!!! He will again see his three kids, one of whom was born while he was away. This will set a precedent for thousands of individuals to seek the same outcome.
Two years on and a second baby has arrived. My Way Visa has been operating well with happy clients.
AND Roots to Return recently received news that an individual they supported will be taken back to the UK after successfully winning his appeal!!!!!! He will again see his three kids, one of whom was born while he was away. This will set a precedent for thousands of individuals to seek the same outcome.
The Future
Jasmine's keen interest is to pursue complex cases such as addressing visa cancellations, character requirements and apply for waivers and the AAT. She aims to again work with people in immigration detention.
Her plan for My Way Visa is that it will be a 'profit for purpose' business. Profits will be put towards campaigning for those in immigration detention through applying for visas, ministerial intervention and court proceedings.
We hope you enjoyed reading about the journey that led to My Way Visa's creation and our raison d'être...we have kept some parts intimate but hope to share more with you as time goes on and others' migration stories too.
Her plan for My Way Visa is that it will be a 'profit for purpose' business. Profits will be put towards campaigning for those in immigration detention through applying for visas, ministerial intervention and court proceedings.
We hope you enjoyed reading about the journey that led to My Way Visa's creation and our raison d'être...we have kept some parts intimate but hope to share more with you as time goes on and others' migration stories too.
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