Imagine being watched, trapped, and stripped of your dreams. This is the reality for Kiran*, an 'abandoned bride' from India, ensnared in an Australian visa nightmare. Her story unveils a distressing trend, leaving countless women stranded and vulnerable.
Kiran's husband, residing over 10,000 km away in Brisbane, kept a constant eye on her through surveillance cameras installed in their shared home in northern India. She recalls his chilling words: "I can always see what you do." The cameras were set up after the birth of their first child in 2017, a stark contrast to the mere four visits her husband made to India over eight years.
This heartbreaking situation mirrors the plight of thousands of Indian women who were promised a new life overseas through marriage, only to find themselves abandoned. Yasmin Khan, head of the Bangle Foundation, which supports South Asian women facing domestic abuse, highlights this issue. These women are often left in a state of limbo, with their husbands, who are often Indian-born, living abroad in countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some abandonments are financially motivated, with husbands absconding with the dowry, a practice that, despite being illegal in India since 1961, still persists. Others exploit their wives for domestic labor, a situation some advocates equate to modern-day slavery. And then there are those men who may want to bring their wives overseas but are prevented from doing so by unforeseen visa issues.
Human rights campaigners have documented numerous cases of abandoned brides in Australia, where legal recourse can be complex. In Kiran's case, her husband initially promised a life split between India and Australia. However, when she became pregnant, he declared she would never join him in Australia. "I came to realize this life was not for me. He had no interest in me. I had just been bought here to take care of others," she says.
Before their wedding, the then 22-year-old Kiran knew little about her husband. His permanent residency in Australia, white-collar job, and teetotaling lifestyle made him an attractive match in her family's eyes.
After a month of marriage, her husband returned to Australia, and their infrequent visits were marred by violent arguments. Over long-distance calls, he instructed her to follow his mother's orders for domestic duties, including cooking and cleaning for her in-laws. "He would say I can see you on the camera – make sure what you cook is fresh for my parents," she recalls.
By early 2022, Kiran's mental health deteriorated, prompting community elders to call for the family's reunion. This led her husband to bring her and their children to Australia in the following year. "At that time, I thought God has finally listened to my prayers and I will get to live with my husband, my children will have a father," Kiran says.
And this is the part most people miss... Upon arriving in Brisbane, she discovered her husband had brought her on a tourist visa instead of a partner visa, which offers a pathway to permanent residency. This left her with no legal right to stay indefinitely, despite her children being Australian citizens.
Khan emphasizes that her husband's surveillance and control over Kiran through her temporary visa status were forms of coercive control, a common issue for many of the foundation's clients. The Bangle Foundation receives around 1,000 calls annually regarding domestic abuse, visa abuse, and trafficking, with 60% of these calls coming from women based interstate and abroad. Fear of cultural norms like arranged marriages can also prevent migrant and culturally and linguistically diverse women from seeking help.
Kiran, still in visa limbo, is fighting to stay in Australia with her children, hoping they will bring her the happiness she once sought from her husband.
What are your thoughts on this complex issue? Do you think more support is needed for these vulnerable women? Share your opinions in the comments below.
*Name has been changed
- In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org
