A glimmer of hope is in sight for split migrant families.
It's believed the Government is creating a priority pathway for family members stuck overseas.
The issue was meant to be fixed by the Covid R21 visa, which replaced the family reunification border exemption, but instead left many waiting months in limbo.
Immigration adviser David Cooper told Mike Hosking most of the holdup has been down to police checks and national security checks, both out of the hands of immigration.
He says the best way forward is to identify those affected and issue their families with temporary visas, with residency occurring later.
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