With only days until her family's visa to live in Australia expires, mother-of-three Jessica Lee speaks emotionally of the links to her adopted country.
"I really just hope that the Minister changes his mind and just gives us a chance. We live in Australia. Just because ... Australia is my home, you know? And I really want to give a chance for my sons to live here.” Ms Lee said.
Ms Lee and the family arrived from South Korea in 2008.
Her husband, David Lee, proceeded to set up a series of businesses.
But he says an unscrupulous migration agent he hired to get him permanent residency instead fled the country with more than $100,000 of his money.
A request for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to intervene in the case was denied in May.
Now, the family can only appeal for him to change his mind.
Daniel Lee, one of two sons studying science at university, says it is not the family's fault.
"We are very frustrated, because we are actually facing deportation for something that was not done by us. It's not really our fault. We just trusted the agent and a MARA*-registered lawyer, and we still don't know what we should do. And we just hope the Minister could reconsider our case." Daniel said.
Bryan Lee, the other son studying science at university, says a return to South Korea would mean two years of compulsory military service and little chance of completing their degrees.
Their 11-year-old brother, Richard, has known little but life in Australia.
During more than nine-and-a-half years in Australia, the Lees say, they have been active in many community groups, including the local Catholic parish in Melbourne's east.
The online petition has attracted more than 6,000 signatures.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection says the case has been assessed and those who have exhausted all avenues to remain in the country are expected to leave.
The SBS Korean program has more.
