A Brisbane-based Filipino mother who has been given three weeks to exit Australia and leave her young son behind says she broke down in tears when she learnt of the deportation deadline.
It comes as the federal government has told SBS News there is unlikely to be a ministerial intervention in the case.
Single mum Bernadette Romulo has been given until 11 July to leave the country with her two daughters, and 5 July to present proof of purchase of plane tickets to the Home Affairs Department.
It means the aged care worker will have to leave her eight-year-old son Giro, who was born in Australia, behind and may not see him for another three years, due to a rule banning her re-entry.
While she has had several temporary extensions this year after having her initial application for permanent residency rejected, she says the latest deadline hit hard when she was informed of the decision.
“I was quiet for a couple of minutes and then ... I just broke down in tears,” Ms Romulo told SBS News.
“I was picturing everything [with Giro] like holding him as a baby, and I was shaking for a couple of hours.”
The latest deadline prompted representatives from the Queensland Women’s Legal Service to personally plead for her case to Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke in his parliamentary office in Canberra on Wednesday.
Bernadette Romulo with her children. Source: SBS News
The chief executive of the branch, Angela Lynch, told SBS News the minister appeared receptive to their concerns.
“We understand a fuller account of Ms Romulo's case has been provided to the assistant minister and we are embarking on another legal application as a result of this meeting," she said.
“Of course we have to await the outcome of this process but are very thankful to the assistant minister for his personal attention to this matter.”
But a statement from Mr Hawke's office may dash the advocates' hopes.
“There has been no change to the Minister’s decision,” the spokeswoman told SBS News.
Ms Romulo is still holding out for a change of heart.
"I'm prepared but I'm still hoping," she said.
"I was thinking 'no Australia, you would not do this to me'
"My son is asking like, 'Mum what's going to happen to this? I know Mum, they would not separate us'."
