A British couple are fighting deportation from Australia following the diagnosis of one partner’s multiple sclerosis (MS). Jessica Mathers, 30, and her boyfriend Rob O’Leary are facing the prospect of being forced to leave the country they’ve called home since 2017.

The situation began in 2023 when Ms. Mathers’ visa application for permanent residency was rejected due to concerns about the potential cost of treating her condition under Australia’s healthcare system, Medicare. The couple met while backpacking in Australia in 2017 and Mr. O’Leary has since established a carpentry and construction business.