Since 2018, Bangladeshi asylum seeker Kabir* has been living in limbo without a visa and the latest update from his lawyer isn't great.
"I called last week and I asked about my situation," he said.
"She said she can't do much."
Last month the federal government followed through on an election commitment to allow about 19,000 asylum seekers on temporary protection visas and safe haven enterprise visas to apply for a permanent visa.
"The Albanese government believes that we can keep our borders safe while showing humanity too," Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles said.
But there are still roughly 12,000 other asylum seekers on short-term bridging visas or without a visa at all who hope that Mr Giles will intervene and end the uncertainty, as he did in the case of the Nadesalingam family from Biloela.
After a risky 10-day trip on a leaky boat in 2013, Kabir and dozens of other Bangladeshi men arrived in Australia seeking political asylum.
He says corruption and his family's political links put him at risk of harm, but so far his attempts to claim asylum have been dismissed.
Since his last temporary visa expired in 2018, Kabir has been living with no visa, no work rights, and no access to Medicare.
He makes do on $400 a month from the Red Cross, as well as some support from friends who have jobs.
Kabir is one of about 17 other Bangladeshi asylum seekers in the same situation living in the farming community of Gatton, west of Brisbane.
Their claims for asylum were processed under the federal government's "Fast Track" refugee determination process, an expedited system that refugee advocates argue is "flawed" and risks people being returned to countries where they face harm.
"Individuals who have been found not to engage Australia's protection obligations, have no further matters before the department, and have exhausted all avenues to remain in Australia are expected to depart," a spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs said.
It's been 10 years since these men came to Australia, but instead of being detained and forced to leave, they live day to day, hoping for something to change.
'Still nothing?'
Kabir has lived in Gatton since 2016 and is a frequent customer at the newsagency, where he prints out immigration forms for himself and others.
He and owner Darryl Spicer have become good friends.
"He helped a lot of people with the paperwork for visas," Mr Spicer said.
"I do know he's been fighting it for a long time, and a lot of other people as well.
"But still nothing? I'm very surprised at why it gets held up.
"I don't understand."
A number of the Bangladeshi men live in a run-down house in an alley off Gatton's main street.
Even with its broken windows, water-damaged ceiling, and decades of grime coating the walls and benches, the rent on the place is about to be increased to $300 a week.
$100 a week
Unable to get jobs, the men live on a monthly $400 payment from the Red Cross and handouts from friends who work.
Once they finish staring at their smartphones and usually sleeping in, most days the men pool their resources, taking their time to cook and eat together.
"Everyone is [bored — they do] not have a job, nothing to do," one of the men, Saju*, said.
"[They] just come here, sitting and talking."
Saju said his mental health had not been great lately.
"Sometimes my mind is strong, sometimes … not as strong," he said.
"Depends on the time or depends on the situation."
Simon Zaman is a local Bangladeshi businessman and a longtime supporter of the men.
"They are banging their head on the wall," he told the men, referring to others in their situation, during an unofficial meeting at the share house.
"Don't feel like that.
"Don't be afraid."
But Mr Zaman is worried the men are reaching their limit after 10 years of uncertainty.
"If you put your feet in their shoes and you're in limbo for the last 10 years, you don't know where you're going to end up — how do you feel?" he said.
"You ask yourself — you'll have the answer. I don't have to tell you anything."
*Names have been changed.
