Minh Tong: Ben entered our lives like a light at the end of the tunnel

There was a time when I thought I would have to leave Australia—carrying with me a dream left unfinished.
And then, Ben Watt entered our lives like a light at the end of the tunnel.

We are a small family from Vietnam, coming to Australia with hope and determination. My Wife completed Master’s degree here, only to find myself stuck—over the age limit for the 485 visa, and repeatedly rejected in my attempts to have my previous qualifications recognized for a skills assessment.
Those were some of the darkest days of my life. I lived in fear, anxiety, and hopelessness.
I truly believed our Australian dream was slipping away forever.

But Ben didn’t let us fall.

He wasn’t just a migration lawyer—he was someone who believed in us, even when I had stopped believing in myself. He listened with patience, understood our situation deeply, and above all, he fought for our future as if it were his own.

Every single step of the legal journey, through every obstacle and uncertainty, Ben walked alongside us—steady, kind, and unwavering.
There were nights I sat silently watching my children sleep, with tears in my eyes, not knowing what tomorrow would bring… And then Ben would say, “It’s going to be okay.”
And he was right.

Thanks to him, we are still here today. Living. Starting over. In a place we now call home.

I don’t know if words can ever express the depth of our gratitude.
Ben changed the course of our lives.
To us, he is not just a legal representative—he is a quiet hero, filled with compassion and integrity.

If you are lost, if every door seems to be closing—there’s only one piece of advice I can offer: Reach out to Ben Watt.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one person who truly believes in you… to change your life forever.