Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef's chances of resuming work in Australia are being hampered by an appeal against the restoration of his work visa, leaving him trapped in India till the court battle is over, his lawyer said on Thursday.
Lawyer Peter Russo expressed concern that the Gold Coast hospital where Haneef worked might not be able to hold his job for him due to the delays in returning his visa.
Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews on Wednesday lodged an appeal against a court judgment overturning his cancellation of Haneef's visa after the Indian doctor was cleared of terrorism charges.
A hearing will be held in the Federal Court in Brisbane on September 25 to determine a date for the appeal, but Russo said he did not expect it to go ahead until late November or December.
The lawyer said Haneef was virtually trapped in India until the visa issue was resolved because it prevented him from applying for jobs in other countries. Haneef is with his family in Bangalore after leaving Australia in late July.
He is unemployed, which is creating difficulty as he supports his wife, child and mother, Russo said, adding, "The sooner, the better is how Haneef views this process."
"He is patient and understands how the appeal process works in Australia, but on a personal and professional level, it is a very frustrating time for him," media reports quoting Russo as saying.
"He doesn't want to sign up for a job, for example, and then find out he's got his visa back and then let them down," he said.