Dr Biswajit Banik and his GP wife, Dr Sarmin Sayeed - who moved to Australia from Bangladesh in 2007 - faced an uncertain future when an appeal for residency was denied in July because of their 12-year-old son Arkojeet's disability.

On Thursday, Dr Banik was informed that the Assistant Immigration Minister had overturned the finding of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for Migration and Refugees, following a concerted campaign by the family and their supporters.

"It's been such an emotional journey," the health academic said on Friday. "This has been our 10th year in Australia and the last 18 months we have been battling with our application."

"Now we are feeling joy and are overwhelmed," he told Fairfax media, thanking friends and supporters who stood up for them.

"I don't have any family here, but now feel like all of Australia has become our family. I can now call Australia home," he said.

"I've always believed there is fairness in Australian society, and now I've been proven right that Australia would do justice to my son."

"I just wanted to say to all of those who supported us thank you, thank you, and thank you … My battle is to raise Arkojeet with dignity and pride so he can become independent."

The family had labelled the initial rejection as devastating and discriminatory, pleading with the Immigration Minister to help and quickly attracting the support of members of the academic community.

"This is a wonderful victory and everyone involved should be celebrating. It is a win for workers, for migrants, for people with disabilities, for student and trade unions," Monash Student Association environment and social justice officer Tess Dimos said.

The student group had sent Immigration Minister Peter Dutton an open letter early this week signed by Greens leader Richard Di Natale, other Greens and Labor MPs, unions and many academics.

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