Woman told twin not her legal sister

PERTH, Australia, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A Western Australian woman says her identical twin sister cannot live in Australia because the government deems the siblings to be unrelated.

Rosabelle Glasby of Margaret River, Western Australia, said officials are concerned with the fact Glasby and her sister, Dorothy Loader, were adopted by different families shortly after being born, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) said in its Saturday edition.

The sisters were both born in Malaysia, but Glasby was relocated to Australia while Loader's family remained in the Asian country.

The twins, who are both more than 45 years old, tried to have Loader join her sister in Australia under the Family Stream of the Migration Program.

But due to their early separation and their current ages, the sisters' request was rejected.

Loader told the Telegraph she and her sister are desperate for officials to offer them a reprieve and grant her a permanent visa.

"We don't just want to be together, we need to be together; it is as strong as that," she said.

"I hope the people who know about our story will have the compassion and mercy to grant this last wish of mine to be with my sister and turn my dream into reality.''