A mother of four young children may be forced to leave Australia while they remain here with their father following a marriage breakdown.

Venezuelan-born Ivonne Henriquez moved to Melbourne with her husband in 2008 when he received a job opportunity  in the city, which was supposed to last for two years.

The couple, now estranged, had previously been living in the US, where Ms Henriquez has a wide network of family and friends.

Ivonne with her four children. Image via Facebook.

Ms Henriquez is on a bridging visa, which is set to expire in six weeks time and is currently pleading with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to let her stay in Australia.

Despite her objections at the time, her husband insisted on settling in Sydney, where she says she made the best of things, setting up a karate studio on the north shore.

She says he became increasingly jealous and controlling as her success increased and was financially, emotionally and physically abusive.

The pair separated three years ago and she took up temporary residence in a women’s refuge for victims of domestic violence.

Ivonne ran a successful karate studio on Sydney’s North Shore.

“Every night there were fights, some physical abuse due the arguments every night and then eventually I said I had to go,” she told Mamamia.

The couple are in the middle of a custody dispute for their four children, who are aged six to eleven.

On Tuesday, a judge ruled that the children stay with their father from Monday to Friday so as not to disrupt their school week.

Ms Henriquez said she was devastated because it was not the outcome she wanted, but having lost her job and home due to her visa status is not sure what to do.

“I need a miracle,” she said.

“I need to relocate to a house for me to become the primary caregiver for the children.

“How do you think I am going to apply for houses when I only have a visa that will let me stay for 6 weeks?”

Ivonne has lost custody of her children because or her visa status. Image via Facebook.

An online petition, to be sent to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton on Ms Henriquez’ behalf, has already garnered more then 5,300 signatures.

A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection told Mamamia that they were actively engaging with her to discuss her options.

“The Department granted Ms Henriquez a bridging visa so that she can remain in Australia while her immigration status is resolved,” the spokesperson said.

“The Australian Government is a signatory to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child and generally avoids separating children from their parents.”

Despite losing full custody of her children, Ms Henriquez has continued to see them every day, volunteering at their school tuck shop and caring for them in the hours before her husband returns from work.

“I am gonna see my kids every day. I won’t sleep with them, but I will see them everyday,” she said.

“I don’t have a choice. I have to remain strong and some how manage to do this.”