An American man who spent 20 hours travelling to meet the love of his life for the first time flew home just two days later despite planning to stay in Australia for more than two weeks.
A resurfaced episode of Australian Border Security shows American Caleb and Australian Cecilia meeting for the first time after spending two years in an online relationship.
Caleb had just landed in Sydney when he was pulled aside by immigration officers wanting to check his story.
American Caleb (above) flew 20 hours to meet his online Australian girlfriend of two years, Cecilia
After talking to him for a short time authorities said they were concerned because Caleb planned to spend two weeks in Australia almost entirely supported by a person he’d never met.
When asked if he had enough money to keep himself off the streets if he and his mystery lover had a fight, Caleb said he had $100 in his wallet and access to maybe $30 in a debit account.
‘I’ve stretched money worse than this situation,’ Caleb told immigration.
He then tells the officer he has no way of contacting Cecilia and asks them to call Melbourne Airport, where she is waiting for him, in the hopes she’s talked to an information desk.
Cecilia said she had only ever seen one blurry photo of Caleb before meeting him for the first time, despite being in a relationship for two years
When immigration manage to track Cecilia down she confirms Caleb’s story and says she is happy to support him during his two-week stay.
‘I met him over the internet about two years ago,’ Cecilia said.
‘We started emailing each other and at the beginning of this year he asked me for my number. We’ve been chatting on the phone ever since.’
Caleb said he was embarrassed by some of the ‘details’ of his trip, mainly his lack of funds, but was excited to meet Cecilia.
‘Things have a weird way of working out and even though I haven’t met her, we both love each other very much,’ he said.
After immigration helf Caleb for six hours to figure out his money situation, the pair finally met and returned to Cecilia’s home, but the relationship did not work out and he returned to the United States within two days, despite planning to stay for at least two weeks
‘I just need that closure of finally meeting her to solidify all the things that have been said and all the feelings and whatnot.’
After six hours in immigration, Cecilia and Caleb finally met for the first time in Melbourne Airport.
Before that moment, Cecilia said she had only ever seen one blurry photo of her online boyfriend of two years.
Video shows the pair awkwardly standing next to each other outside the airport gate and talking about the long flight.
They then hugged and headed to Cecilia’s house.
However, the two-year romance didn’t take long to die with Border Security confirming Caleb flew back to the US just a few days later, despite planning to stay in Australia for more than two weeks.