An Adelaide family fears one of its members will be deported to Iran and is trying to keep the woman in Australia, saying she will be in danger if sent back.

Key points: Woman's visitor visa has expired after several extensions

Woman's visitor visa has expired after several extensions Family members say their political views would put the woman at risk back in Iran

Family members say their political views would put the woman at risk back in Iran They say there is no-one there who could care for her

The family has the support of the Reverend Tony Goodluck of the Modbury and Para Vista Uniting Church, who told 891 ABC Adelaide of the family's battles with bureaucracy.

"At one stage the family applied for her to stay in Australia as a person at risk and were told they'd made the wrong application — they should have tried for family reunification and therefore it was rejected," he said.

"Another time the minister had agreed that a visa would be granted but it was not signed off on.

"In the few days [after] there was a change of minister and now it appears the law says she has to leave Australia to go back home to make an application to enter Australia. But the situation she has to go back into means she would be at grave and dire risk."

The woman's daughter, Gololeh, said her mother, who they did not wish to name publicly, was in her 60s and would have no-one to care for her back in Iran, where the family's political views would put her in danger.

"All of us came [to Australia] as refugees, me and my sister and my brother," she said.

"My mum, she is 62 years old, she can't go back because she needs someone to help her, needs someone to look after her.

"Immigration said no to her case, she has to go back, but to where?"

Gololeh's brother is understood to be in a camp in Turkey where the United Nations has determined his refugee credentials.

A response is being sought from immigration authorities.