2213979 (Migration)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered an application for review concerning a Bridging A (Class WA) visa. The applicant sought review of a decision, but the Tribunal found that a crucial prerequisite for lodging a valid application had not been met.

The central legal issue before the Tribunal was whether it possessed jurisdiction to hear the application for review. This question hinged on whether the prescribed application fee had been paid and, if not, whether any determination had been made or requested to reduce that fee.

The Tribunal reasoned that the payment of the prescribed fee, or a determination for its reduction, is a jurisdictional requirement for a valid application for review. As the Tribunal found that the fee had not been paid and no such determination had been made or requested, it concluded that the application for review was not valid. Consequently, the Tribunal determined that it lacked jurisdiction to proceed with the matter.