Bhagtana (Migration)

[2020] AATA 3066

Bhagtana (Migration) [2020] AATA 3066 (22 July 2020)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mr Simerjit Singh Bhagtana

CASE NUMBER:  1801849

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2016/2674303

MEMBER:Karen McNamara

DATE:22 July 2020

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for a Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa:

·cl.187.233(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations

Statement made on 22 July 2020 at 4:21pm

CATCHWORDS

MIGRATION – Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa – Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) – direct entry stream – related nomination application refused – refusal set aside on review – decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION

Migration Act 1958 (Cth), s 65

Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 2, cl 187.233(3)

STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

1. This is an application for review of a decision made by a delegate of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (the delegate) to refuse to grant Mr Simerjit Singh Bhagtana (the applicant) a Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).

2. The applicant applied for the visa on 12 August 2016. At the time of application, Class RN contained one subclass: Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme).

3. The criteria for a Subclass 187 visa are set out in Part 187 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations). The primary criteria must be satisfied by at least one applicant. Other members of the family unit, if any, who are applicants for the visa need satisfy only the secondary criteria. Applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria must meet the 'Common criteria', as well as the criteria of one of two alternative visa streams: the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or the Direct Entry stream.

4. In the present case, the applicant is seeking the visa in Direct Entry stream, to work in the nominated position of Retail Manager (ANZSCO 142111).

5. The decision record dated 22 January 2018, states that on 15 December 2017 the nomination lodged by Acers Food Pty Ltd was refused by a delegate of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. As the nomination application had been refused, the delegate found that the applicant did not meet cl.187.233(3) and as a result, the applicant did not meet cl.187.233.

6. On 1 July 2020, the applicant appeared before the Tribunal via telephone, to give evidence and present arguments. The Tribunal also received oral evidence from Mr Sumit Boora (the nominator) in the related matter for the nomination application (AAT Case file 1732740). The related matters were heard concurrently in a combined hearing. The applicant and nominee were represented in relation to the review by their registered migration agent. The representative did not attend the Tribunal hearing.

7. The Tribunal exercised its discretion to hold the hearing by telephone. The hearing was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribunal determined it was reasonable to hold a hearing by telephone, having regard to the nature of this matter and the individual circumstances of the applicant. The Tribunal also had regard to the Tribunal’s objective of providing a mechanism of review that is fair, just, economical and quick, and the delay to the matter if the hearing was not to be conducted by telephone. The Tribunal is satisfied that the applicant was given a fair opportunity to give evidence and present arguments.

8. For the following reasons, the Tribunal has concluded that the matter should be remitted for reconsideration.

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

9. The issue in the present case is whether the applicant is meets the requirements of cl.187.233(3).

   Nomination of a position

10. Clause 187.233 as applicable in this case is set out in full in an attachment to this decision. Essentially, it requires that that the position to which the application relates be the subject of an application for approval of a nomination in the Direct Entry stream, located in regional Australia. The position must be the one that was the subject of the declaration made as part of the current visa application. In addition, where the associated nomination was made on or after 1 July 2017, it must identify the applicant in relation to the position.

11. In addition, this criterion also requires that:

    ·the person who will employ the applicant is the person who made nomination

    ·the nomination has been approved and has not been subsequently withdrawn

    ·there is no ‘adverse information’ known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person ‘associated with’ that person (within the meaning of r.1.13A and r.1.13B); or it is reasonable to disregard any such information

    ·the position is still available to the applicant, and

    ·the visa application was made no more than six months after the nomination of the position was approved.

12. The nominating employer, Acers Food Pty Ltd applied to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection for approval of a nomination in relation to the position of Retail Manager (ANZSCO 142111). That nomination was refused by the Department and consequently the applicant’s visa application was refused.

13. Acers Food Pty Ltd applied to the Tribunal for review of the decision not to approve the nomination (AAT Case No.1732740). On 22 July 2020, the Tribunal set aside the Department’s decision and substituted a new decision to approve the nomination under r.5.19 of the Regulations. Therefore, the applicant satisfies cl.187.233(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

14. Given these findings, the appropriate course is to remit the visa application to the Minister to consider the remaining criteria for the visa.

    DECISION

15. The Tribunal remits the application for a Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa:

    ·cl.187.233(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations

    Karen McNamara
    Member

    
    

    ATTACHMENT A

    187.233(1)     The position to which the application relates is the position:

    (a)nominated in an application for approval that seeks to meet the requirements of:

    (i)subparagraph 5.19(4)(h)(ii); or

    (ii)subregulation 5.19(4) as in force before 1 July 2012; and

    (b)in relation to which the declaration mentioned in paragraph 1114C(3)(d) of Schedule 1 was made in the application for the grant of the visa.

    (2)     The person who will employ the applicant is the person who made the nomination.

    (3)     The Minister has approved the nomination.

    (4)     The nomination has not subsequently been withdrawn.

    (4A)    Either:

    (a)there is no adverse information known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person associated with that person; or

    (b)it is reasonable to disregard any adverse information known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person associated with that person.

    (5)     The position is still available to the applicant.

    (6)     The application for the visa is made no more than 6 months after the Minister approved the nomination.