Bhatia (Migration)

[2024] AATA 2212

Bhatia (Migration) [2024] AATA 2212 (21 June 2024)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mr Samarth Bhatia

REPRESENTATIVE:  Mr Harjeet Singh Chahal (MARN: 1688913)

CASE NUMBER:  2410513

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2024/1645599

MEMBER:Penelope Hunter

DATE:21 June 2024

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa:

·PIC 4005(1)(aa) for the purposes of cl 500.217 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

Statement made on 21 June 2024 at 2:32pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa – Subclass 500 (Student) – specified medical assessments not completed as requested – departmental records show applicant assessed and cleared – decision made without hearing necessary – decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 65, 360(2)(a)
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 2, cl 500.217, Schedule 4, condition 4005(1)(aa)

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 Home Affairs on 23 April 2024 to refuse to grant the applicant a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

2. The applicant applied for the visa on 12 March 2024. The delegate refused to grant the visa on the basis that the applicant did not satisfy cl 500.217 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations) because the health criteria in Public Interest Criterion (‘PIC’) 4005 of Schedule 4 to the Regulations was not met.

3. Upon review the applicant has provided updated evidence in support of the review application. In light of the new evidence received, the Tribunal was able to find in favour of the applicant on the basis of the material before it and it dispensed with a hearing pursuant to s 360(2)(a) of the Act.

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

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

5. The issue in this review is whether the visa applicant meets Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4005 as required by the criteria for the grant of the visa. Public Interest Criterion 4005, as it applies to this case, is extracted in the attachment to this decision. In particular, PIC 4005(1)(aa) requires that if the applicant is in a specified class of persons, he or she must undertake the specified medical assessment and be assessed by a specified person unless a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) decides otherwise.

6. The applicant is a citizen of India and is not exempt from the requirement to undergo a health examination.

7. The delegate records in their decision record that the applicant had not completed specified medical assessments despite requests to do so.

8. The applicant has provided to the Tribunal evidence that he attended a medical assessment on 3 May 2024. A review of the Departments electronic records accessed by the Tribunal record that on 6 May 2024 the applicant was assessed as having cleared the health requirements.

9. For these reasons the requirements in PIC 4005(1)(aa) are met. Given the findings above, the appropriate course is for the Tribunal to remit the matter to the Minister for reconsideration of the remaining criteria for the visa.

   DECISION

10. The Tribunal remits the application for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa:

    ·PIC 4005(1)(aa) for the purposes of cl 500.217 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

    Penelope Hunter
    Member

    
    
    

    ATTACHMENT

    Migration Regulations 1994

    Schedule 4

    4005(1)         The applicant:

    (aa)if the applicant is in a class of persons specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this paragraph:

    (i)must undertake any medical assessment specified in the instrument; and

    (ii)must be assessed by the person specified in the instrument;

    unless a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth decides otherwise; and

    (ab)must comply with any request by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth to undertake a medical assessment; and

    (a)is free from tuberculosis; and

    (b)is free from a disease or condition that is, or may result in the applicant being, a threat to public health in Australia or a danger to the Australian community; and

    (c)is free from a disease or condition in relation to which:

    (i)a person who has it would be likely to:

    (A)require health care or community services; or

    (B)meet the medical criteria for the provision of a community service;

    during the period described in subclause (2); and

    (ii)the provision of the health care or community services would be likely to:

    (A)result in a significant cost to the Australian community in the areas of health care and community services; or

    (B)prejudice the access of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to health care or community services;

    regardless of whether the health care or community services will actually be used in connection with the applicant; and

    (d)if the applicant is a person from whom a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth has requested a signed undertaking to present himself or herself to a health authority in the State or Territory of intended residence in Australia for a follow-up medical assessment — has provided the undertaking.

    (2)For subparagraph (1) (c) (i), the period is:

    (a)for an application for a permanent visa — the period commencing when the application is made; or

    (b)for an application for a temporary visa:

    (i)the period for which the Minister intends to grant the visa; or

    (ii)if the visa is of a subclass specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this subparagraph — the period commencing when the application is made.

    (3)If:

    (a)the applicant applies for a temporary visa; and

    (b)the subclass being applied for is not specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing made for subparagraph (2) (b) (ii);

    the reference in sub-subparagraph (1) (c) (ii) (A) to health care and community services does not include the health care and community services specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing made for this subclause.