Bruno (Migration)

[2021] AATA 1065

Bruno (Migration) [2021] AATA 1065 (25 March 2021)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Ms Karen Aubrey Embodo Bruno

CASE NUMBER:  1813867

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2017/4641097

MEMBER:Stavros Georgiadis

DATE:25 March 2021

PLACE OF DECISION:  Adelaide

DECISION:The Tribunal affirms the decision not to grant the visa applicant a Temporary Business Entry (Class UC) visa.

Statement made on 25 March 2021 at 5:45pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – Temporary Business Entry (Class UC) visa – Subclass 457– Product and Plant Engineer –applicant was not a subject of an approved nomination – decision under review affirmed

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958, ss 65, 359
Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, cl 457.223

CASES
VARSI v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & ANOR [2018] FCCA 1280

STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

1. This is an application for review of a decision of a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs to refuse to grant the visa applicant a Temporary Business Entry (Class UC) visa under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

2. The visa applicant applied for the visa on 6 December 2017.

3. At the time the visa application was lodged, Class UC contained Subclass 457. The criteria for a Subclass 457 visa are set out in Part 457 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations). One of the criteria to be satisfied at the time of decision is cl 457.223 which requires the visa applicant to satisfy one of the alternative ‘streams’ for the visa. One of these streams is contained in cl 457.223(4) which is set out in the attachment to this decision. In the present case, specific claims have been made against cl 457.223(4) which applies to sponsorship for employment in an occupation by a standard business sponsor. No claims have been made in respect of the other alternative streams in cl 457.223.

4. The delegate refused to grant the visa on 23 April 2018 on the basis that cl 457.223(4)(a) was not met because there was no approved nomination for the position of Product and Plant Engineer (ANZSCO 233513) in respect of the nominee.

5. The applicant appeared before the Tribunal on 9 December 2020 to give evidence and present arguments. The Tribunal also received oral evidence from the sponsor employer’s General Manager, Mr John Bourke from Mud's Inspection and Welding Services Pty Ltd in respect of the nominated position in the related AAT casefile 1810272. The related matters were heard together in a combined hearing.

6. The Tribunal exercised its discretion to hold the hearing by video conference. The hearing was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribunal determined it was reasonable to hold a hearing by video conference 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 video conference. The Tribunal is satisfied that the applicant was given a fair opportunity to give evidence and present arguments.

7. The applicant was represented in relation to the review by her registered migration agent.

8. For the following reasons, the Tribunal has concluded that the decision under review should be affirmed.

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

9. The issue in the present case is whether the primary visa applicant meets the requirements of cl 457.223(4)(a) for the grant of the visa.

   Requirement for an approved nomination

10. Clause 457.223(4)(a) requires that there is an approved nomination of an occupation relating to the applicant by a standard business sponsor that has not ceased.

11. On 25 March 2021 the Tribunal affirmed the decision under review not to approve the nomination of an occupation in relation to the applicant in the related AAT casefile 1810272 on the basis of the reasons set out in the Decision Record of that date.  

12. In accordance with the procedure under s.359AA of the Act, the Tribunal put to the applicant at the hearing that in circumstances where there is no approved nomination, she would not meet an essential criterion to satisfy cl.457.223(4)(a) for the grant of the visa and that this would be the reason, or part of the reason, for affirming the decision under review not to grant the Subclass 457 visa. The Tribunal explained that the applicant could seek additional time to comment on, or respond, which the Tribunal would consider. The applicant confirmed that she understands and accepts that in such circumstances, the visa application could not be successful as an approved nomination is required for the grant of the visa: (cl.457.223(4)(a)). There is no evidence of any approved nomination in respect of the applicant.

13. The Tribunal has not returned the matter for any further hearing or submissions as, in these circumstances, and in view of authority in the case of VARSI v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & ANOR [2018] FCCA 1280 (paragraphs 51-58) it would be ‘futile’ as ‘no useful result could ensue’ because the Subclass 457 visas cannot be granted in the absence of an approved nomination in respect of the primary applicant. The Tribunal is satisfied that there is no practical injustice in not returning the matter to the Tribunal following the decision to refuse the nomination.

14. Having considered the available evidence before it discussed, the Tribunal finds that the nomination of an occupation in relation to the applicant has not been approved as is required under cl.457.223(4)(a).

15. Therefore, the criteria in cl.457.223(4) are not met.

16. For the reasons above, the Tribunal finds that the requirements for the standard business sponsor stream have not been met. No claims have been made in respect of the other streams in cl 457.223 and there is no evidence that the visa applicant would be able to satisfy the specific criteria for those streams.

    DECISION

17. The Tribunal affirms the decision not to grant the visa applicant a Temporary Business Entry (Class UC) visa.

    Stavros Georgiadis
    Member

    
    

    ATTACHMENT  -  CLAUSE 457.223 (EXTRACT)

    457.223

    …

    Standard business sponsorship

    …

    (4)The applicant meets the requirements of this subclause if:

    (a)each of the following applies:

    (i)    a nomination of an occupation in relation to the applicant has been approved under section 140GB of the Act;

    (ii)     the nomination was made by a person who was a standard business sponsor at the time the nomination was approved;

    (iii)    the approval of the nomination has not ceased as provided for in regulation 2.75; and

    (aa)the nominated occupation is specified in an instrument in writing for paragraph 2.72 (10) (a) or (aa) that is in effect; and

    (ba)either:

    (i)    the nominated occupation is specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this subparagraph; or

    (ii)     each of the following applies:

    (A)the applicant is employed to work in the nominated occupation;

    (B)if the person who made the approved nomination met paragraph 2.59(d) or (e), or paragraph 2.68(e) or (f), in the person’s most recent approval as a standard business sponsor, the applicant is employed to work in a position in the person’s business or in a business of an associated entity of the person;

    (C)if the person who made the approved nomination met paragraph 2.59(h), or paragraph 2.68(i), in the person’s most recent approval as a standard business sponsor, the applicant is employed to work in a position in the person’s business; and

    (d)the Minister is satisfied that:

    (i)    the applicant’s intention to perform the occupation is genuine; and

    (ii)     the position associated with the nominated occupation is genuine; and

    (da)the applicant has the skills, qualifications and employment background that the Minister considers necessary to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation; and

    (e)if the Minister requires the applicant to demonstrate that he or she has the skills that are necessary to perform the occupation — the applicant demonstrates that he or she has those skills in the manner specified by the Minister; and

    (eb)if:

    (i)    the applicant is not an exempt applicant; and

    (ii)     subclause (6) does not apply to the applicant;

    the applicant:

    (iv)   has undertaken a language test specified by the Minister in a legislative instrument for this subparagraph; and

    (v)    achieved within the period specified by the Minister in the instrument, in a single attempt at the test, the score specified by the Minister in the instrument; and

    (ec)if the Minister requires the applicant to demonstrate his or her English language proficiency — the applicant demonstrates his or her English language proficiency in the manner specified by the Minister; and

    (f)either:

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

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

    …

    (6)This subclause applies to an applicant if:

    (a)the base rate of pay for the applicant, under the terms and conditions of employment about which the Minister was last satisfied for paragraph 2.72(10)(c), is at least the level of salary worked out in the way specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this paragraph; and

    (b)the Minister considers that granting a Subclass 457 visa to the applicant would be in the interests of Australia.

    …

    (11)In subclause (4):

    exempt applicant means an applicant who is in a class of applicants specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this subclause.