Chand (Migration)

Case [2023] AATA 231

Chand (Migration) [2023] AATA 231 (12 January 2023)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mr Namit Kumar Chand

CASE NUMBER:  2119149

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2020/1649292

MEMBER:T. Quinn

DATE:12 January 2023

PLACE OF DECISION:  Melbourne

DECISION:The Tribunal affirms the decision not to grant the applicant a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa.

Statement made on 12 January 2023 at 5:59pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION –Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa – subclass 500 (Student) visa–– applicant failed to provide requested information – no evidence of any academic progress –applicant had spent a considerable amount of time in Australia – applicant was not a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student – lack of genuine study ––an economic incentive to remain in Australia – decision under review affirmed

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958, ss 65, 359, 360, 363, 499
Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, cls 500.211, 500.212

STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

  1. On 29 May 2020, the applicant applied for a Student visa (the visa) to undertake study in Australia (‘the application’).[1]

    [1]Specifically, a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa (‘the visa’) under section 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (‘the Act’).  At the time of application, Class TU contained two subclasses: Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian).  The applicant applied for the former and does not claim to meet the criteria for a Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa.

  2. On 16 November 2021, a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs (‘the delegate’) refused to grant the application on the basis that the applicant did not satisfy the genuine temporary entrant requirements in relation to student visas.[2]

    [2]See clause 500.212 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’) which requires that student visa applicants be genuine applicants for entry and stay as a student. A copy of the delegate’s decision was provided to the Tribunal with the applicant’s review application

  3. On 14 December 2021, the applicant applied to this Tribunal for a review of the delegate’s decision.[3]

    [3] Pursuant to sections 338(2) and 347 of the Act.

  4. In coming to consider the merits of the application for review, the Tribunal recognises the applicant’s personal circumstances bearing upon their visa application may have changed since making their application. The Tribunal considered that it would be beneficial for the applicant to provide updated and further information for the purposes of determining the outcome of their application for review. To this end, on 6 September 2022, the Tribunal wrote to the applicant, pursuant to section 359(2) of the Act, inviting them to provide information in writing about the course(s) of study the applicant was undertaking and their entry and stay in Australia as a student (‘the s359(2) letter’). The s359(2) letter requests that a questionnaire (‘the questionnaire’) be completed by the applicant.

  5. The applicant sought and was granted an extension of time to respond to the s359(2) and subsequently responded to the s359(2) letter, including filing the questionnaire, on 19 October 2022 which was not within…

Continue reading Chand (Migration)

Sign in free to access the full text

Details
AGLC
Chand (Migration) [2023] AATA 231
Case
[2023] AATA 231
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

This matter concerned an appeal by a Nepalese citizen against the Administrative Appeals Tribunal's decision to affirm the refusal of his Subclass 500 (Student) visa. The applicant, a 34-year-old male, had arrived in Australia in May 2016 on a student visa and had remained in Australia on two subsequent student visas, with the most recent expiring on the same day he lodged the application under review. He had completed a general English course and a Certificate IV in Business in Australia.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the applicant met the criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa, specifically whether he was a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, and whether he intended to genuinely stay in Australia temporarily. This involved considering the applicant's circumstances, his immigration history, and any other relevant matters, in accordance with Direction No. 69 issued under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958.

The court found that the applicant had not provided evidence of academic progress beyond a Certificate IV in Business, which he completed in May 2020. His prolonged stay in Australia on successive student visas, coupled with the lack of demonstrable academic advancement, raised concerns that he was using the student visa program primarily to maintain residence in Australia rather than for genuine study. The court noted that the applicant had not provided information regarding his income from previous employment in Nepal, nor had he established a clear value proposition for the courses undertaken in Australia in relation to his future employment prospects in his home country.

Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the decision not to grant the applicant a Subclass 500 (Student) visa, concluding that the applicant had not satisfied the genuine temporary entrant criterion. The court found no error in the Tribunal's assessment of the evidence and the application of the relevant legal principles.

Orders

Orders of the court

Full text does not contain this section.

Background

Background to the litigation

Full text does not contain this section.

Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

The Direction is a lawful direction of the Minister.[10] I am therefore bound to consider and, to the extent that its terms are relevant, apply it to the applicant’s case.[11] Accordingly, the terms of the Direction and their application to the applicant’s case have been considered in relation to material before me. However, I recognise that the Tribunal is an independent statutory body. I must therefore reach my own conclusions as to the merits of the applicant’s case, which includes an assessment of how and to what extent each factor in the Direction is relevant and applicable, independently of any conclusions reached by the delegate. In this regard, I note well established case authority as to the proper approach by decision makers to guidelines such as the Direction[12] and McNab J’s view that such guidelines may not be relevant where the matters raised by an applicant, either upon the application or at merits review, do not raise facts which engage particular matters identified by those guidelines.[13] [10] In accordance with section 499 of the Act. [11]FKP18 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] FCA 1555, [10], [34]; Chen v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] FCA 46, [29]; Williams v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2014) 226 FCR 112, [60]-[73]; Jagroop v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2014) 225 FCR 482, [8]; Baker v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2012] FCAFC 145, [10]; Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Obele (2010) 119 ALD 358, [53] Cockrell v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2008) 171 FCR 345, [27]-[28].[12]Kaur v Minister for Home Affairs & Anor [2019] FCCA 1372 (at [49] and [51]), Khan v Minister for Immigration & Another [2019] FCCA 565 (at [35]) and Tshering v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCCA 2667 (at [44]-[47]).[13]Tshering v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCCA 2667 (at [44]-[47] per McNab J).CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE The applicant is a 34-year-old male Nepalese citizen who first arrived in Australia in May 2016 on a student visa.[14] He has remained onshore on two further student visas, the latter of which expired on 29 May 2020, the same date as the applicant made the application which is the subject of this review.[15] This timing raises concerns about whether the applicant may be using the student visa migration program to maintain residence, particularly when taken into consideration together with all other evidence as set out in this decision.[14]See the questionnaire and delegate’s decision.[15]See the questionnaire and delegate’s decision. Prior to coming to Australia the applicant completed High school in Nepal in 2008 and worked as a video editor from February 2008-September 2012 and as an animator/VFX from October 2012-March 2015.[16] The applicant has not provided information in relation to his income in those roles in the questionnaire.[16]See the delegate’s decision and the questionnaire. The applicant has provided certificates of completion to the Department for the following courses in Australia:a.A general English course from December 2016-December 2017; andb.A Certificate IV in Business from May 2019-May 2020.[17][17]See the questionnaire.

Decision

Reasons for decision

The criteria for the grant of a Subclass 500 (Student) visa are not met. The applicant does not claim to meet the criteria for a Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa. Therefore, the decision under review must be affirmed.DECISION The Tribunal affirms the decision not to grant the applicant a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa.T. QuinnMember Attachment – Clauses 500.211 and 500.212 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations Enrolment (clause 500.211)·Clause 500.211 requires that, at the time of decision, the student visa application in question be founded on evidence that the applicant is enrolled in a course of study.[35] [35]Clause 500.211(a) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.·‘Course of study’ is defined as a ‘full-time registered course’ and a ‘registered course’ is a course provided by an institution which has been registered under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act2000 (Cth) (‘the ESOS Act’) to provide that course to overseas students.[36][36]Regulation 1.03 of the Regulations.·All registered courses and course providers are listed in the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (‘CRICOS’), an online register kept in accordance with the requirements of the ESOS Act.[37] Details of courses listed in CRICOS are integrated into the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (‘PRISMS’), a database maintained by the Australian government.[38] The PRISMS database is the principal means by which registered course providers comply with legislative requirements relating to the monitoring of international students studying in Australia. Upon enrolling an international student into a registered course of study, the course provider enters the details of that enrolment into the PRISMS database. The database then records a Confirmation of Enrolment (‘COE’) for the student. The COE functions as a record of the student’s enrolment status in the course and as proof of enrolment for the purposes of clause 500.211 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations.[37]Section 10 of the ESOS Act.[38]See generally, Department of Education and Training, Provider Registration International Student Management System (PRISMS): Provider User Guide (Department of Education and Training, May 2018).Genuine Temporary EntrantClause 500.212 requires as follows: The applicant is a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student because:(a)the applicant intends genuinely to stay in Australia temporarily, having regard to:(i)the applicant’s circumstances; and(ii)the applicant’s immigration history; and(iii)if the applicant is a minor—the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant; and(iv)any other relevant matter; and(b)the applicant intends to comply with any conditions subject to which the visa is granted, having regard to:(i)the applicant’s record of compliance with any condition of a visa previously held by the applicant (if any); and(ii)the applicant’s stated intention to comply with any conditions to which the visa may be subject; and(c)of any other relevant matter.Attachment – Direction No.69DIRECTION NUMBER 69 – ASSESSING THE GENUINE TEMPORARY ENTRANT CRITERION FOR STUDENT VISA AND STUDENT GUARDIAN VISA APPLICATIONS(Section 499)I, PETER DUTTON, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection give this Direction under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).Dated: 18 April 2016Peter DuttonMinister for Immigration and Border ProtectionNote: Section 499(1) of the Act empowers the Minister to give a written direction to a person or body having functions or powers under the Act if the directions are about the performance of those functions; or the exercise of those powers. Under section 499(2) of the Act, the direction must not be inconsistent with the Act or the Migration Regulations 1994. Under section 499(2A) of the Act, the person or body must comply with the Direction.Part 1 of Direction No. 69 - PreliminaryName of DirectionThis Direction is Direction No. 69 - Assessing the genuine temporary entrant criterion for Student visa and Student Guardian visa applications.It may be cited as Direction No. 69.CommencementThis Direction commences on 1 July 2016.InterpretationAct means the Migration Act 1958.Genuine temporary entrant means a person who satisfies the genuine temporary entrant criterion for Student visa or Student Guardian visa applications.Genuine temporary entrant criterion refers to clause 500.212(a), 500.312(a) and 590.215(a) at Schedule 2 to the Regulations.Home country has the same meaning as the definition of that term in regulation 1.03 in Part 1 of the Regulations.Regulations mean the Migration Regulations 1994.Relative has the same meaning as the definition of that term in regulation 1.03 in Part 1 of the Regulations.Spouse has the same meaning as the definition of the term in section 5F of the Act.Student visa means a Subclass 500 (Student) visaStudent Guardian visa means a Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa.ApplicationThis Direction applies to delegates performing functions or exercising powers under section 65 of the Act in relation to assessing an applicant’s temporary entrant criterion for Student visa applications in Schedule 2 to the Regulations.This Direction also applies to members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal who review the decisions of primary decision-makers in relation to a Student visa or a Student Guardian visa application.The genuine temporary entrant criterion must be satisfied by all applicants who make an application for either a Student visa seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for a Student Guardian visa.PreambleThe Australian Government operates a student visa programme that enables people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to undertake study in Australia. A person who wants to undertake a course of study under the student visa programme must obtain a student visa before they can commence a course of study in Australia. A successful applicant must be both a genuine temporary entrant and a genuine student.An applicant who is a genuine temporary entrant will have circumstances that support a genuine intention to temporarily enter and remain in Australia, notwithstanding the potential for this intention to change over time to an intention to utilise lawful means to remain in Australia for an extended period of time or permanently.The genuine temporary entrant criterion for Student visa applications requires the Minister to be satisfied that the applicant intends genuinely to stay in Australia temporarily, having regard to:a.the applicant’s circumstances; andb.the applicant’s immigration history; andc.if the applicant is a minor — the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant; andd.any other relevant matter.This Direction provides guidance to decision makers on what factors require consideration when assessing the above paragraphs a to d, to determine whether the applicant genuinely intends to stay in Australia temporarily.Decision makers must take a reasonable and balanced approach between the need to make a timely decision on a Student visa or Student Guardian visa application and the need to identify those applicants who, at time of decision, do not genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarilyPart 2 of Direction No. 69 - DirectionsAssessing the genuine temporary entrant criterion1.Decision makers should not use the factors specified in this Direction as a checklist. The listed factors are intended only to guide decision makers when considering the applicant’s circumstances as a whole, in reaching a finding about whether the applicant satisfies the genuine temporary entrant criterion.2.Decision makers should assess whether, on balance, the genuine temporary entrant criterion is satisfied, by:a.considering the applicant against all factors specified in this Direction; andb.considering any other relevant information provided by the applicant (or information otherwise available to the decision maker).3.Decision makers may request additional information and/or further evidence from the applicant to demonstrate that they are a genuine temporary entrant, where closer scrutiny of the applicant's circumstances is considered appropriate.4.Circumstances where further scrutiny may be appropriate include but are not limited to:a.information in statistical, intelligence and analysis reports on migration fraud and immigration compliance compiled by the department indicates the need for further scrutiny;b.the applicant or a relative of the applicant has an immigration history of reasonable concern;c.the applicant intends to study in a field unrelated to their previous studies or employment; andd.apparent inconsistencies in information provided by the applicant in their Student visa application.5.An application for a Student visa or a Student Guardian visa should be refused if, after weighing up the applicant’s circumstances, immigration history and any other relevant matter, the decision maker is not satisfied that the applicant genuinely intends a temporary stay in Australia.The applicant’s circumstances6.Decision makers should have regard to the applicant’s circumstances in their home country and the applicant’s potential circumstances in Australia.7.For primary applicants of Subclass 500 Student visas, decision makers should have regard to the value of the course to the applicant’s future.8.Weight should be placed on an applicant’s circumstances that indicate that the Student visa or Student Guardian visa is intended primarily for maintaining residence in Australia.The applicant’s circumstances in their home country9.When considering the applicant’s circumstances in their home country, decision makers should have regard to the following factors:a.whether the applicant has reasonable reasons for not undertaking the study in their home country or region if a similar course is already available there. Decision makers should allow for any reasonable motives established by the applicant;b.the extent of the applicant’s personal ties to their home country (for example family, community and employment) and whether those circumstances would serve as a significant incentive to return to their home country;c.economic circumstances of the applicant that would present as a significant incentive for the applicant not to return to their home country. These circumstances may include consideration of the applicant’s circumstances relative to the home country and to Australia;d.military service commitments that would present as a significant incentive for the applicant not to return to their home country; ande.political and civil unrest in the applicant’s home country. This includes situations of a nature that may induce the applicant to apply for a Student visa or Student Guardian visa as means of obtaining entry to Australia for the purpose of remaining indefinitely. Decision makers should be aware of the changing circumstances in the applicant’s home country and the influence these may have on an applicant’s motivations for applying for a Student visa or a Student Guardian visa.10.Decision makers may have regard to the applicant’s circumstances in their home country relative to the circumstances of others in that country.The applicant’s potential circumstances in Australia11.In considering the applicant’s potential circumstances in Australia, decision makers should have regard to the following factors:a.The applicant’s ties with Australia which would present as a strong incentive to remain in Australia. This may include family and community ties;b.evidence that the student visa programme is being used to circumvent the intentions of the migration programme;c.whether the Student visa or Student Guardian visa is being used to maintain ongoing residence;d.whether the primary and secondary applicant(s) have entered into a relationship of concern for a successful Student visa outcome. Where a decision maker determines that an applicant and dependant have contrived their relationship for a successful Student visa outcomes, the decision maker may find that both applicants do not satisfy the genuine temporary entrant criterion; ande.the applicant’s knowledge of living in Australia and their intended course of study and the associated education provider; including previous study and qualifications, what is a realistic level of knowledge an applicant is expected to know and the level of research the applicant has undertaken into their proposed course of study and living arrangements.Value of the course to the applicant’s future12.Decision makers should have regard to the following factors when considering the value of the course to the applicant’s future:a.whether the student is seeking to undertake a course that is consistent with their current level of education and whether the course will assist the applicant to obtain employment or improve employment prospects in their home country. Decision makers should allow for reasonable changes to career or study pathways; andb.relevance of the course to the student’s past or proposed future employment either in their home country or a third country; andc.remuneration the applicant could expect to receive in the home country or a third country, compared with Australia, using the qualifications to be gained from the proposed course of study.The applicant's immigration history13.An applicant’s immigration history refers both to their visa and travel history.14.When considering the applicant’s immigration history, decision makers should have regard to the following factors:a.Previous visa applications for Australia or other countries, including:i.if the applicant previously applied for an Australian temporary or permanent visa, whether those visa applications are yet to be finally determined (within the meaning of subsection 5(9) of the Act), were granted, or grounds on which the application(s) were refused; andii.if the applicant has previously applied for visa(s) to other countries, whether the applicant was refused a visa and the circumstances that led to visa refusal.b.Previous travels to Australia or other countries, including:i.if the applicant previously travelled to Australia, whether they complied with the conditions of their visa and left before their visa ceased, and if not, were there circumstances beyond their control;ii.whether the applicant previously held a visa that was cancelled or considered for cancellation, and the associated circumstances;iii.the amount of time the applicant has spent in Australia and whether the Student visa or Student Guardian visa may be used primarily for maintaining ongoing residence, including whether the applicant has undertaken a series of short, inexpensive courses, or has been onshore for some time without successfully completing a qualification; andiv.if the applicant has travelled to countries other than Australia, whether they complied with the migration laws of that country and the circumstances around any non-complianceIf the applicant is a minor— the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant15.If the primary or secondary applicant for a Subclass 500 Student visa is a minor, decision makers should have regard to the intentions of a parent, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant.Any other relevant matters16.Decision makers should also have regard to any other relevant information provided by the applicant (or information otherwise available to the decision maker) when assessing the applicant’s intention to temporarily stay in Australia. This includes information that may be either beneficial or unfavourable to the applicant.

Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Full text does not contain this section.