Giannikouri (Migration)

[2021] AATA 4719

Giannikouri (Migration) [2021] AATA 4719 (20 September 2021)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mrs Maria Giannikouri

CASE NUMBER:  2106272

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2018/2792765

MEMBER:Justine Clarke

DATE:20 September 2021

PLACE OF DECISION:  Melbourne

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for a Partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 820 visa:

·Regulation 2.03AA(2)(a).

Statement made on 20 September 2021 at 5:08pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – Partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa – Subclass 820 (Partner) – criminal history – statement from an appropriate authority – ‘National Police Certificate’ from the Australian Federal Police – decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958 (Cth), s 65
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), r 2.03AA; Schedule 2, cl 820.223

STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

1. This is an application for review of a decision made on 28 April 2021 by a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs to refuse to grant the applicant a Partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

2. On 25 July 2018, the applicant applied for the visa. The criteria for a Partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa are set out in Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations). Additional criteria are prescribed in Division 2.1 of Part 2 of the Regulations.

3. Regulation 2.03AA of the Regulations applies where a person is required to satisfy Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4001 or 4002: reg 2.03AA(1). In this case, cl 820.223 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations requires the applicant to meet PIC 4001 and 4002. Therefore, the applicant is required to satisfy the criterion in reg 2.03AA(2).

4. Regulation 2.03AA(2)(a) requires that, if requested, the applicant has provided a statement from a relevant authority in a country where the person resides or has resided that provides evidence about whether or not the person has a criminal history. The Tribunal may waive the requirement in reg 2.03AA(2)(a) if it is not reasonable for the applicant to provide the statement: reg 2.03AA(3).

5. Regulation 2.03AA(2)(b) requires that, if requested, the applicant has provided a completed approved Form 80. The Tribunal cannot waive the requirement for the applicant to provide a completed Form 80.

6. The applicant provided the Tribunal with a copy of the primary decision. The delegate refused to grant the visa on the basis that the applicant did not meet reg 2.03AA because reg 2.03AA(2)(a) was not met. The decision stated that the applicant had not provided a police certificate or other statement from an appropriate authority in Australia, a country which the applicant had claimed to have lived for a cumulative period of 12 months or more, over the last 10 years, since turning 16 years of age. In addition, the delegate found that reg 2.03AA(3) did not apply because the applicant had not provided any claims or evidence to satisfy the delegate that it was not reasonable for the applicant to provide the requested evidence. The primary decision is silent as to whether the Department had requested the applicant to provide a completed approved Form 80 and thus whether reg 2.03AA(2)(b) had or had not been satisfied.  

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

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

8. The issue in this case is whether, at the time of this decision, the applicant has provided a statement by an appropriate authority that provides evidence about whether or not the person has a criminal history.

   Has the applicant provided a statement from an appropriate authority?

9. The primary decision states that, as at 28 April 2021, which is when the delegate made the refusal decision, the applicant had not provided a ‘National Police Check’ from the Australian Federal Police pursuant to the Department’s written requests commencing on 29 July 2020.

10. On 11 May 2021, the applicant applied to the Tribunal for review of the primary decision.

11. On 31 May 2021, the Tribunal wrote to the applicant, by email, to request her to provide ‘a national police certificate for Australia’. The Tribunal requested that the information be provided by 1 July 2021.

12. On 19 August 2021, the applicant submitted a copy of her ‘National Police Certificate’ from the Australian Federal Police.

13. Following constitution to the Member presiding, the Tribunal reviewed the evidence before it. The Tribunal finds that the applicant has provided a statement from an appropriate authority and therefore meets reg 2.03AA(2)(a).

    Conclusion

14. On the basis of the above findings, the applicant meets r.2.03AA(2)(a).

15. The Tribunal notes that, if the Department has requested the applicant to provide a completed approved Form 80, she will need to provide the completed approved Form 80 to the Department before a decision maker can be satisfied that he meets r.2.03AA(2) in its entirety.

    DECISION

16. The Tribunal remits the application for a Partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 820 visa:

    ·Regulation 2.03AA(2)(a).

    Justine Clarke
    Member