Goma (Migration)

[2020] AATA 6139

Goma (Migration) [2020] AATA 6139 (23 September 2020)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANTS:  Mrs Tila Goma
Mr Steven Chikadzula Phiri
Miss Liniless Chikhadzula Phiri
Mr Dalitso Chikhadzula Phiri

CASE NUMBER:  1823276

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2018/2679814

MEMBER:Mark Bishop

DATE:23 September 2020

PLACE OF DECISION:  Melbourne

DECISION:The Tribunal affirms the decisions not to grant the applicants Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visas.

Statement made on 23 September 2020 at 2:34pm

CATCHWORDS

MIGRATION – Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa – Subclass 500 (Student) – financial capacity – genuine access to funds – current enrolment – financial support from an unidentified person – decision under review affirmed          

LEGISLATION

Migration Act 1958, s 65
Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, cls 500.111, 500.211, 500.214

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 27 July 2018 to refuse to grant the applicants Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visas under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).

2. The applicants applied for the visas on 18 July 2018. At the time of application, Class TU contained two subclasses: Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian). The primary visa applicant (the applicant) applied for the visa to undertake study in Australia and does not claim to meet the criteria for a Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa.

3. The delegate in this case refused to grant the visas on the basis that the applicant did not satisfy the requirements of cl.500.214 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) because the applicant failed to provide evidence of Genuine Access to Funds (GAF).

4. The applicant appeared before the Tribunal on 23 September 2020 to give evidence and present arguments. The secondary applicant, the spouse of the applicant also appeared before the Tribunal and gave evidence to the Tribunal.

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

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

6. The criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa are set out in Part 500 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations. The primary criteria in cl.500.211 to cl.500.218 must be satisfied by at least one applicant. Other members of the family unit, if any, who are applicants for the visa need only satisfy the secondary criteria. The issue in the present case is GAF.

   Genuine access to funds (cl.500.214)

7. Clause 500.214 requires the applicant to meet certain financial requirements. If the applicant is required to do so by the Minister, they must give evidence of financial capacity that satisfies the requirements set out in an instrument: cl.500.214(3). All primary applicants must also satisfy the Tribunal that, while they hold the visa, sufficient funds will be available to meet their costs and expenses during their intended stay in Australia, as well as the costs and expenses of any members of their family unit who will be in Australia: cl.500.214(2). The Tribunal must also be satisfied that the applicant will have genuine access to the relevant kinds of funds.

8. In the present case, the Minister has required the applicant to give evidence of financial capacity in accordance with cl.500.214(3).

9. The requirements for evidence of financial capacity for cl.500.214(3) are set out in LIN 19/198, which is attached to this decision.

10. The delegate made a fining the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence as to GAF to satisfy cl.500.214.

11. The Tribunal is required to make a time of decision finding. This means an applicant is required to provide current information at the time of decision. An applicant is required to provide current information to the Tribunal to satisfy GAF as set out in cl.500.214.

12. On 8 September 2020 the Tribunal wrote to the applicant and invited the applicant to attend a hearing.  The Tribunal advised the applicant “…Please provide all documents you intend to rely on to establish that you meet the criteria for the visa.  The decision made by the department to refuse to grant a visa should set out the reasons why you did not meet the criteria, and you should have regard to these and any changes in your circumstances, in providing documents and preparing for the hearing.  Any documents or written arguments sent to us should be in English or accompanied by a translation from a qualified translator”.

13. The applicant failed to comply with this request. The applicant did not provide a submission to the Tribunal.

14. The Tribunal requested the applicant provide the following documents at least 7 days prior to the hearing:

    ·A copy of your current Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) or other document/s that show you are currently enrolled in a course of study as defined in cl 500.111 and as required by cl 500.211(a) of schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) for the grant of the visa.

    ·Documents that show your past studies in Australia, including copies of all your attendance certificates, academic transcripts and certificates of completion as well as documents evidencing any work related to your past or intended studies in Australia.

    Either:

    ·Documents that demonstrate you have genuine access to sufficient funds to meet your costs and expenses during your intended stay in Australia as well as the costs and expenses of each member of your family unit (if any) who will be in Australia, to pay course fees, living costs, school costs (where relevant), and travel costs over the relevant period. You must also provide evidence that the funds are of a kind specified in the relevant legislative instrument.
    
    OR

    ·Evidence of the annual income of your parents/spouse/de facto partner and that you have genuine access to those funds. Please note: any access to funds information that is from outside of Australia needs to be converted into Australian Dollars (AUD) using the following link: A copy of the conversion needs to be added to any submission with the conversion date.

15. The Tribunal is of the view the applicant was provided with adequate written notice of the need to provide “Documents that demonstrate you have genuine access to sufficient funds to meet your costs and expenses during your intended stay in Australia as well as the costs and expenses of each member of your family unit (if any) who will be in Australia, to pay course fees, living costs, school costs (where relevant), and travel costs over the relevant period. You must also provide evidence that the funds are of a kind specified in the relevant legislative instrument”

16. In addition, on 8 September 2020 the Tribunal provided a copy of LIN 19/198 Financial Capacity Instrument to the applicant. This instrument in s.6 (2) outlines the detail an applicant is required to provide to comply with the instrument and hence satisfy cl.500.214 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations. The Tribunal is of the view the applicant was provided with adequate written notice of the type of information required to be provided to the Tribunal to satisfy LIN 19/198.

17. The applicant did not provide a written submission to the Tribunal.

18. On 16 September 2020 the applicant provided the following material to the Tribunal:

    ·Copy of a COE in a Diploma of Early Childhood Development created 6 July 2020 with a course start date of 7 September 2020 and course finish date of 5 September 2021. The COE did not disclose payment of any portion of tuition fees. The applicant did not provide a copy of a receipt for payment of any portion of tuition fees. The applicant did not provide any evidence of payment of any portion of tuition fees. The COE disclosed outstanding tuition fees were $8,333;

    ·Copy of a bank statement from “ZANAGO” headed “CASA Statement of Account” in the name of Godfrey N Choonya in Zambian currency that showed a balance of 573,409 ZMK (at date of decision approximately AUD$40,023). The applicant did not provide any detail as to whether “ZANAGO” is a financial institution. The Tribunal notes the bank statement from “ZANAGO” headed “CASA Statement of Account” did not contain any address or contact details. The Tribunal is not aware if the institution known as “ZANAGO” is a financial institution as required by s.10 of LIN 19/198.

19. The applicant did not provide a Statement of Support to the Tribunal.

20. The applicant did not provide a Statement of Genuine Access to Funds from Mr Godfrey N Choonya.

21. In her Application for a Student Visa the applicant did not declare details of her parents. She did disclose details of her siblings by name. This application for a Student Visa did not declare Mr Godfrey N Choonya to be either father or brother. In evidence to the Tribunal the applicant advised Mr Godfrey N Choonya was her grandfather and sponsor. The applicant did not provide any evidence of this relationship.

22. The review application is not a GTE matter. The applicant is required to satisfy cl.500.214 at the time of decision. The applicant did not provide a Statement of Genuine Access to Funds. The applicant did not provide any identity documents relating to Mr Godfrey N Choonya. The Tribunal is not aware if Mr Godfrey N Choonya has made such a provision or reached such a decision. There is no evidence before the Tribunal to that effect.

23. In evidence the applicant advised two of the secondary applicants (the children) returned to their home country in January.

24. S.6(2)(C) of LIN/198 is expressed in the following terms: “demonstrates that the primary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet the following costs and expenses of each secondary applicant making a combined application with the primary applicant”. Two of the secondary applicants are school age children. The applicant advised they currently reside in their parent’s home country. The applicant did not advise of any notice of withdrawal on the part of these two secondary applicants. The applicant did not provide any notice of withdrawal to the Tribunal.

25. The Tribunal finds that the two school aged children are “secondary applicants” making “a combined application with the primary applicant”

26. The applicant is required to provide evidence of GAF amounting to $63,632 calculated as outstanding tuition fees of $8,333 (as per COE), applicant cost of living $21,041, spouse cost of living $7,362, first child cost of living $3,152, second child cost of living $3,152, first child school fees $8,296, second child school fees $8,296 and four airfares of $1,000 each amounting in aggregate to $4,000.

27. The only evidence before the Tribunal as to funds on deposit in a financial institution is summarised at paragraph 17 above.

28. The Tribunal is not satisfied the applicant will have Genuine Access to the Funds amounting to $63,632 as the applicant has not provided the relevant information to that effect.

29. The Tribunal is not satisfied the applicant will have access to these funds while in Australia.

30. The applicant did not provide current proof of GAF to the required amount to the Tribunal. There is insufficient evidence before the Tribunal that the applicant satisfies LIN 19/198 (see paragraph 16 above in addition).

31. On the basis of the above, the Tribunal is not satisfied that the applicant meets cl.500.214(3).

32. Accordingly, the Tribunal is not satisfied that the applicant meets cl.500.214.

33. Given the above findings, the Tribunal finds that 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. Accordingly, the decision under review must be affirmed.

    DECISION

34. The Tribunal affirms the decisions not to grant the applicants Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visas.

    Mark Bishop
    Member

    Attachment – LIN 19/198 – Financial capacity instrument (extract)

    6 Subclause 500 (Student) visa—primary applicants

    (1)For the purposes of subclause 500.214(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, a primary applicant must give to the Minister evidence of financial capacity that satisfies the requirements of subsections (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6).

    Note: For primary applicant, see section 4 of Part 1 to this instrument.

    (2)The evidence of financial capacity

    (a)is in the form specified in section 10; and

    (b)demonstrates that the primary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet the following costs and expenses of the primary applicant:

    (i) travel expenses; and

    (ii) the following living costs and expenses:

    (A)if the primary applicant intends to stay in Australia for a period of 12 months or more – AUD21,041 (annual living costs); and

    (B)if the primary applicant intends to stay in Australia for a period of less than 12 months – the pro rata equivalent of annual living costs, calculated as specified in section 11; and

    (iii) the following course fees, minus any amount already paid:

    (A)if the duration, or the remainder, of the primary applicant’s period of study in Australia is less than 12 months – the fees for the course of study or the remaining components of the course of study; or

    (B)If the duration, or the remainder, of the primary applicant’s period of study in Australia is more than 12 months – course fees for the first 12 months of the period study in Australia; and

    Note : The period of study is the period beginning at one of the following commencement periods and ending on the final day of the applicant’s final course of study:

    (a)if the applicant’s first course of study commenced after the date of application – on the first day of the first course of study; or

    (b)if the applicant’s first course of study commenced before the date of application – on the date of application.

    (c)demonstrates that the primary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet the following costs and expenses of each secondary applicant making a combined application with the primary applicant:

    (i) travel expenses; and

    (ii) for each secondary applicant who intends to stay in Australia for a period of 12 months or more – the following costs (annual living costs):

    (A)for a spouse or de facto partner - AUD7,362 and

    (B)for a dependent child - AUD3,152; and

    (iii) for each secondary applicant who intends to stay in Australia for a period of less than 12 months – the pro rata equivalent of annual living costs, calculated as specified in section 11; and

    (iv) the following school fees for each school-age dependant:

    (A)if the school-age dependant intends to stay in Australia for more than 12 months - AUD8,296 (annual school costs); or

    (B)if the school-age dependant intends to stay in Australia for less than 12 months – the pro rata equivalent of annual school costs, calculated as specified in section 11; or

    (C)if the school-age dependant is enrolled in a course of study at a State or Territory government school where the fees have been waived, and the Primary Applicant is enrolled in a course as a doctoral degree student, a Foreign Affairs student, a Defence student or a Commonwealth sponsored student – nil.

    Note: For secondary applicant, see section 4 of Part 1 to this instrument

    (3)The evidence of financial capacity:

    (a)is official Government documentation of personal income that has been issued in the 12 months immediately before the application is made; and

    (b)demonstrates that the primary applicant’s parent, spouse or de facto partner has a personal annual income, in the 12 months immediately before the application is made, that is:

    (i)if there is no secondary applicant– at least AUD62,222; or

    (ii)if there is a secondary applicant – at least AUD72,592.

    (4)The evidence of financial capacity is the primary applicant’s completed AASES form.

    Note: AASES form is defined in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations to mean for a secondary exchange student, an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student form from the relevant State or Territory education authority, containing the following declarations:

    (a) a declaration made by the student’s exchange organisation, accepting the student;

    (b) a declaration made by the student’s parent, or the person or persons having custody of the student, agreeing to the exchange.

    (5)If the primary applicant is a Foreign Affairs student – the evidence of financial capacity is a letter of support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    (6) If the primary applicant is a Defence student – the evidence of financial capacity is a letter of support from the Department of Defence.

    7 Subclause 500 (Student) visa—secondary applicants

    (1)For the purposes of subclause 500.313(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, a secondary applicant who is included in the primary student visa holder’s application, must give to the Minister evidence of financial capacity that satisfies the requirements of subsection (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6).

    (2)The evidence of financial capacity:

    (a)is in the form specified in section 10; and

    (b)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet the costs and expenses of the primary student visa holder set out in subparagraphs 6(2)(b)(i) to (iii) of this Part; and

    (c)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet the costs and expenses of each secondary applicant making a combined application with the primary student visa holder specified in paragraphs 6(2)(c)(i) to (iv) of this Part.

    (3)The evidence of financial capacity:

    (a)is official Government documentation of personal income that has been issued in the 12 months immediately before the application is made; and

    (b)demonstrates that the primary student visa holder’s parent, spouse or de facto partner has a personal annual income that is at least AUD72,592.

    (4)If the primary student visa holder is a Foreign Affairs student and has provided a letter of support mentioned in subsection 6(5) of this Part – the evidence of financial capacity is the letter of support if the letter of support indicates that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will meet the living costs and expenses of each secondary applicant.

    (5)If the primary student visa holder is a Defence student and has provided a letter of support mentioned in subsection 6(6) of this Part – the evidence of financial capacity is the letter of support if the letter of support indicates that the Department of Defence will meet the living costs and expenses of each secondary applicant.

    (6)If:

    (a)the primary student visa holder is a Foreign Affairs student or a Defence student and has provided a letter of support mentioned in subsection 6(5) or (6) of this Part; but

    (b)the letter of support does not indicate that the relevant department will meet the living costs and expenses of each secondary applicant;

    then the evidence of financial capacity:

    (c)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet the costs and expenses of the secondary applicant specified in paragraphs 6(2)(c)(i) to (iv) of this Part.

    8 Subclass 500 (Student) visa – secondary applicants not included in the primary student visa holder’s application

    (1) For the purposes of subclause 500.313(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, a secondary applicant (the first secondary applicant), who is not included in the primary student visa holder’s application, must give to the Minister evidence of financial capacity that satisfies the requirements of subsection (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6).

    (2) The evidence of financial capacity:

    (a)is in the form specified in section 10; and

    (b)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet the costs and expenses of the primary student visa holder specified in subparagraph 6(2)(b)(ii) of this Part; and

    (c)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet course fees for any component of the primary student visa holder’s course of study which will be completed while the first secondary applicant is in Australia, up to an amount equivalent to fees for 12 months of the course of study, minus any amount already paid; and

    (d)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet the costs and expenses of each secondary student visa holder and that the first secondary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet their own costs and expenses, and the costs and expenses of each additional secondary applicant making a combined application with the first secondary applicant, specified in subparagraphs 6(2)(c)(ii) to (iv) of this Part; and

    (e)demonstrates that the first secondary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet their own travel expenses and the travel expenses of all additional secondary applicants making a combined application with the first secondary applicant.

    (3)The evidence of financial capacity:

    (a)is official Government documentation of personal income that has been issued in the 12 months immediately before the application is made; and

    (b)demonstrates that the primary student visa holder’s parent, spouse or de facto partner has a personal annual income that is at least AUD72,592.

    (4)If the primary student visa holder is a Foreign Affairs student and has provided a letter of support mentioned in subsection 6(5) of this Part – the evidence of financial capacity is the letter of support if the letter of support indicates that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will meet the living costs and expenses of each secondary applicant.

    (5)If the primary student visa holder is a Defence student and has provided a letter of support mentioned in subsection 6(6) of this Part – the evidence of financial capacity is the letter of support if the letter of support indicates that the Department of Defence will meet the living costs and expenses of each secondary applicant.

    (6)If:

    (a)the primary student visa holder is a Foreign Affairs student or a Defence student and has provided a letter of support mentioned in subsection 6(5) or (6) of this Part; but

    (b)the letter of support does not indicate that the relevant department will meet the living costs and expenses of each secondary applicant;

    then the evidence of financial capacity:

    (c)demonstrates that sufficient funds are available to meet the costs and expenses of each secondary student visa holder and that the first secondary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet their own costs and expenses, and the costs and expenses of each additional secondary applicant making a combined application with the first secondary applicant, specified in subparagraphs 6(2)(c)(ii) to (iv) of this Part; and

    (d)demonstrates that the first secondary applicant has sufficient funds available to meet their own travel expenses and the travel expenses of all secondary applicants making a combined application with the first secondary applicant.

    …

    10 Evidence of financial capacity

    The following forms of evidence of financial capacity are specified:

    (a)money deposit with a financial institution;

    (b)loan with a financial institution;

    (c)government loans;

    (d)scholarship or financial support.

    11 Pro rata equivalent

    In this Part, the pro rata equivalent of annual costs is calculated by:

    (a)dividing the annual amount by 365; and

    (b)multiplying the resulting number by the number of days the applicant is intending to stay in Australia.