Ji and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Citizenship)

This matter concerned an application for Australian citizenship by conferral by Mr Ji, who sought to challenge the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection's decision affirming his ineligibility. The dispute centred on whether Mr Ji met the requirements of section 21(2)(g) of the *Australian Citizenship Act 1948* (Cth), which mandates that an applicant be likely to reside in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia if their application were approved. The case was heard by Mr Conrad Ermert, a Member of the Tribunal.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was to determine whether Mr Ji had demonstrated a likelihood of residing in Australia or maintaining a close and continuing association with Australia, as required by section 21(2)(g) of the Act. This involved assessing the nature and strength of his familial, employment, and financial ties to Australia, as well as his stated intentions regarding future residence and his wife and daughter's return to the country.

The Tribunal considered Mr Ji's evidence regarding his studies in Australia, his employment as an International Marketing Manager for a family business involved in promoting Australian investment, and his financial connections such as bank accounts, income tax payments, and property leases. However, the Tribunal found that Mr Ji's familial associations were limited, his daughter and wife had returned to China for family support, and his employment connection was primarily with a family company whose Australian ties were contingent on current investment opportunities. Furthermore, his financial connections were deemed to be temporary and related to his current employment situation rather than indicative of a continuing association.

Ultimately, the Tribunal was not satisfied that Mr Ji met all the requirements of subsection 21(2) of the Act. Consequently, the decision under review, which found Mr Ji ineligible for Australian citizenship, was affirmed.