Lama (Migration)

Case

[2023] AATA 3460

5 October 2023


Lama (Migration) [2023] AATA 3460 (5 October 2023)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANTS:  Mr Saroj Lama
Mrs Asmi Tamang

REPRESENTATIVE:  Mr Phillip Eltakchi (MARN: 2117133)

CASE NUMBER:  2100978

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2019/5793272

MEMBER:Mary Sheargold

DATE:5 October 2023

PLACE OF DECISION:  Melbourne

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visas for reconsideration, with the direction that the first named applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa:

·cl 187.233(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

Statement made on 05 October 2023 at 5:17pm

CATCHWORDS

MIGRATION – Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa – Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) – direct entry stream – cook – subject of approved position nomination – refusal of related nomination application set aside on review – decision made without hearing necessary – decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION

Migration Act 1958 (Cth), s 65

Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), r 5.19(4), Schedule 2, cl 187.233(3), 360(2)(a)

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 to refuse to grant the applicants Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visas under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

  2. The applicants applied for the visas on 15 November 2019. At the time of application, Class RN contained one subclass: Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme).

  3. The criteria for a Subclass 187 visa are set out in Part 187 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations). The primary criteria must be satisfied by at least one applicant. Other members of the family unit, if any, who are applicants for the visa need satisfy only the secondary criteria. Applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria must meet the 'Common criteria', as well as the criteria of one of two alternative visa streams: the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or the Direct Entry stream.

  4. In the present case, the first named applicant (the applicant) is seeking the visa in the Direct Entry stream, to work in the nominated position of Cook.

  5. The delegate refused to grant the visas because the applicant did not meet cl 187.233(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations because there was no approved nomination.

  6. In reaching its decision the Tribunal did not consider a hearing to be necessary, as it was able to find in favour of the visa applicant on the basis of the material before it, pursuant to s 360(2)(a) of the Act.

  7. The applicants were represented in relation to the review.

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

    CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

  9. The issue in the present case is whether there is an approved nomination.

    Nomination of a position

  10. Clause 187.233 as applicable in this case is set out in full in an attachment to this decision. Essentially, it requires that the position to which the application relates be the subject of an application for approval of a nomination in the Direct Entry stream, located in regional Australia. The position must be the one that was the subject of the declaration made as part of the current visa application. In addition, where the associated nomination was made on or after 1 July 2017, it must identify the applicant in relation to the position.

  11. In addition, this criterion also requires that:

    ·the person who will employ the applicant is the person who made the nomination

    ·the nomination has been approved and has not been subsequently withdrawn

    ·there is no ‘adverse information’ known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person ‘associated with’ that person (within the meaning of reg 1.13A and reg 1.13B); or it is reasonable to disregard any such information

    ·the position is still available to the applicant, and

    ·the visa application was made no more than six months after the nomination of the position was approved.

  12. The first named applicant’s nominating employer, Terrigal Operations Pty Ltd, applied to the Department for the approval of the position of Cook in respect of the first named applicant.  The Department refused to approve the nomination and the employer applied to the Tribunal for review of that decision.

  13. On 5 October 2023, the Tribunal set aside the Department’s decision and substituted a decision to approve the nomination in respect of the first named applicant under r.5.19(4).

  14. As the relevant nomination in respect of the first named applicant has been approved, the first named applicant accordingly meets the requirement in cl.187.233(3).

  15. Therefore, cl 187.233(3) is met.

  16. Given these findings, the appropriate course is to remit the visa application to the Minister to consider the remaining criteria for the visa, including in relation to the secondary applicant.

    DECISION

  17. The Tribunal remits the application for Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visas for reconsideration, with the direction that the first named applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa:

    ·cl 187.233(3) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

    Mary Sheargold
    Member


    ATTACHMENT A

    187.233(1)     The position to which the application relates is the position:

    (a)nominated in an application for approval that:

    (i)identifies the applicant in relation to the position; and

    (ii)is made in relation to a visa in a Direct Entry stream; and

    (iii)seeks to meet the requirements of subregulation 5.19(12); and

    (b)in relation to which the declaration mentioned in paragraph 1114C(3)(d) of Schedule 1 was made in the application for the grant of the visa.

    (2)     The person who will employ the applicant is the person who made the nomination.

    (3)     The Minister has approved the nomination.

    (4)     The nomination has not subsequently been withdrawn.

    (4A)    Either:

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

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

    (5)     The position is still available to the applicant.

    (6)     The application for the visa is made no more than 6 months after the Minister approved the nomination.

Areas of Law

  • Immigration

  • Administrative Law

Legal Concepts

  • Judicial Review

  • Procedural Fairness

  • Remedies

  • Statutory Construction

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