Mbataku (Migration)

[2020] AATA 3022

Mbataku (Migration) [2020] AATA 3022 (17 May 2020)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Ms Mercy Chidinma Mbataku

CASE NUMBER:  1922430

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2019/1364332

MEMBER:Jennifer Cripps Watts

DATE:17 May 2020

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa:

·cl.500.213 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

Statement made on 17 May 2020 at 4:42pm

CATCHWORDS

MIGRATION – Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa – Subclass 500 (Student) – English language requirements – Pearson PTE Academic Test results provided upon review – decision under review remitted           

LEGISLATION

Migration Act 1958, ss 65, 360
Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 cl 500.213

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 6 August 2019 to refuse to grant the applicant a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).

2. The applicant applied for the visa on 18 March 2019. At the time of application, Class TU contained two subclasses: Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian). 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 visa on the basis that the applicant did not satisfy the requirements of cl.500.213 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) because the applicant did not satisfy the English language requirements

4. The Tribunal was able to make a favourable decision on the evidence before it, relating to the determinative issue on the review, without inviting the applicant to a hearing to give evidence and present arguments:  s.360(2)(a) of the Act.

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

   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 whether the applicant satisfies the English language requirements to meet cl.500.213.

   English language proficiency (cl.500.213)

7. To meet cl.500.213, the applicant must (if required by the Minister) give evidence that they have a level of English language proficiency that meets the requirements specified in an instrument: cl.500.213(1). This requirement does not apply to an applicant within a class specified in an instrument: cl.500.213(2). IMMI 18/015, which is attached to this decision, specifies the requirements for evidence of English language proficiency and classes of applicants to whom the requirement does not apply.

8. The applicant is not within a specified class for the purposes of cl.500.213(3)(b) and, therefore, cl.500.213(1) applies.

9. The applicant has provided the Tribunal with a Pearson PTE Academic – Test Taker Score Report indicating:

   a.The English test was undertaken on 19 August 2019

   b.The overall score was 54, and individual scores:

   i.Listening  50

   ii.Reading  52

   iii.Speaking  50

   iv.Writing  58

   c.And that the test score is valid until 19 August 2021.

10. On the evidence, the Tribunal is satisfied that the applicant has achieved the required minimum test score in a test provided by a specified language test provider within the last two years.

11. Accordingly, the Tribunal is satisfied that, at the time of this decision, the applicant meets cl.500.213.

12. Given the above findings, the appropriate course is to remit the application for the visa to the Minister to consider the remaining criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa.

    DECISION

13. The Tribunal remits the application for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa:

    ·cl.500.213 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

    Jennifer Cripps Watts
    Member

    
    

    Attachment – IMMI 18/015 – English language instrument (extract)

    6Primary Criteria

    (1)For the purpose of subclause 500.213(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, the following requirements are specified:

    (a)the applicant must undertake one of the English language tests specified in Column 1 of Schedule 1;

    (b)the applicant must achieve the English language test score specified for that English language test in Column 3 of Schedule 1; and

    (c)the applicant must have completed the test within the following period:

    (i)if evidence of the test is provided at the time the applicant makes an application for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa - 2 years immediately before the date of the visa application; or

    (ii)if evidence of the test is not provided at the time the visa application is made - 2 years immediately before a decision to grant or refuse the visa application is made.

    (2)For the purpose of subclause 500.213(2) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, subclause 500.213(1) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations does not apply to the following classes of applicants:

    (a)an applicant who is a citizen of, and who holds a valid passport issued by:

    (i)the United Kingdom;

    (ii)the United States of America;

    (iii)Canada;

    (iv)New Zealand; or

    (v)the Republic of Ireland; or

    (b)an applicant who is enrolled in a principal course of study that is:

    (i)registered to be delivered in a language other than English;

    (ii)a registered ELICOS course, as defined in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations;

    (iii)a registered school course; or

    (iv)a registered post-graduate research course; or

    (c)an applicant who is a:

    (i)Foreign Affairs student;

    (ii)Defence Student; or

    (iii)Secondary exchange student; or

    (d)an applicant, who, in the 2 years before applying for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa, has successfully completed:

    (i)the requirements for a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, in a course that was conducted in Australia and in English; or

    (ii)a substantial component of a course leading to a qualification from the Australian Qualifications Framework at the Certificate IV level or higher that was conducted in Australia and in English, while the applicant was holding a student visa; or

    (e)an applicant who has successfully completed a minimum of 5 years of study in English undertaken in one or more of the following countries;

    (i)Australia;

    (ii)Canada;

    (iii)New Zealand;

    (iv)South Africa;

    (v)the Republic of Ireland;

    (vi)the United Kingdom;

    (vii)the United States of America.

    …

    Schedule 1 — English language tests and minimum test scores

English language tests
Item	Column 1: Test name	Column 2: Acronym/ also known as	Column 3: Minimum test score
1	International English Language Testing system	IELTS Test	(a)    Overall band score 5.5; or (b)    Overall band score 5 if packaged with at least 10 weeks’ ELICOS; or (c)     Overall band score of 4.5 if packaged with at least 20 weeks’ ELICOS.
2	Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test	TOEFL iBT	(a)    46; or (b)    35, if packaged with at least 10 weeks’ ELICOS ; or (c)     32, if packaged with at least 20 weeks’ ELICOS.
3	Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test	Certificate in Advanced English	(a)    162; or (b)    154, if packaged with at least 10 weeks’ ELICOS; or (c)     147, if packaged with at least 20 weeks’ ELICOS.
4	Pearson Test of English Academic	PTE	(a)    42; or (b)    36, if packaged with at least 10 weeks’ ELICOS; or (c)     30, if packaged with at least 20 weeks’ ELICOS.
5	Occupational English Test	OET	a score of at least B for each test component of the OET.