Mc Kenna Cronin (Migration)

Case

[2022] AATA 2582

29 July 2022


Mc Kenna Cronin (Migration) [2022] AATA 2582 (29 July 2022)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mr Ryan Kevin Mc Kenna Cronin

REPRESENTATIVE:  Mr Adeel Khan

CASE NUMBER:  2202346

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2021/764202

MEMBER:Mark Bishop

DATE:29 July 2022

PLACE OF DECISION:  Melbourne

DECISION:The Tribunal affirms the decision to cancel the applicant’s Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa.

Statement made on 29 July 2022 at 10:38am

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – cancellation – Working Holiday (Temporary) (Class TZ) visa – Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) – incorrect information provided in second extension application – six months of specified work in regional area while holding first extension – verification checks – discretion to cancel visa – paid third party to complete and lodge application – acknowledgement of responsibility – COVID restrictions and prevalence in home country – mental health and death of relative – no health reports provided – work on major infrastructure project – relationship with visa holder from another country – hardship if visa cancelled – decision under review affirmed  

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 101(b), 107, 109(1)
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), r 2.41

CASE
MIAC v Khadgi (2010) 190 FCR 248

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 cancel the applicant’s Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa under s 109(1) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

  2. The delegate cancelled the visa on the basis that the applicant provided incorrect information in the Working Holiday (Extension) visa application as she did not work at the named employer. The issue in the present case is whether that ground for cancellation is made out, and if so, whether the visa should be cancelled.

  3. The applicant appeared before the Tribunal on 28 July 2022 to give evidence and present arguments. The applicant provided a copy of the decision record to the Tribunal. The applicant was represented in relation to the review.

  4. For the following reasons, the Tribunal has concluded that the decision to cancel the applicant’s visa should be affirmed.

    CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

  5. Section 109(1) of the Act allows the Minister to cancel a visa if the visa holder has failed to comply with ss 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 or 107(2) of the Act. Broadly speaking, these sections require non-citizens to provide correct information in their visa applications and passenger cards, not to provide bogus documents and to notify the Department of any incorrect information of which they become aware and of any relevant changes in circumstances.

  6. The exercise of the cancellation power under s 109 of the Act is conditional on the Minister issuing a valid notice to the visa holder under s 107 of the Act, providing particulars of the alleged non-compliance. Where a notice is issued that does not comply with the requirements in s 107, the power to cancel the visa does not arise. Extracts of the Act relevant to this case are attached to this decision.

  7. In the present matter, the Tribunal is satisfied that the delegate had reached the necessary state of mind to engage s 107 and that the notice issued under s 107 complied with the statutory requirements.

    Was there non-compliance as described in the s 107 notice?

  8. The issue before the Tribunal is whether there was non-compliance in the way described in the s 107 notice, being the manner particularised in the notice, and if so, whether the visa should be cancelled. The non-compliance identified and particularised in the s 107 notice was non-compliance with the following section of the Act:

    Section 101 Visa applications to be correct:

    ·A non-citizen must fill in or complete his or her application form in such a way that: (b) no incorrect answers are given or provided.

    ·The applicant provided employer detail, employer business and address, work conditions and period of employment.

  9. The Department initiated employment verification checks with Booth Farming Trust, the business registered under ABN 74160906182, to verify the visa holder’s employment claims. On 11 March 2021, Booth Farming Trust contacted the Department and advised that the visa holder had never worked at the business, from 13 May 2020 to 24 November 2020.

  10. For these reasons, the Tribunal finds that there was non-compliance with s 101 of the Act by the applicant in the way described in the s 107 notice.

    Should the visa be cancelled?

  11. As the Tribunal has decided that there was non-compliance in the way described in the notice given to the applicant under s 107 of the Act, it is necessary to consider whether the visa should be cancelled pursuant to s 109(1). Cancellation in this context is discretionary, as there are no mandatory cancellation circumstances prescribed under s 109(2).

  12. In exercising this power, the Tribunal must consider the applicant’s response (if any) to the s 107 notice about the non-compliance, and have regard to any prescribed circumstances: s 109(1)(b) and (c). The prescribed circumstances are set out in reg 2.41 of the Regulations. Briefly, they are:

    ·the correct information

    ·the content of the genuine document (if any)

    ·whether the decision to grant a visa or immigration clear the visa holder was based, wholly or partly, on incorrect information or a bogus document

    ·the circumstances in which the non-compliance occurred

    ·the present circumstances of the visa holder

    ·the subsequent behaviour of the visa holder concerning his or her obligations under Subdivision C of Division 3 of Part 2 of the Act

    ·any other instances of non-compliance by the visa holder known to the Minister

    ·the time that has elapsed since the non-compliance

    ·any breaches of the law since the non-compliance and the seriousness of those breaches

    ·any contribution made by the holder to the community.

  13. In response to the NOICC (Doc ID number 9476811) the applicant provided a written response (Doc ID number 9476813) summarised by the delegate as follows: “The visa holder provided incorrect information as detailed in Part B of this document, in order to facilitate the grant of his Working Holiday (Extension) visa. In the Working Holiday (Extension) visa application, the visa holder stated that he worked at Booth Farming Trust from 13 May 2020 to 24 November 2020, a period of 162 days. The Department received correspondence on 11 March 2021 from Booth Farming Trust stating that the visa holder never worked at the business. In response to the NOICC, the visa holder admitted he had not undertaken six month’s work at Booth Farming Trust.”  In more detail the applicant advised as follows:

    ·Cancelling my visa and asking me to return to my home country (Ireland) would cause me a greater amount of stress and a huge decline in my mental health.

    ·Covid 19 has impacted everyone all over the world and Ireland has been particularly unfortunate with the number of cases.

    ·I’ve lost an uncle who committed suicide last July after losing his own battle with mental health. As there was no way I could get home for the funeral working here and my close friends circle helped me get through that hard period in my life.

    ·Before receiving the news, I had tried to try get regional work to support my 3rd year visa but after starting my 2nd year visa in February in March the covid pandemic hit in March and from there it has not left with lockdowns and travel/work restrictions, then on July 2nd I got the call about my uncle after this I was not in the right frame of mind to travel alone and leave my only support system that I had here which were my friends. Being away from my only support network frightened me and for that reason I decided to stay in Sydney and at the time was working on the Westconnex project which was classified as an Essential Government service focusing on this and the help my friends got me through this tough period.

    ·I have made a life for myself and I love it here in Australia, sending me back to Ireland It would be impossible to get employment in Ireland in the line of work I've been doing here in Australia.

    ·I found it very difficult during covid to source regional work.

    ·I feel incredibly fortunate that I have managed to keep finically stable during these difficult months.

  14. In response giving reasons as to why the visa should not be cancelled the applicant advised (in addition to the summary provided in paragraph 13 above) as follows:

    ·The visa holder does not want to return to his home country and claims that it would cause more damage to his mental health and affect his family.

    ·His uncle had passed away last year due to mental health issues.

    ·Visa holder was able to get through this difficult time with the help of his close friends.

    ·He claims to have attempted to find regional work.

    ·He states that he was not in the right state of mind to travel and moving away from his support system frightened him.

    ·He claims to have worked on the Westconnex project, which was classified as an essential government service.

    ·Visa holder is apologetic and understands what he did was wrong but states he was desperate and frightened.

  15. While these factors must be considered, they do not represent an exhaustive statement of the circumstances that might properly be considered to be relevant in any given case: MIAC v Khadgi (2010) 190 FCR 248. The Tribunal may also have regard to lawful government policy. The relevant policy is set out in the Department’s Procedural Advice Manual) PAM3 ‘General visa cancellation powers’, which refers to matters such as the consequences of cancelling the visa, international obligations and any other relevant matters.

  16. The Tribunal is also required to consider both the prescribed matters, where relevant or indicate where not relevant; any matters raised by the applicant in response to the s 107 notice; and any consideration of the Departmental PAM 3 guidelines, which cover such matters as:

    ·whether there would be consequential cancellations under s 140.

    ·if there are children whose interests would be affected by cancellation, or consequential cancellation, decision-makers should consider the best interests of those children as a primary consideration when deciding whether to cancel the visa. (NOTE: It has been said that the question is what decision is in the best interests of the child, not what the children might do if their parent were required to cease living in Australia: Wan v MIMA (2001) 107 FCR 133, at [27]-[28].)

    ·whether the cancellation would lead to the person's removal in breach of Australia's non-refoulement or family unity obligations.

    ·whether there are mandatory legal consequences, such as whether the person would become unlawful and liable to detention and removal, whether detention is a likely consequence of the cancellation decision and if so, for how long, and whether there are provisions in the Act which prevent the person from making a valid application for any visa without the Minister personally intervening.

    ·Any other relevant matters (including the degree of hardship that may be caused to the visa holder and any family members).

  17. On 26 July 2022 the applicant provided written submissions to the Tribunal. The Tribunal summarises these submissions as follows:

    ·    The correct information is that the applicant was not employed by Booth Farming Trust. The grant of the Working holiday Visa (Extension) was based on the incorrect information provided. The applicant acknowledges he had not undertaken any specified work in regional Australia at the relevant time. The applicant had previously held and complied with the conditions of his first Working Holiday Visa. The non-compliance relevant to the present matter is with respect to the applicant’s application for a third Working Holiday Visa.

    ·    The applicant failed to undertake the required work in the context of several personal tragedies along with the ongoing effects of Covid-19. The applicant struggled to find employment during the requisite period, noting the limited employment opportunities during such time, widespread uncertainty, border closures an ongoing restrictions in place.

    ·    The applicant’s circumstances and lack of sound decision making was exacerbated not only by Covid-19 but also the personal circumstances of the applicant and fears of returning to Ireland amidst a pandemic. The applicant was kept aware of the situation in Ireland.

    ·    The applicant suffered from anxiety and depression arising particularly from a troubled life. These mental health conditions were exacerbated by the Covid-19 climate, difficulties securing employment, financial hardship, concerns for his family in Ireland, and fear of returning to a country where Covid-19 was rampant and unemployment rated were high. The applicant’s mental health continued to decline. The actions of the applicant were significantly out of character and influenced greatly by his frail mental health.

    ·    The applicant outlined detail of hardships faced by him throughout his life. The applicant left Ireland in attempts to better his mental health and start fresh in Australia. Deaths of family members in Ireland resulted in personal loss.

    ·    At the time of lodgement of the application the applicant was not in the right state of mind and had reduce capacity to think clearly and make appropriate decisions. The adverse behaviour of a person who is affected by mental illness and whose mental health contribute to his offending in a material way should be regarded as less culpable than an ordinary person.

    ·    The applicant engaged an agent, met with him in person, received advice from this person ‘Shaun’ who advised him he was eligible to extend his visa not having completed the requisite work, paid him $1,800, and the applicant was not aware of the details and content of the application. The applicant submitted his conduct was an instance of poor decision making arising from the substantial mental pressures  faced by him. acknowledges he did not take an adequate level of responsibility. The applicant acknowledges he did not take the adequate level of responsibility  for filing his own application.

    ·    The applicant outlined his present circumstances  as an electrical trades assistant. He has worked in that role since January 2022. He has worked for many years in this field and will continue to do so. He has acquired several tickets and qualifications. The applicant is known to be a highly valued and skilled employee.

    ·    The applicant has formed a long term relationship with a citizen of Colombia who resides in Sydney. The applicant and his partner have been in a de facto relationship for 20 months. The applicant’s partner intends to remain in Sydney and the departure of the applicant would lead to a breakdown in their relationship.

    ·    Departure from Australia will not only severely disrupt the applicant’s present employment and personal connections he has made in Australia but will cause him and his family hardship and will likely face difficulties finding work in Ireland. The applicant’s mother will face difficulties in supporting  the applicant. The applicant does not have siblings or immediate family.

    ·    In addition to the above background summary the applicant addressed other relevant requirements set out in reg 2.41 of the Regulations. The applicant provided significant supporting documentation to the Tribunal

  18. The Tribunal now turns to  consider the above as follows:

    (a) the correct information

  19. The correct information is the visa holder did not undertake specified work in regional Australia as defined in the legislative instrument in effect at the time for a period of six months; and he did not work for Booth Farming Trust (ABN 74160906182) between 13 May 2020 and 24 November 2020. The correct information is significantly different from the information provided by the visa holder.

  20. The Tribunal gives this consideration significant weight in favour of cancelling the visa.

    (b) the content of the genuine document (if any)

  21. No genuine document is being considered. As such the Tribunal is unable to give any weight for or against a decision to cancel the visa for this consideration.

    (c) whether the decision to grant a visa or immigration clear the visa holder was based, wholly or partly, on incorrect information or a bogus document

  22. The visa holder’s employment details related to his regional work experience, was central to the grant of his Working Holiday (Extension) visa. As the visa holder has confirmed he provided incorrect information regarding his employment at Booth Farming Trust in his application for the Working Holiday (Extension) visa, the Tribunal considers the delegate made the decision to grant the visa based, in part, on this incorrect information, and the visa holder may have received an immigration benefit to which he may not have been entitled.

  23. The Tribunal gives this consideration significant weight in favour of cancelling the visa.

    (d) the circumstances in which the non-compliance occurred

  24. The circumstances in which the non-compliance occurred are set out above in paragraph 17. The Tribunal has given consideration to the circumstances and background in which the applicant caused the lodgement of his application for a Working holiday visa. The Tribunal has considered detail and supporting documentation (letter from his mother, medical detail relating to his mother and letters of support from friends) setting out the applicant suffered from anxiety (“anxiety and depression arising particularly from a troubled life”), which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 climate, difficulties securing employment, financial hardship, concerns for his family in Ireland, and fear of returning to a country where Covid-19 was rampant and unemployment rated were high.

  25. The Tribunal accepts that the period of Covid-19 placed enormous stresses on individuals. All during the period of Covid the relevant department continued to operate and provide service and advice to the wider public. All during the period of Covid institutions like the AAT continued to operate and provide service to visa holders and the like. All during the period of Covid online access to obtain information from the department was readily available. All during the period of Covid the applicant had the ability to obtain and put into practice the correct advice.

  26. The Tribunal notes the applicant has made references to the state of his mental health as a causal factor in the non-provision of correct information in support of his visa application.

  27. The applicant has not provided copies of any psychological reports, psychological reports, medical reports or reports from a suitably trained counsellor that might attest to the state of his mental health at relevant times. The applicant has not provided copies of any psychological reports, psychological reports, medical reports or reports from a suitably trained counsellor that establish any linkage between his state of mental health and subsequent events relating to his visa application. The applicant has not made the Tribunal aware that he is currently receiving medical or counselling treatment related to his mental health concerns.

  28. The Tribunal considers the provision of incorrect information in an application for a visa to be a very serious matter.

  29. The Tribunal gives significant weight to the matters set out in paragraph 24 to 27 above in favour of cancelling the visa.

    (e) the present circumstances of the visa holder

  30. The applicant has established for himself a relatively normal life in Australia. He is employed, earns a good income and is progressing in his chosen career. The applicant as a full time worker earning approximately $100,000 net per year is the major financial contributor to his family in Australia. There is nothing unusual about these circumstances. They are the circumstances of a single young man at the outset of his career. These circumstances are typical for millions of young Australians. In evidence the applicant advised he sends sums of money to his mother in Ireland up to around $5,000 per annum.

  1. The Tribunal gives these circumstances no weight in favour of cancelling the visa.

    (f) the subsequent behaviour of the visa holder concerning their obligations under Subdivision C of Division 3 of Part 2 of the Migration Act 1958

  2. The Tribunal has considered the entirety of the submission and evidence of the applicant. The applicant is now aware of his responsibility to act in a manner consistent with the law. The Tribunal accepts the applicant has not demonstrated any further behaviour of concern. In essence the applicant made a serious mistake, he regrets that mistake, he regrets the consequences of his own poor decision making and he now advises he will abide by the law going forward. The Tribunal accepts this position of the applicant. It is logical and sensible. To say otherwise would be absurd. The applicant now complies with the law and his subsequent behaviour is consistent with that of a person holding a temporary visa. It is the behaviour of expected of law abiding citizens and non-citizens alike.

  3. The Tribunal gives this aspect neutral weight.

    (g) any other instances of non-compliance by the visa holder known to the Minister

  4. The Tribunal is not aware of any further instances of non-compliance. The Tribunal gives this aspect neutral weight.

    (h) the time that has elapsed since the non-compliance

  5. The applicant has continued to live and work in Australia. There is no evidence before the Tribunal to suggest the applicant has been anything other than a law abiding non-citizen in this period of time. This standard of behaviour is expected by all residents of and in Australia. It is not the exception. It is the norm.

  6. The Tribunal gives no weight to the elapse of time.

  7. (Note: there is no consideration (i) in the current legislation)

    (j) any breaches of the law since the non-compliance and the seriousness of those breaches

  8. The applicant has not engaged in any further breaches of the law and there is no evidence of any further or additional non-compliance. Temporary visa holders or those seeking preferment in Australia (like all others) are expected to conform to the law at all time.

  9. The Tribunal gives no weight to this aspect.

    (k) any contribution made by the holder to the community

  10. The applicant has maintained employment. The application’s work is no more or less important than numerous other instances of work in Australia. The applicant makes the same contribution as any other worker in Australia. The applicant is engaged in community and sporting activities and gives of his time to worthwhile causes. The applicant being engaged in employment, sporting activities and community activities certainly makes a contribution to a better society in Australia. It is the same for numerous others in this country.

  11. The Tribunal gives this aspect no weight in favour of cancelling the visa.

    Whether there are persons in Australia whose visas would, or may, be cancelled consequentially.

  12. The applicant does not have any children or other dependants in Australia. The applicant is not married or in a de facto relationship. He advised the Tribunal he had just started seeing a girl. The applicant owns a small business in the entertainment field. He has a partner in that business. The business is just getting off the ground. The absence of one of the business owners would clearly affect future operations of the business. The applicant has not provided any documentation relating to this business. The applicant has not provided any accounts relating to this business.

  13. The Tribunal gives this aspect no weight in favour of cancelling the visa.

    Whether Australia has obligations under relevant international agreements that would or may be breached as a result of the visa cancellation.

  14. The applicant advised the Tribunal he does not have any children.

  15. The applicant has not made the Tribunal aware of any circumstances under this heading. The delegate made a finding “Departmental records indicate that no other person's visa would, or may, be consequentially cancelled under section 140 of the Act.” The applicant did not challenge this finding.

  16. The Tribunal gives this aspect no weight.

    Whether there are mandatory legal consequences to a cancellation decision.

  17. If the visa is cancelled, the visa holder will become an unlawful non-citizen and may be liable for detention under section 189 and removal under section 198 of the Act if he does not voluntarily depart Australia, as he would no longer hold a valid visa.

  18. When the visa holder lodged his application, he was granted an associated Bridging A (subclass 010) visa (BVA). If the Tribunal decides to cancel this visa, the BVA will be automatically cease as a result. The visa holder may be eligible to apply for a Bridging E (subclass 050) visa, which would allow him to remain lawful in Australia until the outcome of his pending application

  19. A bar under section 48 of the Act will also be imposed, limiting the visa holder’s options to apply for further visas from within Australia. Furthermore, he will also be affected by Public Interest Criterion 4013, where he may be prevented from being granted certain types of visas for a period of three years from the date of visa cancellation.

  20. The applicant has created the circumstances where there may be consequences to his own unwise decision making. Conditions of entry into Australia and conditions often attached to temporary visas are imposed in a lawful manner consistent with the dictates of the parliament. Whilst resident in Australia temporary visa holders are expected to conform with conditions attached to their visa and in accordance with the law. Sources of advice are many and varied.  Any of the consequential and mandatory legal consequences as outlined above will occur only because of the actions of the applicant.

  21. The Tribunal accepts that if the applicant’s visa is cancelled he could be liable to detention and subsequent removal from Australia. However, there is no information before the Tribunal to indicate the applicant would be unable or unwilling to voluntarily depart Australia.

  22. The Tribunal understands the matters outlined above appear to be severe. The actions of the applicant in providing false information is a major breach of the visa system in this country.

    Any other relevant matters including the degree of hardship that may be caused to the visa holder and any family members.

  23. The Tribunal appreciates that the cancellation of the applicant’s visa may cause financial, psychological and emotional hardship to the applicant and his family in Ireland. The applicant has not made the Tribunal aware of the state of the labour market in Ireland. The Tribunal notes the applicant has acquired skills, qualifications, formal training, tickets and expertise whilst living and working in Australia.

  24. The Tribunal affords this consideration minor weight in favour of the visa not being cancelled.

  25. There are no other relevant matters before the Tribunal.

  26. Thee will not be any consequential cancellations under s 140.

  27. There are not any children whose interests might be affected.

  28. The applicant’s removal from Australia (should it occur) would be lawful and not give rise to consideration of Australia's non-refoulement or family unity obligations.

    CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS

  29. The Tribunal has decided that there was non-compliance by the applicant in the way described in the notice given under s 107 of the Act. Further, having regard to all the relevant circumstances, as discussed above, the Tribunal concludes that the visa should not be cancelled.

  30. As set out above the regulations require the Tribunal to have regard to many considerations. Those considerations are detailed above. The Tribunal does not take a mathematical or arithmetical approach to resolving this issue. The Tribunal has regard to the relevant period of time.

  31. Clearly the existence of Covid in Australia and elsewhere is not a licence to be ill-prepared, delegate routine responsibilities or break the law.

  32. After the hearing concluded the applicant provided a copy of the questionnaire relating to his visa application. The Tribunal notes this questionnaire does not contain any reference to Booth Farming Trust, the business registered under ABN 74160906182.

    CONCLUSION

  33. The Tribunal has decided that there was non-compliance by the applicant in the way described in the notice given under s.107 of the Act. Non-compliance involving the provision of incorrect information is in the Tribunal’s view a serious matter.

  34. The Tribunal has considered all the information before it. The Tribunal is satisfied that the evidence weighs in favour of the visa being cancelled.

    DECISION

  35. The Tribunal affirms the decision to cancel the applicant’s Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa.

    Mark Bishop

    Senior Member

    ATTACHMENT – Migration Act 1958 (extracts)

    5Interpretation

    (1)In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

    bogus document, in relation to a person, means a document that the Minister reasonably suspects is a document that:

    (a)     purports to have been, but was not, issued in respect of the person; or

    (b)     is counterfeit or has been altered by a person who does not have authority to do so; or

    (c)      was obtained because of a false or misleading statement, whether or not made knowingly.

    97Interpretation

    In this Subdivision:

    application form, in relation to a non‑citizen, means a form on which a non‑citizen applies for a visa, being a form that regulations made for the purposes of section 46 allow to be used for making the application.

    passenger card has the meaning given by subsection 506(2) and, for the purposes of section 115, includes any document provided for by regulations under paragraph 504(1)(c).

    Note:Bogus document is defined in subsection 5(1).

    98Completion of visa application

    A non‑citizen who does not fill in his or her application form or passenger card is taken to do so if he or she causes it to be filled in or if it is otherwise filled in on his or her behalf.

    99Information is answer

    Any information that a non‑citizen gives or provides, causes to be given or provided, or that is given or provided on his or her behalf, to the Minister, an officer, an authorised system, a person or the Tribunal, or the Immigration Assessment authority, reviewing a decision under this Act in relation to the non‑citizen’s application for a visa is taken for the purposes of section 100, paragraphs 101(b) and 102(b) and sections 104 and 105 to be an answer to a question in the non‑citizen’s application form, whether the information is given or provided orally or in writing and whether at an interview or otherwise.

    100Incorrect answers

    For the purposes of this Subdivision, an answer to a question is incorrect even though the person who gave or provided the answer, or caused the answer to be given or provided, did not know that it was incorrect.

    101Visa applications to be correct

    A non‑citizen must fill in or complete his or her application form in such a way that:

    (a)all questions on it are answered; and

    (b)no incorrect answers are given or provided.

    107Notice of incorrect applications

    (1)If the Minister considers that the holder of a visa who has been immigration cleared (whether or not because of that visa) did not comply with section 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 or with subsection (2) in a response to a notice under this section, the Minister may give the holder a notice:

    (a)     giving particulars of the possible non‑compliance; and

    (b)     stating that, within a period stated in the notice as mentioned in subsection (1A), the holder may give the Minister a written response to the notice that:

    (i)if the holder disputes that there was non‑compliance:

    (A)shows that there was compliance; and

    (B)in case the Minister decides under section 108 that, in spite of the statement under sub‑subparagraph (A), there was non‑compliance—shows cause why the visa should not be cancelled; or

    (ii)if the holder accepts that there was non‑compliance:

    (A)give reasons for the non‑compliance; and

    (B)shows cause why the visa should not be cancelled; and

    (c)      stating that the Minister will consider cancelling the visa:

    (i)if the holder gives the Minister oral or written notice, within the period stated as mentioned in subsection (1A), that he or she will not give a written response—when that notice is given; or

    (ii)if the holder gives the Minister a written response within that period—when the response is given; or

    (iii)otherwise—at the end of that period; and

    (d)     setting out the effect of sections 108, 109, 111 and 112; and

    (e)      informing the holder that the holder’s obligations under section 104 or 105 are not affected by the notice under this section; and

    (f)      requiring the holder:

    (i)to tell the Minister the address at which the holder is living; and

    (ii)if the holder changes that address before the Minister notifies the holder of the Minister’s decision on whether there was non‑compliance by the holder—to tell the Minister the changed address.

    (1A)The period to be stated in the notice under subsection (1) must be:

    (a)     in respect of the holder of a temporary visa—the period prescribed by the regulations or, if no period is prescribed, a reasonable period; or

    (b)     otherwise—14 days.

    (1B)Regulations prescribing a period for the purposes of paragraph (1A)(a) may prescribe different periods and state when a particular period is to apply, which, without limiting the generality of the power, may be to:

    (a)     visas of a stated class; or

    (b)     visa holders in stated circumstances; or

    (c)      visa holders in a stated class of people (who may be visa holders in a particular place); or

    (d)     visa holders in a stated class of people (who may be visa holders in a particular place) in stated circumstances.

    (2)If the visa holder responds to the notice, he or she must do so without making any incorrect statement.

    108Decision about non‑compliance

    The Minister is to:

    (a)consider any response given by a visa holder in the way required by paragraph 107(1)(b); and

    (b)decide whether there was non‑compliance by the visa holder in the way described in the notice.

    109Cancellation of visa if information incorrect

    (1)The Minister, after:

    (a)     deciding under section 108 that there was non‑compliance by the holder of a visa; and

    (b)     considering any response to the notice about the non‑compliance given in a way required by paragraph 107(1)(b); and

    (c)      having regard to any prescribed circumstances;

    may cancel the visa.

    (2)If the Minister may cancel a visa under subsection (1), the Minister must do so if there exist circumstances declared by the regulations to be circumstances in which a visa must be cancelled.

Areas of Law

  • Immigration

  • Administrative Law

Legal Concepts

  • Judicial Review

  • Procedural Fairness

  • Statutory Construction

  • Remedies

  • Jurisdiction

  • Natural Justice

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