Okeke (Migration)

The applicant, Mr. Okeke, sought a review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of a decision concerning his application for a Skilled Independent (Permanent) (Class SI) visa, Subclass 189. The core of the dispute revolved around the payment of the application fee.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether Mr. Okeke's application for review was valid, specifically in relation to the timely payment of the prescribed application fee. This question determined whether the Tribunal possessed jurisdiction to hear the substantive merits of his appeal.

The Tribunal found that although Mr. Okeke had requested a fee reduction before the prescribed period for payment expired, he failed to make the full payment within that period. The payment was only tendered after the deadline had passed. Consequently, the Tribunal concluded that the application for review was not validly made, and therefore, it lacked jurisdiction to proceed with the matter.