Shirtliffe (Migration)

[2020] AATA 5919

Shirtliffe (Migration) [2020] AATA 5919 (17 November 2020)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANTS:  Mr Lee Antony Shirtliffe
Ms Sophie Leigh Stansfield
Master Charlie Jake Shirtliffe

CASE NUMBER:  1909486

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2018/5730416

MEMBER:R. Skaros

DATE:17 November 2020

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the applications for Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) visas for reconsideration, with the direction that the first named applicant meets the following criterion for a Subclass 485 visa:

·cl.485.231 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

Statement made on 17 November 2020 at 12:01pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) visa– Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)) visa – Post-Study Work stream – Australian study requirements met – qualification is a registered course– decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION
Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000
Migration Act 1958, s 65
Migration Regulations 1994, rr 1.15, 1.03, 2.26, Schedule 2, cl 485.231

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 1 April 2019 to refuse to grant the applicants Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) visas under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).

2. The applicants applied for the visas on 19 December 2018. Visa Class VC contains Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate). The criteria for the grant of a Subclass 485 visa are set out in Part 485 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations), including criteria in different streams. In this case, the first named applicant (the applicant) is seeking to meet the criteria in the Post-Study Work stream, which include cl.485.231

3. The delegate was not satisfied the evidence demonstrated that the applicant’s study satisfied the Australian Study Requirement in the period of 6 months immediately before the date of the visa application as required by cl.485.231.

4. 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.

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

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

6. Clause 485.231 requires the applicant to hold a qualification or qualifications of a kind specified by the Minister, conferred or awarded by an educational institution specified by the Minister, for which the applicant’s study must have satisfied the ‘Australian study requirement’ in the 6 months immediately before the day the visa application was made. The issue in the present case is whether the applicant meets those requirements.

   Does the applicant hold a specified qualification?

7. Subclause 485.231(1) requires the applicant to hold a qualification or qualifications of a kind specified by the Minister. The relevant instrument for this purpose is IMMI 13/013. In this case, the applicant holds a Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Science which is a qualification specified in that instrument.

8. Accordingly, cl.485.231(1) is met.

   Was the applicant’s qualification conferred or awarded by a specified educational institution?

9. Subclause 485.231(2) requires the applicant’s qualification or qualifications to be conferred or awarded by an educational institution specified by the Minister. The relevant instrument for this purpose is IMMI 13/031.

10. In this case, the applicant’s qualification was conferred or awarded by University of the Sunshine Coast, which is registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and offers courses at degree level and above, and which is therefore an educational institution specified in that instrument.

11. Accordingly, cl.485.231(2) is met.

    Does the applicant’s study for the specified qualification meet the Australian study requirement?

12. Subclause 485.231(3) requires that the applicant’s study for the specified qualification or qualifications met the ‘Australian study requirement’ in the 6 months immediately before the day the visa application was made.

13. Under r.1.15F(1) of the Regulations, a person satisfies the ‘Australian study requirement’ if the person satisfies the Minister that the person has completed 1 or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educational institution as a result of a course or courses:

    ·that are registered courses,

    ·that were completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months,

    ·that were completed as a result of a total of at least 2 academic years study,

    ·for which all instruction was conducted in English, and

    ·that the applicant undertook while in Australia as the holder of a visa authorising the applicant to study.

14. ‘Degree’, ‘diploma’, ‘trade qualification’, ‘registered course’, ‘completed’ and ‘academic year’ are all defined terms (see rr.1.03, 1.15F and 2.26AC(6), and cl.485.111). ‘Completed’, in relation to a degree, diploma or trade qualification, means having met the academic requirements for its award (r.1.15F(2)). For the purposes of this case, one ‘academic year’ is at least a total of 46 weeks, being the duration of a course registered under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000: LIN 19/085.

15. In this case, the applicant provided a letter of completion from the education provider stating the he completed this course on 11 January 2019. As the letter indicated he did not complete this degree in the period of 6 months ending immediately before the day the application was made, the delegate found he did not meet cl.485.231. After the making of the decision, the applicant provided evidence to the Department that the date in the letter had been a typographical error on the part of the education provider. However, the Department considered it could not re-open the decision.

16. The Tribunal has considered, and accepts, the letter provided by the education provider dated 2 April 2019 confirming that: the applicant commenced the course on 25 February 2013; he completed the requirements for the course on 30 November 2018; and that all studies were undertaken in English. Additional evidence before the Tribunal indicates that the course’s duration is 208 weeks.

17. In relation to the various components of the study requirement, the Tribunal is satisfied on the evidence before it that:

    ·     the applicant's Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Science (a Degree within the meaning of r.2.26AC(6)), was completed in the 6 months immediately before the application was made;

    ·     the course was a CRICOS registered course:

    ·     the course was completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months and as a result of at least 2 years academic study;

    ·     all instruction was in English; and

    ·     the applicant held subclass 573 and 500 visas authorising study in Australia.

18. The Tribunal finds that the applicant's study for the specified qualification satisfied the Australian study requirement in the 6 months immediately preceding the date of the visa application.

19. Accordingly, cl.485.231(3) is met.  

20. On the basis of the above findings, the Tribunal finds that the first named applicant meets cl.485.231. The appropriate course is to remit the visa applications for the first, second and third named applicants to the Minister to consider the remaining criteria for the visa.

    DECISION

21. The Tribunal remits the applications for Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) visas for reconsideration, with the direction that the first named applicant meets the following criterion for a Subclass 485 visa:

    ·cl.485.231 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

    R. Skaros

    Senior Member