Shrestha (Migration)

[2022] AATA 1515

Shrestha (Migration) [2022] AATA 1515 (30 March 2022)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mr Alinket Shrestha

REPRESENTATIVE:  Mr Shakti Thapa (MARN: 1807998)

CASE NUMBER:  2116804

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2021/402439

MEMBER:Gabrielle Cullen

DATE:30 March 2022

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 visa:

·cl 500.213 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations

Statement made on 30 March 2022 at 1:18pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa – Subclass 500 (Student) – English language proficiency – IMMI 18/015 – Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) score – decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958 (Cth), s 65
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), 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 to refuse to grant the applicant a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act). The applicant applied for the visa on 15 March 2021. The delegate refused to grant the visa on 5 November 2021.

2. The delegate made the decision on the basis that evidence of English language ability was not provided as required to satisfy a criterion for the grant of the visa under the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations).

3. On 15 December 2021, the applicant provided a PTE test dated 7 December 2021 indicating an overall score of 68. In light of the new evidence received, the Tribunal is satisfied that the criterion is met and has concluded that the matter should be remitted for reconsideration.

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

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

5. 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 he meets the requirements of cl 500.213.

6. 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.

7. As the applicant is not within a class of applicants specified in the instrument, cl 500.213(1) applies to the applicant. In this case, therefore, the applicant is required by the Minister to provide evidence of English language proficiency in accordance with the instrument.

8. The relevant instrument IMMI 18/015 indicates that a PTE score of 42 meets the English language requirements of cl 500.213(1). It indicates that it is sufficient that the test is taken two years immediately before the decision. As the applicant has achieved an overall score of 68 in a PTE test dated 7 December 2021, the Tribunal finds he meets the English language proficiency as required by the instrument. Accordingly, the Tribunal is satisfied that the applicant meets cl 500.213.

9. 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

10. The Tribunal remits the application for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 visa:

    ·cl 500.213 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations

    Gabrielle Cullen
    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.