Zhang (Migration)

[2023] AATA 4340

Zhang (Migration) [2023] AATA 4340 (14 December 2023)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Ms Lu Zhang

REPRESENTATIVE:  Xiang Fang Wang (MARN: 0637238)

CASE NUMBER:  2000638

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2019/5617870

MEMBER:Alison Mercer

DATE:14 December 2023

PLACE OF DECISION:  Melbourne

DECISION:The Tribunal remits the application for a Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa:

·cl 187.233 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

Statement made on 14 December 2023 at 4:17pm

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION – Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa – Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) – direct entry stream – hospitality, retail and service manager – subject of approved position nomination – refusal of related nomination application set aside in separate review – decision made without hearing necessary – decision under review remitted

LEGISLATION

Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 65, 360(2)(a)

Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 2, cl 187.233

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 Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

2. The applicant applied for the visa on 7 November 2019. At the time of application, Class RN contained one subclass: subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme).

3. The criteria for a subclass 187 visa are set out in Part 187 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations). The primary criteria must be satisfied by at least one applicant. Other members of the family unit, if any, who are applicants for the visa need satisfy only the secondary criteria. Applicants seeking to satisfy the primary criteria must meet the 'Common criteria', as well as the criteria of one of two alternative visa streams: the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or the Direct Entry stream.

4. In the present case, the applicant is seeking the visa in the Direct Entry stream, to work in the nominated position of Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager not elsewhere classified (nec).

5. The delegate refused to grant the visa because the applicant did not meet cl 187.233 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations, which required amongst other things that she was the subject of an approved nomination by her Australian employer. The delegate found that the Department had refused to approve the nomination of the applicant made by her Australian employer, G A & L J Nominees Pty Ltd, on 12 November 2019.

6. The Tribunal received a review application from the applicant on 14 January 2020, which was accompanied by a copy of the delegate’s decision.

7. 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 section 360(2)(a) of the Act.

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

   CONSIDERATION OF LAW, CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

   Nomination of a position

9. Clause 187.233 as applicable in this case is set out in full in an attachment to this decision. Essentially, it requires that the position to which the application relates be the subject of an application for approval of a nomination in the Direct Entry stream, located in regional Australia. The position must be the one that was the subject of the declaration made as part of the current visa application. In addition, where the associated nomination was made on or after 1 July 2017, it must identify the applicant in relation to the position.

10. In addition, this criterion also requires that:

    ·the person who will employ the applicant is the person who made the nomination

    ·the nomination has been approved and has not been subsequently withdrawn

    ·there is no ‘adverse information’ known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person ‘associated with’ that person (within the meaning of reg 1.13A and reg 1.13B); or it is reasonable to disregard any such information

    ·the position is still available to the applicant, and

    ·the visa application was made no more than six months after the nomination of the position was approved.

11. The Tribunal finds that the applicant’s employer, G A & L J Nominees Pty Ltd, lodged a review application with the Tribunal on 12 November 2019 in relation to the refusal of its nomination of the applicant, and that on 14 December 2023, the Tribunal set aside the Department’s refusal decision and substituted a decision to approve the nomination made by G A & L J Nominees Pty Ltd [see AAT/MRD decision 1933791 of 14 December 2023].

12. Accordingly, the Tribunal is satisfied on the available evidence (which includes evidence given in relation to the nomination review case lodged by G A & L J Nominees Pty Ltd) that:

    ·G A & L J Nominees Pty Ltd made the original nomination application in respect of the applicant, and that employer continues to employ the applicant;

    ·the nomination has now been approved and has not been withdrawn;

    ·there is no ‘adverse information’ known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person ‘associated with’ that person (within the meaning of r.1.13A and r.1.13B) or if so, it is reasonable to disregard it;

    ·the position is still available to the applicant, and

    ·the visa application was made no more than six months after the nomination of the position was approved.

13. Therefore, the Tribunal finds that cl.187.233(2) to (6) are met, and cl.187.233 as a whole is met.

14. Given these findings, the appropriate course is to remit the visa application to the Minister to consider the remaining criteria for the visa.

    DECISION

15. The Tribunal remits the application for a Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa:

    ·cl 187.233 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations.

    Alison Mercer
    Member

    
    

    ATTACHMENT A

    187.233(1)     The position to which the application relates is the position:

    (a)nominated in an application for approval that:

    (i)identifies the applicant in relation to the position; and

    (ii)is made in relation to a visa in a Direct Entry stream; and

    (iii)seeks to meet the requirements of subregulation 5.19(12); and

    (b)in relation to which the declaration mentioned in paragraph 1114C(3)(d) of Schedule 1 was made in the application for the grant of the visa.

    (2)     The person who will employ the applicant is the person who made the nomination.

    (3)     The Minister has approved the nomination.

    (4)     The nomination has not subsequently been withdrawn.

    (4A)    Either:

    (a)there is no adverse information known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person associated with that person; or

    (b)it is reasonable to disregard any adverse information known to Immigration about the person who made the nomination or a person associated with that person.

    (5)     The position is still available to the applicant.

    (6)     The application for the visa is made no more than 6 months after the Minister approved the nomination.