Migration Act 1958, s 65

Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, cl 500.213

1. This is an application for review of a decision made by a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs on 29 October 2019 to refuse to grant the applicant a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa under s 65 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act).

2. The applicant applied for the visa on 12 September 2019. At the time of application, Class TU contained two subclasses: Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian). The applicant applied for the visa to undertake study in Australia and does not claim to meet the criteria for a Subclass 590 (Student Guardian) visa.

3. The delegate in this case refused to grant the visa on the basis that the applicant did not satisfy the requirements of cl.500.213 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994(the Regulations) because the applicant had not provided a level of English language proficiency that meets the requirements of the specified instrument.

4. The applicant provided the Tribunal with a PTE test dated 22 December 2019 indicating an overall band score of 50.

5. The applicant attended a hearing at the Tribunal (differently constituted) on 5 August 2020. On 26 August 2020 the Tribunal (differently constituted) affirmed the delegate's decision.

6. On 28 April 2021 the Federal Circuit Court remitted the matter by consent on the basis that the decision of the Tribunal (differently constituted) and dated 26 August 2020 was affected by jurisdictional error, being that the Tribunal failed to accept evidence of English language proficiency obtained by the applicant after the date of the decision of a delegate, but prior to the Tribunal's decision.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The relevant instrument IMMI 18/015 indicates that a PTE score of 42 or above 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 50 in a PTE test dated 22 December 2019, the Tribunal finds she meets the English language proficiency as required by the instrument.

12. Accordingly, the Tribunal is satisfied that the applicant meets cl.500.213.

13. 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.

14. The Tribunal remits the application for a Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa for reconsideration, with the direction that the applicant meets the following criteria for a Subclass 500 (Student) visa:

Attachment - IMMI 18/015 - English language instrument (extract)

(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:

(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;

(iv) a registered post-graduate research course; 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;

Schedule 1 - English language tests and minimum test scores**

(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.

Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test

(b) 35, if packaged with at least 10 weeks' ELICOS ; or

(c) 32, if packaged with at least 20 weeks' ELICOS.

(b) 154, if packaged with at least 10 weeks' ELICOS; or

(c) 147, if packaged with at least 20 weeks' ELICOS.

(b) 36, if packaged with at least 10 weeks' ELICOS; or

(c) 30, if packaged with at least 20 weeks' ELICOS.

a score of at least B for each test component of the OET.