Matter of Hosseinpour, Interim Decision Number 2349

• Citation: 15 I&N Dec. 191
• Decision Date: 05 March 1975
• Docket Number: A-19865881,Interim Decision Number 2349
• Parties: MATTER OF HOSSEINPOUR In Deportation Proceedings
• Court: U.S. DOJ Board of Immigration Appeals

15 I&N Dec. 191

MATTER OF HOSSEINPOUR

In Deportation Proceedings

Interim Decision Number 2349

A-19865881

Board of Immigration Appeals.

Decided by Board March 5, 1975

Where a nonimmigrant respondent indicates his desire to remain in this country permanently, by filing for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, this action in itself, does not constitute a failure to maintain status under section 241(a)(9) of the Act. However, where the period of respondent's authorized stay expired, and respondent neither applied for nor received an extension of stay, he was deportable under section 241(a)(2) of the Act, as charged in the order to show cause issued after respondent's period of authorized stay had expired. [Matter of Gallares Interim Decision #2177 (BIA 1972) modified]

CHARGES:

Order: Act of 1952 — Section 241(a)(9) [8 U.S.C. 1251(a)(9)] — Nonimmigrant failed to comply with conditions of nonimmigrant status under which admitted.

Lodged: Act of 1952 — Section 241(a)(2) [8 U.S.C. 1251(a)(2)] — Nonimmigrant remained longer than permitted.

ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT: Rod L. Poirot, Esquire 701 Elm Street, Suite 500 Dallas, Texas 75202.

In a decision dated August 29, 1974, the immigration judge found the respondent deportable on both of the above charges and granted him the privilege of departing voluntarily from the United States within 64 days in lieu of deportation. The respondent has appealed from that decision. The appeal will be dismissed.

The alien respondent is a native and a citizen of Iran who entered the United States in May 1970 as a nonimmigrant student. He obtained authorization to remain in the United States until May 25, 1973. In February 1973, the respondent filed an application for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. On June 21, 1973, the district director denied that application and informed the respondent that he would be permitted to depart from the United States voluntarily on or before July 21, 1973 without the institution of deportation proceedings. The respondent has not departed.

The immigration judge concluded that the respondent was deportable under section 241(a)(9) of the Act for failure to comply with the conditions of his nonimmigrant status because he submitted an application for adjustment of status. That conclusion was based on language in Matter of Gallares, 14 I. & N. Dec. 250 (BIA 1972), which indicates that a nonimmigrant who seeks adjustment of status under section 245 of the Act thereby ceases to maintain status as a lawful nonimmigrant. We believe that our language in Gallares concerning the effect of an application for adjustment of status upon the maintenance of valid nonimmigrant status was overly broad.

As originally enacted, section 245(a) of the 1952 Act contained an express provision that: "Any alien who shall file an application for adjustment of his status under this section shall thereby terminate his nonimmigrant status." Act of June 27, 1952, ch. 477, § 245, 66 Stat. 217. The 1958 amendments to section 245 eliminated this provision. Act of August 21, 1958, Pub.L. No. 85-700, § 1, 72 Stat. 699. Since the legislative history of the 1958 amendments indicates that Congress was well aware of the provision automatically terminating nonimmigrant status, we must assume that the deletion of that provision was intentional. S.Rept. No. 2133, 85th Cong., 2d Sess., 1958 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News 3698, 3701. See also 2 C. Gordon & H. Rosenfield, Immigration Law and Procedure § 7.7(b) (1975).

Moreover, courts have held that a desire to remain in this country permanently in accordance with the law, should the opportunity to do so present itself, is not necessarily inconsistent with lawful nonimmigrant status. Brownell v. Carija, 254 F.2d 78, 80 (D.C.Cir.1957); Bong Youn Choy v. Barber, 279 F.2d 642, 646 (C.A. 9, 1960). See also Matter of H---- R----, 7 I. & N. Dec. 651 (R.C.1958).

To the extent that our language in Matter of Gallares, supra, indicates that an application for adjustment of status automatically terminates lawful nonimmigrant status, that case is modified. We now hold that the filing of an application for adjustment of status is not necessarily inconsistent with the maintenance of lawful nonimmigrant...