Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
874
Matter of Mahvash AKRAM, Respondent
Decided August 1, 2012
U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Board of Immigration Appeals
(1) An alien who was admitted to the United States as a K-4 nonimmigrant may not
adjust status without demonstrating immigrant visa eligibility and availability as the
beneficiary of a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) filed by his or her stepparent,
the United States citizen K visa petitioner.
(2) A K-4 derivative child of a K-3 nonimmigrant who married the United States citizen
K visa petitioner after the K-4 reached the age of 18 is ineligible for adjustment of status
because he or she cannot qualify as the petitioner’s “stepchild.”
FOR RESPONDENT: David Cook, Esquire, Chicago, Illinois
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Christine M. Young, Assistant
Chief Counsel
BEFORE: Board Panel: GREER and WENDTLAND, Board Members; DONOVAN,
Temporary Board Member.
GREER, Board Member:
In a decision dated May 21, 2010, an Immigration Judge denied the
respondent’s application for adjustment of status and granted her request for
voluntary departure. The respondent has appealed from that decision and has
submitted two motions to remand. This case addresses the question whether
an alien who was admitted to the United States as a K-4 nonimmigrant
pursuant to section 101(a)(15)(K)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(K)(iii) (2006), can adjust status without demonstrating
immigrant visa eligibility and availability as the beneficiary of an approved
immigrant visa petition filed by his or her stepparent, the United States citizen
K visa petitioner. We conclude that the respondent, a K-4 nonimmigrant who
was over 18 years of age when her K-3 mother married the K visa petitioner,
is ineligible to adjust her status under section 245(a) of the Act, 8 U.S.C.
§ 1255(a) (2006), because she cannot qualify as the petitioner’s “stepchild.”
Accordingly, the respondent’s appeal will be dismissed and her motions
to remand will be denied.Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
1 The respondent’s mother was the spouse, rather than the fiancée, of a United States
citizen. However, the Form I-129F is also used to petition for the issuance
of a nonimmigrant visa to an alien who has concluded a valid marriage with a citizen of the
United States, is the beneficiary of a pending Form I-130, and seeks to enter the
United States to await the approval of such petition and the availability of an immigrant
visa. See section 101(a)(15)(K)(ii) of the Act; 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(k)(7) (2012).
2
In her motion to remand, the respondent presented a copy of her mother’s Permanent
Resident Card, which indicates that her mother adjusted status as the spouse
of a United States citizen on October 10, 2006.
3 Additionally, the respondent’s status as a K-4 nonimmigrant automatically terminated
30 days after her application for adjustment of status was denied. See 8 C.F.R.
§ 214.2(k)(11)(iii).
875
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The respondent was born on September 18, 1986, in Pakistan. On July 4,
2005, when the respondent was 18 years old, her mother, a Pakistani national,
married a United States citizen. Subsequent to the marriage, the United States
citizen spouse filed a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) and a Petition
for Alien Fiancé(e) (Form I-129F) on behalf of the respondent’s mother.1
On August 18, 2005, he filed a Form I-130 on the respondent’s behalf seeking
to classify her as the child of a United States citizen for purposes of the
issuance of an immigrant visa. On January 23, 2006, the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) denied the immigrant visa
petition because the respondent did not qualify as a “stepchild” of the
petitioner under section 101(b)(1)(B) of the Act.
Although the USCIS had denied the immigrant visa petition, a consular
officer at the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, issued the
respondent a K-4 nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15)(K)(iii) of the
Act on February 28, 2006. The record does not contain evidence relating
to the admission of the respondent’s mother to the United States, but it
appears that the Form I-129F was approved and that she was issued a K-3
nonimmigrant visa. The respondent was entitled to request a derivative K-4
nonimmigrant visa as a child accompanying or following to join her mother.
When the respondent was 19 years old, she was admitted to the
United States as a K-4 nonimmigrant on April 1, 2006, with authorization
to remain until March 31, 2007. On April 24, 2006, the respondent filed
an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485)
with the USCIS, which denied the application on July 31, 2006.2 Although the
respondent’s authorized period of stay has expired, she has remained
in the United States in violation of section 237(a)(1)(B) of the Act,
8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(B) (2006).3Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
876
The respondent was placed in removal proceedings by the issuance
of a notice to appear on April 17, 2009. She sought to renew her application
for adjustment of status before the Immigration Judge, who denied her
adjustment application but granted her request for voluntary departure.
II. ISSUE
The issue in this case is whether an alien who was admitted to the
United States as a K-4 nonimmigrant may adjust status without demonstrating
immigrant visa eligibility and availability as the beneficiary of an approved
immigrant visa petition filed by the United States citizen K visa petitioner.
III. K-3 AND K-4 NONIMMIGRANT VISA
CLASSIFICATIONS
The K-3 and K-4 nonimmigrant visa classifications, authorized under
sections 101(a)(15)(K)(ii) and (iii) of the Act, respectively, were added to the
Act in 2000 by section 1103(a) of the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act,
Pub. L. No. 106-553, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A-144 to 2762A-145 (2000) (“LIFE
Act”). The purpose of this statute was to allow the spouses of United States
citizens, and the children of such spouses, the opportunity to come to the
United States while awaiting the approval of their visa petitions. The K-3 visa
applies to an alien who
has concluded a valid marriage with a citizen of the United States who
is the petitioner, is the beneficiary of a petition to accord a status under
section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) that was filed under section 204 by the petitioner, and seeks
to enter the United States to await the approval of such petition and the availability
to the alien of an immigrant visa.
Section 101(a)(15)(K)(ii) of the Act. The K-4 visa applies to an alien who
“is the minor child of an alien described in clause . . . (ii) and is accompanying,
or following to join, the alien.” Section 101(a)(15)(K)(iii) of the Act.
Although these new visa categories were added to section 101(a)(15)(K)
of the Act, they were completely different from the existing K classifications
created in 1970: the K-1 for the fiancé(e)s of United States citizens and the
K-2 for the fiancé(e)s’ children. See sections 101(a)(15)(K)(i), (iii) of the Act.
The original K-1 and K-2 visas for fiancé(e)s continue to work mainly as they
always did, as explained in Matter of Sesay, 25 I&N Dec. 431 (BIA 2011).
In fact, because the K-1 and K-2 visa symbols were so well established, the
new visa categories were designated K-3 and K-4, even though this numbering
did not correspond to the statutory sections. See “K” Nonimmigrant
Classification for spouses of U.S. Citizens and Their Children Under the LegalCite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
4The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”) determined that nonimmigrant
aliens would not be able to change from another nonimmigrant status to K status while
in the United States. 66 Fed. Reg. at 42,590 (Supplementary Information). Applying for
a K-3 or K-4 nonimmigrant visa at a United States embassy or consulate is therefore the
exclusive means by which an alien may obtain such status.
5 The provisions of the Child Status Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 107-208, 116 Stat. 927
(2002) (“CSPA”), have not been interpreted to apply to aliens applying for K-4 visas.
See generally Memorandum from Johnny N. Williams, Exec. Assoc. Comm’r,
INS Office of Field Operations, to INS officials (Feb. 14, 2003), available at
http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/CSPA2_pub.pdf; Cable from U.S. Sec’y
of State to Diplomatic and Consular Posts, para. 31 (Jan. 17, 2003), available at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_1369.html?css=print. An alien who
has “aged out,” that is, reached the age of 21, is therefore ineligible for a K-4 nonimmigrant
visa because he or she is no longer a “child” within the meaning of section 101(b)(1) of the
Act.
877
Immigration Family Equity Act of 2000, 66 Fed. Reg. 42,587, 42,588
(Aug. 14, 2001) (Supplementary Information).
Aliens seeking K-3 or K-4 classification must apply at a consular post
abroad.4 An alien applying for a K-3 visa must establish that he or she is the
beneficiary of an approved I-129F petition and a pending I-130 filed by his
or her United States citizen spouse and must satisfy the other statutory and
regulatory requirements. See 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(k)(7) (2012); 22 C.F.R. § 41.81
(2012).
An alien applying for a K-4 visa must establish that he or she is the “child”
of a K-3 visa holder, as defined in section 101(b)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (E)
of the Act, and is accompanying or following to join the K-3 parent.5
8 C.F.R.
§ 214.2(k)(3); 22 C.F.R. § 41.81(c). The K-4 status is “merely a derivative
nonimmigrant classification.” 66 Fed. Reg. at 42,588-89 (Supplementary
Information). A K-4 nonimmigrant derives status from his or her K-3 parent
and is not required to establish a parent-child relationship with that parent’s
United States citizen spouse to obtain a K visa. Id.; see also 8 C.F.R.
§ 214.2(k)(3); 22 C.F.R. § 41.81(c). Thus the alien need not be the direct
beneficiary of an I-129F or I-130 for purposes of being admitted to the
United States on a K-4 nonimmigrant visa.
Once the K-3 or K-4 visa has been issued, the alien can apply for admission
to the United States. A K-3 visa holder is admitted for a period of 2 years,
while a K-4 is admitted for a period of 2 years or until that alien’s 21st
birthday, whichever is shorter. 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(k)(8). Under certain
circumstances set forth in 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(k)(10), a K-4 may extend his
period of stay.
In this case, the respondent was properly issued a K-4 nonimmigrant visa.
The respondent’s mother met the definition of a nonimmigrant underCite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
6 Unlike a K-3 or K-4 visa holder, a nonimmigrant classified as a K-1 fiancé(e)
or a derivative K-2 does not obtain an immigrant visa through an I-130. We have recognized
that K-1 and K-2 nonimmigrants meet the immigrant visa eligibility and availability
requirements under section 245(a) upon satisfying the applicable statutory requirements
through a bona fide and timely marriage to the United States citizen K visa petitioner. See
Matter of Le, 25 I&N Dec. 541, 546 (BIA 2011); Matter of Sesay, 25 I&N Dec. at 438-40.
7 As is the case with other immigrant visa petitions, the provisions of the CSPA apply
to an I-130 filed on behalf of a K-4 nonimmigrant by the K-3 parent’s United States citizen
spouse to classify the K-4 as the petitioner’s stepchild. See generally section 201(f) of the
Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1151(f) (2006); Matter of Avila, 24 I&N Dec. 78 (BIA 2007).
878
section 101(a)(15)(K)(ii) of the Act at the time her K-3 visa was issued based
on her relationship to her United States citizen spouse. In turn, because the
respondent was under the age of 21 at the time, she qualified for a K-4 visa
in order to follow or accompany her mother to the United States as a derivative
child. See sections 101(a)(15)(K)(iii), (b)(1) of the Act.
IV. K-4 ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS ELIGIBILITY
Like other K nonimmigrants, the K-4 applies for adjustment of status under
sections 245(a) and (d) of the Act. However, section 245(a) requires a K-4
applicant to establish that he or she is eligible to receive an immigrant visa and
that a visa is immediately available.6 A K-4 must be the beneficiary
of an approved immigrant visa petition filed by his or her K-3 parent’s
United States citizen spouse to be classified as the petitioner’s stepchild.7
8 C.F.R. §§ 245.1(i), 1245.1(i) (2012). A K-4 adjustment applicant who is the
beneficiary of an approved I-130 visa petition filed by the United States
citizen spouse satisfies the statutory requirements of visa eligibility and
visa availability. Under section 245(d) of the Act, the K-4 adjusts status
on a conditional basis pursuant to section 216 of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1186a
(2006), if applicable, and may only adjust as a result of the marriage of his
or her K-3 parent to the United States citizen who filed the I-129F and the
I-130. See Matter of Valenzuela, 25 I&N Dec. 867, 869 (BIA 2012).
In this case, the respondent is ineligible for adjustment of status under
section 245(a) because a parent-child relationship with her mother’s
United States citizen spouse has not been established. Her mother married the
United States citizen K visa petitioner after the respondent’s 18th birthday.
Under section 101(b)(1)(B) of the Act, a “stepchild” does not include children
who have reached the age of 18 at the time the marriage creating the status
of stepchild occurred. The record reflects that an I-130 filed by the
United States citizen K visa petitioner on the respondent’s behalf was denied
in 2006 because she could not qualify as his “stepchild” and a parent-child
relationship could therefore not be established.Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
8 The LIFE Act and the simultaneously enacted LIFE Act amendments are not accompanied
by committee reports on the background and purpose of the provisions. Nonetheless, the
(continued…)
879
V. APPELLATE ARGUMENTS
A. Adjustment Eligibility
Despite her inability to obtain an immigrant visa as a stepchild of her
mother’s spouse, the respondent argues that she should be permitted to adjust
status without meeting the immigrant visa eligibility and availability
requirements imposed by section 245(a) of the Act. We disagree. First, the
statute requires a K-3 or K-4 visa holder to be the beneficiary of an immediate
relative visa petition. The approval of such an I-130 provides immigrant visa
eligibility and availability, as required under section 245(a) for adjustment.
Section 245(d) of the Act, which applies to K nonimmigrants seeking
to adjust under section 245(a), does not assist the respondent. Section 245(d)
requires K nonimmigrants to adjust on a conditional basis under section 216
of the Act if the qualifying marriage is less than 2 years old at the time
of adjustment. See Matter of Sesay, 25 I&N Dec. at 440-41. It also provides
that adjustment of status can only be based on the relationship to the United
States citizen petitioner. See Matter of Valenzuela, 25 I&N Dec. at 869;
Matter of Sesay, 25 I&N Dec. at 433, 440. Section 245(d) does not, in itself,
provide a mechanism for an alien to adjust status outside of the requirements
imposed by section 245(a) of the Act. Rather, it qualifies section 245(a)
by placing additional restrictions on K nonimmigrants.
Second, the respondent’s argument does not find support in the legislative
history of the LIFE Act. As its title indicates, section 1103(a) was intended
to confer nonimmigrant status to aliens who were “awaiting the availability
of an immigrant visa.” See also, e.g., H.R. Rep. No. 106-1048, at 206 (2000),
2001 WL 67919 (“[T]he LIFE Act makes available ‘K’ nonimmigrant visas
to aliens (and their minor children) who have concluded valid marriages with
United States citizens, are the beneficiaries of visa petitions, and seek to enter
the U.S. to await approval of the visa petitions.”). Nothing in the LIFE Act
or its legislative history supports a conclusion that an alien should be permitted
to enter the United States to await approval of an I-130 and then be able
to adjust when the visa petition is denied.
The Senate Joint Memorandum states that “the new ‘K’ visa is not
intended to be a prerequisite for the admission of citizen spouses, but a speedy
mechanism for the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens to obtain their
immigrant visas in the U.S., rather than wait for long periods of time outside
the U.S.” 146 Cong. Rec. 27,160 (2000) (statement of Senator Kennedy);8Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
(…continued)
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration of the Senate
Committee on the Judiciary, Senators Abrahamand Kennedy, provided a joint memorandum
concerning the LIFE Act and the Life Act amendments.
9 The regulations at 8 C.F.R. §§ 245.1(i) and 1245.1(i) were promulgated as the direct
result of the LIFE Act. See 66 Fed. Reg. at 42,587; cf. Matter of Torres-Garcia, 23 I&N
Dec. 866, 874 (BIA 2006) (not relying upon regulations that implemented later-repealed
statutory provisions). Given that the statute contemplates a separate Form I-130 petition
as a prerequisite to the adjustment of K-3 and K-4 visa holders, but not K-1 and K-2
nonimmigrants, the promulgation of regulations requiring only the former and not the latter
group of aliens to be I-130 beneficiaries is logical.
880
see also H.R. Rep. No. 106-1048, at 206. The Supplementary Information
accompanying the “new nonimmigrant classification for spouses and children
of U.S. citizens” explains that the LIFE Act addresses the family separation
arising from delays in adjudicating visa petitions for spouses and children
living abroad, serving “to expedite their entry to the United States.” 66 Fed.
Reg. at 42,587 (Supplementary Information). Thus, the legislative history
reflects that the K-3 and K-4 visas were created to address hardships caused
by delays in the visa petition adjudication process when the beneficiary
remains overseas waiting to join the petitioner but that there was no intention
to eliminate the I-130 requirement.
Third, the respondent’s argument does not find support in the regulations.
The regulations concerning the adjustment of status of K-3s and K-4s provide
in pertinent part as follows:
An alien admitted to the United States as a K-3 . . . may apply for adjustment
of status . . . at any time following the approval of the Form I-130 petition filed on the
alien’s behalf, by the same citizen who petitioned for the alien’s K-3 status. An alien
admitted to the United States as a K-4 . . . may apply for adjustment of status . . .
at any time following the approval of the Form I-130 petition filed on the alien’s
behalf, by the same citizen who petitioned for the alien’s parent’s K-3 status.
8 C.F.R. §§ 245.1(i), 1245.1(i) (emphasis added). Thus, these regulations
require that the adjustment of K-4 nonimmigrants be predicated on the
approval of an immigrant visa petition.
The respondent contends that 8 C.F.R. §§ 245.1(i) and 1245.1(i) are ultra
vires and that we should declare them to be invalid and without force of law.
However, it is well established that regulations promulgated by the
Attorney General are binding on the Board and the Immigration Judges. See
Matter of Fede, 20 I&N Dec. 35 (BIA 1989). We have no authority to declare
regulations to be invalid or constitutionally defective.9
See Matter of C-,
20 I&N Dec. 529, 532 (BIA 1992).Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
881
As we concluded in Matter of Sesay, 25 I&N Dec. at 438, an alien admitted
to the United States as a K-1 fiancé(e) of a citizen of the United States who
enters into a bona fide marriage with the fiancé(e) petitioner within 90 days
is able to seek adjustment of status without demonstrating immigrant visa
eligibilityand availabilitythrough an approved Form I-130. Likewise, an alien
who was admitted to the United States as a K-2 and whose alien K-1 parent
timely married the United States citizen petitioner after the alien’s 18th
birthday is not required to demonstrate immigrant visa eligibility
and availability through an I-130 in order to adjust status. Matter of Le,
25 I&N Dec. 541 (BIA 2011). These principles are based upon the lengthy
statutory and legislative history of the K-1 and K-2 visas as well as the
regulation at 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(k)(6)(ii). In essence, the statutory and
regulatory scheme for the actual fiancé(e)s remains largely intact, as set forth
in Matter of Sesay. In contrast, the purpose of the K-3 and K-4 visa
classifications is to permit the alien to be admitted to the United States pending
approval of a visa petition filed after a qualifying marriage has occurred.
Finally, the respondent raises the application of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(k)(9)
in support of her position that she is eligible for adjustment of status. That
regulation permits K-4 nonimmigrants to request an employment authorization
document. The possibility of obtaining employment authorization during
a period of valid nonimmigrant status does not imply that K-4 nonimmigrants
are eligible to adjust status in the absence of a showing that an immigrant visa
is available to them. The fact that the respondent previously had the privilege
of obtaining employment in the United States as a nonimmigrant has
no relevance to her eligibility for adjustment of status.
B. Termination of Proceedings on Equitable Grounds
The respondent also argues that equitable estoppel requires the Immigration
Judge to terminate these removal proceedings and that the Department
of Homeland Security (“DHS”) should be estopped from removing her.
In short, she argues that it is unfair that she was admitted to the United States
as a K-4 only to be denied a means to adjust her status.
Assuming that equitable estoppel is available against the Government
of the United States, the party advancing the argument must show all
the traditional elements of estoppel, plus some “affirmative misconduct,”
before the Government can be estopped from enforcing the law. Gutierrez
v. Gonzales, 458 F.3d 688, 691 (7th Cir. 2006). We find no “affirmative
misconduct” in this case, nor any basis in the principles of equitable estoppel
to depart from the requirement that an alien seeking to adjust status as the child
of a United States K visa petitioner must meet the definition of a “child” under
the Act.Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
10 In implementing the K visa regulations, the former INS stated that the K-3 parent may
file a visa petition on the K-4 child’s behalf after immigrating. 66 Fed. Reg. at 42,589
(Supplementary Information). This does not alter the K-4’s ineligibility for adjustment
of status under section 245(d) of the Act. But it does give the K-4 visa holder the
opportunity to seek an immigrant visa abroad based on the approved I-130 petition filed
by the parent when a visa becomes available.
882
Although the statute and regulations allow a K-4 nonimmigrant who is over
18 at the time of the qualifying marriage to be admitted for a specified period
as a nonimmigrant, that does not ensure eligibility to adjust status in the
United States. Before she entered the United States, the respondent was placed
on notice of the possibility that she would not be eligible for adjustment. The
record reflects that on January 23, 2006, the USCIS denied the immigrant visa
petition that was filed on her behalf by her mother’s spouse, the K visa
petitioner.
VI. MOTIONS TO REMAND
The respondent has also filed two motions to remand. In her first motion,
she requests a remand because the USCIS has approved an immigrant visa
petition filed on her behalf by her mother, who is now a lawful permanent
resident. See section 203(a)(2)(B) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1153(a)(2)(B) (2006).
Section 245(d) of the Act and 8 C.F.R. §§ 1245.1(c)(6)(ii) and 1245.1(i)
preclude a K-4 visa holder from adjusting on any basis other than the K-3
parent’s marriage to the United States citizen who filed the I-129F and the
I-130.10 Matter of Valenzuela, 25 I&N Dec. at 869. We therefore find that
section 245(d) forecloses the respondent’s adjustment eligibility based on the
I-130 petition filed by her mother.
In her second motion, the respondent seeks a remand in light of Matter
of Sesay. As stated above, Matter of Sesay and Matter of Le recognize that
K-1 and K-2 fiancé(e) visa holders need not demonstrate immigrant visa
eligibility or availability in order to adjust status. In her motion, the
respondent argues that she should be given “the very same degree of grace that
is afforded to these brethren visa categories.”
As discussed above, the legislative history of the LIFE Act, the existing
regulations, and the Supplementary Information to the regulations support the
conclusion that a K-4 visa holder must demonstrate immigrant visa eligibility
and availability to adjust status through an approved Form I-130 petition.
Matter of Sesay involved the K-1 and K-2 fiancé(e) statutory scheme. The
K-1 and K-2 nonimmigrant classifications differ from the K-3s and K-4s,
which relate to an existing marital relationship. We therefore do not agreeCite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
883
with the respondent that a remand is warranted in light of Matter of Sesay.
Accordingly, the respondent’s motions to remand will be denied.
VII. CONCLUSION
Unlike K-2 nonimmigrants, the K-4 must establish immigrant visa
eligibility and availability through an approved Form I-130 visa petition.
In order to adjust status, therefore, the K-4 nonimmigrant visa holder must
qualify as a stepchild of the United States citizen K visa petitioner, who files
an I-129F for the K-3 alien spouse, as well as the Form I-130 for both the K-3
and his or her K-4 derivative child. Otherwise, the K-4 is ineligible to adjust
status in the United States and must pursue an alternative means to obtain
an immigrant visa from abroad.
In this case, the respondent was eligible to be admitted as a K-4
nonimmigrant as a derivative of her mother’s K-3 status. However, she
is ineligible to receive an immigrant visa on the basis of her familial
relationship to the United States citizen spouse of her mother. Because she
had reached the age of 18 at the time of her mother’s marriage, she cannot
qualify as the “stepchild” of the United States citizen K visa petitioner under
section 101(b)(1)(B) of the Act. Consequently, we conclude that she has not
established the required immigrant visa eligibility and availability for
adjustment of status. Accordingly, the respondent’s appeal will be dismissed
and her motions to remand will be denied. Since the respondent has presented
evidence that she posted the required voluntary departure bond, her 60-day
period of voluntary departure will be reinstated.
ORDER: The respondent’s appeal is dismissed.
FURTHER ORDER: The respondent’s motions to remand are denied.
FURTHER ORDER: Pursuant to the Immigration Judge’s order and
conditioned upon compliance with conditions set forth by the Immigration
Judge and the statute, the respondent is permitted to voluntarily depart the
United States, without expense to the Government, within 60 days from the
date of this order or any extension beyond that time as may be granted by the
DHS. See section 240B(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C.
§ 1229c(b) (2006); see also 8 C.F.R. §§ 1240.26(c), (f) (2012). In the event
the respondent fails to voluntarily depart the United States, the respondent
shall be removed as provided in the Immigration Judge’s order.
NOTICE: If the respondent fails to voluntarily depart the United States
within the time period specified, or any extensions granted by the DHS, the
respondent shall be subject to a civil penalty as provided by the regulations and
the statute and shall be ineligible for a period of 10 years for any further relief
under section 240B and sections 240A, 245, 248, and 249 of the Act, 8 U.S.C.
§§ 1229b, 1255, 1258, and 1259 (2006). See section 240B(d) of the Act.Cite as 25 I&N Dec. 874 (BIA 2012) Interim Decision #3762
884
WARNING: If the respondent files a motion to reopen or reconsider prior
to the expiration of the voluntary departure period set forth above, the grant
of voluntary departure is automatically terminated; the period allowed for
voluntary departure is not stayed, tolled, or extended. If the grant of voluntary
departure is automatically terminated upon the filing of a motion, the penalties
for failure to depart under section 240B(d) of the Act shall not apply. See
8 C.F.R. § 1240.26(e)(1).
WARNING: If, prior to departing the United States, the respondent files
any judicial challenge to this administratively final order, such as a petition for
review pursuant to section 242 of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1252 (2006), the grant
of voluntary departure is automatically terminated, and the alternate order
of removal shall immediately take effect. However, if the respondent files
a petition for review and then departs the United States within 30 days of such
filing, the respondent will not be deemed to have departed under an order
of removal if the alien provides to the DHS such evidence of his or her
departure that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office
Director of the DHS may require and provides evidence DHS deems sufficient
that he or she has remained outside of the United States. The penalties for
failure to depart under section 240B(d) of the Act shall not apply to an alien
who files a petition for review, notwithstanding any period of time that
he or she remains in the United States while the petition for review is pending.
See 8 C.F.R. § 1240.26(i).