MATTER or M— 

In VISA. PE Proceedings 

A-12285313 

Decider?. by Regional C onmnissioner January 8,1962 

Approved by Assistant Commissioner January 24,1962 

Nonquota status—Orphans—Limitation of two to a family. 

Family which has previously nrougnt twu unthaws to the Unit©d Stator In 

special nonquota status is not entitled to obtain nonquota status for third 

child. Controlling factor is not the number of petitions that may have been 

previously approved or the number of visas that may have been issued but 

the Congressional intent expressed in all special orphan legislation since 

1953 to place a limitation of two on the number of eligible nonquota orphans that may be brought to the United States by any one family (See, 

Matter of P—, 9-750, overruling the holding in this case.) 

BEFORE THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER 

(January 8, 1962) 

DISCUSSION: This matter is before me on certification for review. 

The petition in this case was filed to accord the beneficiary a nonquota classification as an eligible orphan so that the petitioners may 

bring the orphan to the United States and adopt her in this country. The District Director in Boston, Massachusetts, denied the 

petition on the - ground that the petitioners have previously brought 

two children into the United States under special legislation enacted in behalf of orphans. 

The first orphan brought to the United States by the petitioners 

was born in Italy on June 4, 1956, and was admitted to this country 

under section 5 of the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. The second 

orphan brought to the United States by the petitioners was born m 

Greece on December 19, 1957, and was admitted to this country 

under section 4 of the Act of September 11, 1957. Following admission, these orphans were adopted by the petitioners. 

Both, section 5 of the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 and section 4 

of the Act of September 11, 1957, as amended, were enacted as 

temporary legislation and provided, in part, that: 

... Not more than two such special nonquota immigrant visas may be issued 

to eligible orphans adopted or to be adopted by any one United States citizen 

and spouse, unless necessary to prevent the separation of brothers or sisters. 

542 
The present petition WEIO filed on June 29, 1961. It may, therefore, be considered under section 4 of the Act of September 11, 1957, 

as amended (section 25(b) of the Act of September 26, 1961), or 

under the permanent orphan legislation contained in sections 101(b) 

and 205 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by 

the Act of September 26. 1961. 

Section 205(c), as amended, provides in part that: 

. . Not more than two such petitions may be approved for one petitioner in 

behalf of a child as defined in section 101(b) (1) . (F), unless necessary 

to prevent the separation of brothers and sisters.. . . 

The petitioners contend that under section 205(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, the limitation goes only 

to the number of petitions that may be approved and that this is 

only the second petition filed by them in behalf of an orphan. They 

point out that a petition was filed and approved fcr the second child 

but not for the first child as a petition was not required under the 

Refugee Relief Act of 1953. 

In all special orphan legislation enacted since 1953 the Cungresb 

has placed a limitation of two on the number of orphans that could 

be brought to the United States by the same family as nonquota 

aliens. Whether the limitation is with regard to the number of visas 

that may be issued or the number of petitions that may be approved, 

the controlling factor is the intent of the Congress. That intent, 

in view of the legislative history, is to limit to two the number of 

nonquota eligible orphans that may be brought to the United States 

by any one family, unless necessary to prevent the separation of 

brothers or sisters. As such separation is not involved in this case, 

the petition was properly denied. 

ORDER: It is ordered that the petition be denied. 

543