Source: http://myattorneyusa.com/cancellation-of-removal-for-non-lawful-permanent-residents-under-ina-ss-240ab1
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 15:43:49+00:00

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Effective since April of 1997, certain persons in the United States who are not lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who are facing removal proceedings are eligible to receive a cancellation of removal from the Attorney General (AG). Non-LPRs who receive cancellation of removal will then be eligible for adjustment of status. This article will explain the rules for eligibility for non-LPR cancellation under INA § 240A(b)(1). To learn about cancellation of removal for LPRs, please see our full article on that subject.
Pursuant to INA § 240A(b)(1), non-LPRs in removal proceedings on account of inadmissibility or deportability must satisfy certain requirements in order to be eligible for cancellation of removal.
Must establish that removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, parent, or child.
A non-LPR must have at least 10 consecutive years of continuous physical presence in the United States in order to apply for cancellation of removal.
In order to benefit from cancellation of removal, a non-LPR must demonstrate that he or she was of good moral character during the 10-year statutory period. To learn more about bars to establishing good moral character, please consult our full article on the subject.
In order to be eligible for cancellation, a non-LPR cannot have a conviction for commission of a crime covered by INA §§ 212(a)(2), 237(a)(2), or 237(a)(3).
Whether one of these grounds will apply to a specific criminal conviction depends on the facts and particular circumstances of the case.
Falsely claiming citizenship [unless alien demonstrates that he or she was a permanent resident prior to turning 16, parents were/are U.S. citizens, and alien reasonably believed that he or she was a citizen].
Crimes that fall under the petty offense exception in INA § 212(a)(2) do not render a non-LPR ineligible for cancellation of removal, provided that the maximum possible penalty does not exceed 1 year.20 Conviction of a second crime if the first crime was a petty offense does not trigger ineligibility so long as the second crime is not a CIMT.21 In Matter of Almanza-Arenas, 24 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2009), the BIA held that if an alien is convicted of a crime under a divisible statute, where part of the statute reaches CIMT offenses and another part of the statute does not, the burden is on the alien to demonstrate that he or she was convicted pursuant to the part of the statute that does not cover CIMTs.
Multiple Circuits have held that, provided the conviction is for something described under the applicable statutes, it need not render the non-LPR deportable in order for the non-LPR to be ineligible for cancellation of removal.24 This is important because the two statutes describing crimes that render applicants deportable require that the crimes have been committed within 5 years of entry. However, according to most current precedent, for purpose of cancellation, only the crime itself is relevant, and not whether the non-LPR is statutorily deportable for the crime.
The BIA held in Matter of Bustamante, 25 I&N Dec. 564 (BIA 2011), that if a non-LPR obtains a waiver of inadmissibility pursuant to INA § 212(h) for a conviction for a crime described in INA § 212(a)(2), the non-LPR would be ineligible for cancellation.25 This is because what matters for cancellation eligibility is whether the non-LPR was convicted of a crime under section 212(a)(2), and not whether he or she is inadmissible.
Stepchildren are qualifying relatives provided that the relationship to the applicant commenced before the stepchild turned 18.27 While the bar is higher for demonstrating exceptional and extremely unusual hardship than for regular extreme hardship, extreme hardship factors are applicable insofar as they relate to qualifying relatives and not the applicant. Our full articles on extreme hardship and extreme hardship factors go into great detail about the factors that are considered in demonstrating extreme hardship.
In the event that a non-LPR finds him or herself in removal proceedings, he or she should retain an experienced immigration attorney who can assess the facts of the case and determine the best defense against removal given the circumstances. Depending on the facts of the case, the immigration attorney may find that the applicant is best served by applying for a less restrictive form of relief from removal if he or she may be eligible. In the event that pursuing regular non-LPR cancellation of removal is the best option, an experienced immigration attorney will help the applicant prove that he or she has the requisite physical presence, and that any crimes or criminal convictions [if applicable] were not on grounds that would render the applicant ineligible for cancellation.
Provided that the applicant is otherwise eligible, the most difficult aspect of obtaining cancellation of removal will likely be establishing exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying relative. While there is no guarantee that an applicant in any given case will be able to meet the standard, an experienced immigration attorney will be able to help the applicant make the most compelling possible case given the circumstances.
Kurzban 1366, citing, Matter of Cortez, 25 I&N Dec. 301, 307 (BIA 2010); Nino v. Holder, 690 F.3d 691, 696-98 (5th Cir. 2012); Gonzalez-Gonzalez v. Ashcroft, 390 F.3d 649, 651 (9th Cir. 2004).
Kurzban, Ira J. Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Outline and Reference Tool. 14th ed. Washington D.C.: ALIA Publications, 2014. 1350-51, 1365-71, 1375. Print. Treatises & Primers.

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