Source: https://casetext.com/case/gomez-v-holder-8
Timestamp: 2018-10-16 03:59:32
Document Index: 28574207

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 216', '§ 1186', '§ 216', '§ 1186', '§ 1186', '§ 1186', '§ 1186', '§ 1186']

Gomez v. Holder, 365 Fed. Appx. 906 | Casetext
365 Fed. Appx. 906 (9th Cir. 2010)
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth CircuitFeb 22, 2010
No. 05-74778.
Submitted February 12, 2010.
Filed February 22, 2010.
Zachary Miller Nightingale, Esq., Van Der Hout, et al., LLP, San Francisco, CA, for Petitioner.
Ronald E. Lefevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, Genevieve Holm, Esq., Margot L. Nadel, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice Civil Div./Office of Immigration Lit., Washington, DC, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A044-945-797.
Before: GOODWIN, BERZON and IKUTA, Circuit Judges.
Although the INS erroneously referenced INA § 216(b), 8 U.S.C. § 1186a(b), instead of INA § 216(c), 8 U.S.C. § 1186a(c), in denying Gomez's application for a waiver from the requirement that his spouse submit a joint petition, the IJ did not err in construing the INS's denial as a determination under 8 U.S.C. § 1186a(c)(4)(B). Gomez filed his application under 8 U.S.C. § 1186a(c)(4)(B), and the INS analyzed the waiver under that section (concluding that the marriage was not entered into in good faith, as required to be eligible for the waiver). Moreover, 8 U.S.C. § 1186a(b) was inapplicable by its terms, because the Attorney General did not terminate Gomez's permanent resident status before the second anniversary of Gomez's obtaining such status.
The IJ did not err in holding that Gomez's conditional residency status had been terminated. See 8 U.S.C. § 1186a(c)(2). Gomez's conditional residency status had already terminated for failure to file jointly for removal of the condition within the applicable two-year time period. Moreover, Gomez conceded removability at his hearing and stated the proceedings were to review removal of the condition.
Substantial evidence supports the IJ's denial of Gomez's application for waiver on the basis that his marriage was not entered into in good faith. See Damon v. Ashcroft, 360 F.3d 1084, 1088 (9th Cir. 2004). The IJ identified numerous contradictions in the testimony, including whether the marriage had been consummated, the existence of shared expenses and living arrangements, and how Gomez and his wife met.
Finally, the IJ did not apply the wrong legal standard in making the good faith determination. A couple's actions after marriage may "bear on the subjective intent of the parties at the time they were married." Oropeza-Wong v. Gonzales, 406 F.3d 1135, 1148 (9th Cir. 2005).