Opinion ID: 775085
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inconsistent Applications

Text: 19 In finding Chen not to be credible, the BIA also cited inconsistencies in the grounds upon which Chen based his first and second asylum applications. Specifically, Chen's first application was based upon his and his father's prodemocratic activities, and his second application cited China's coercive population control as basis for relief. Also, in his first application Chen identified himself as single, and in his second application he identified himself as married. All plausible and reasonable explanations for any inconsistencies must be considered. See Osorio v. I.N.S., 99 F.3d 928, 932 (9th Cir. 1996). In doing so, we find that the factors articulated by the BIA do not support an adverse credibility finding. 20 Chen explains that he based his first asylum application on pro-democracy grounds because resistance to China's population control policies was not a viable basis for an asylum claim in 1995. Accordingly, in that application he cited his flight from political oppression of his and his father's democratic views, which provided a stronger legal basis for asylum at that time. However, at the time of his second application in 1999, resistance to China's population control policies was a viable basis for an asylum claim. Because his first application on pro-democracy grounds failed and he was also fleeing due to his family planning views, Chen cited the latter ground in his second application. 3 We fail to see how Chen's observance of immigration law constitutes a basis for finding him not to be credible. The BIA majority itself admitted as much when it acknowledged that such an explanation was more than reasonable in light of the state of the law in 1995. 21 Chen acknowledges that he was inconsistent in reporting his marital status on his first and second applications. He explains that he marked single on his first application, but married on his second application because of his confusion about how to characterize his marriage in light of the Chinese government's view that his marriage was not official. Here again, Chen's explanation is more than reasonable and insufficient grounds exist upon which to find him not to be credible.