Opinion ID: 1238028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Ahmed's conduct

Text: The need for a continuance did not result from any unreasonable conduct on Ahmed's part. Ahmed applied for his labor certification and filed his I-140 petition before removal proceedings were initiated against him. This distinguishes Ahmed from those petitioners who have applied for labor certification only after removal proceedings were initiated against them, in an attempt to delay the proceedings. Rajah v. Mukasey, 544 F.3d 449, 454 (2d Cir.2008) (discussing Elbahja v. Keisler, 505 F.3d 125 (2d Cir.2007) (per curiam)). Though we have not heretofore addressed this precise issue, both the Second and Seventh Circuits have expressed concern about blaming a petitioner for an administrative agency's delay in processing an employment-based visa application. See, e.g., Rajah, 544 F.3d at 456 (reversing denial of continuance and remanding to the BIA for further guidance on what constitutes sufficient time in light of the delays endemic in almost every stage of acquiring any visa); Subhan v. Ashcroft, 383 F.3d 591, 593-95 (7th Cir.2004) (concluding that the immigration judge abused his discretion in denying petitioner a third requested continuance solely because the labor department had not yet acted on the petitioner's application, and holding that the immigration judge must provide a reason consistent with [8 U.S.C. § 1255(i)] when denying such a continuance). If anyone is to be blamed for the delay in this case, it is the AAO, not Ahmed. The need for a continuance cannot be attributed to any unreasonable behavior on Ahmed's part.