Opinion ID: 785986
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Preliminary Hearing

Text: 6 On March 23, 1999, Mr. Kuschchak and his attorney attended a master calendar hearing before an Immigration Judge (IJ). At that hearing, Mr. Kuschchak's counsel indicated that Mr. Kuschchak would like to apply for adjustment of status based on his selection for the diversity lottery. The IJ believed that it was unlikely, based on Mr. Kuschchak's lottery number, that a visa would become available. Consequently, the IJ determined that it would not be an appropriate use of the respondent's money and my time to consider an adjustment application for which he's not currently eligible. A.R. 87. However, the IJ stated that, if it appeared that a visa would become available, he would entertain Mr. Kuschchak's motion for an expedited hearing and his application for adjustment of status. 7 At the same hearing, Mr. Kuschchak's attorney indicated that Mr. Kuschchak wished to proceed on his asylum application. After a cursory review of the papers, the IJ noted that Mr. Kuschchak had not filed an asylum application within one year of his arrival in the United States and further noted that there was no such requirement for withholding of removal. Mr. Kuschchak's attorney responded that he would like to make the application a request for withholding of removal, but if, in fact, I discuss with Mr. Kuschchak and discover that there was, you know, exceptional circumstances which resulted in the late filing I would like an opportunity to file a brief in support of that. Id. at 89. The IJ agreed to set the case up for a merits hearing on the application for withholding of removal. Id. at 90. 8 Finally, the IJ tended to some scheduling matters. The IJ inquired: [I]f you think that you're going to be calling more than the respondent to testify, I'll set it for an afternoon. If you think he's going to be the only witness, I'll schedule it for a morning. Id. at 91. Mr. Kuschchak's attorney responded that he believed Mr. Kuschchak was going to be the only witness. Id. The IJ then set the hearing for November 5, 1999.