Opinion ID: 180327
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Immigration Proceedings in 2003 - 2008

Text: In September 1997, Dinanto, a native of Indonesia, entered the United States on a student visa, which expired in August 2002. In March 2003, Dinanto applied for asylum, withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”) based upon the persecution of ethnic Chinese and Christians in Indonesia. In April 2003, the Department of Homeland Security served Dinanto with a Notice to Appear, charging him as removable under INA § 237(a)(1)(B), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(B), for overstaying his visa, and under INA § 237(a)(1)(C)(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(C)(i), for failing to comply with the conditions of the non-immigrant status under which he had applied. Dinanto admitted the allegations and conceded removability. On June 27, 2007, after a hearing on Dinanto’s claims, an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) found that Dinanto had failed to establish eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal or CAT relief. The IJ ordered Dinanto removed to Indonesia. Dinanto appealed, and the BIA affirmed in October 2008. On June 1, 2 2009, this Court denied Dinanto’s petition for review on the merits. See Dinanto v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 331 F. App’x 656 (11th Cir. 2009). Meanwhile, on December 1, 2008, Dinanto married Yoshiko Santoso, a native of Indonesia who was a lawful permanent resident of the United States. On December 20, 2008, Santoso filed an I-130 petition to obtain an immigrant visa for Dinanto. A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident may file a petition to obtain an immigrant visa for an alien spouse by filing an I-130 petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”). INA § 204(a)(1)(A)(i), (B)(i)(I), 8 U.S.C. § 1154(a)(1)(A)(i), (B)(i)(I); 8 C.F.R. § 204.1(a).