Opinion ID: 1201143
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Pin Zhou Wang, 06-5302-ag

Text: Pin Zhou Wang, a Chinese national, arrived in the United States in November 1991 and filed an application for political asylum shortly thereafter. In 1999, Wang was placed in removal proceedings and ordered removed in March 2004 by an IJ, upon the denial of his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the CAT. In re Pin Zhou Wang, No. A72 020 341 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Mar. 17, 2004). The BIA affirmed the result of this decision, without opinion, on July 1, 2005. In re Pin Zhou Wang, No. A72 020 341 (B.I.A. Jul. 1, 2005). During the pendency of Wang's removal proceedings, Periyali Restaurant filed an I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker on behalf of Wang. After this petition was approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in January 2002, Wang filed an application before the INS to adjust his status to lawful permanent resident. The record suggests, however, that Wang never pressed his apparent eligibility for adjustment of status before the IJ. On April 13, 2006, Wang filed a motion to reopen his removal proceedings based on the ineffective assistance of his prior counsel. Wang urged that his counsel was ineffective for failing to have the IJ adjudicate his eligibility for adjustment of status. The BIA observed that Wang's motion was untimely, but [a]ssume[d], without deciding, that the respondent ha[d] acted with due diligence so as to equitably toll the untimeliness of his motion. In re Pin Zhou Wang, No. A72 020 341 (B.I.A. Oct. 31, 2006). The BIA denied the motion on jurisdictional grounds, explaining that respondent is an arriving alien and does not come within the narrow exception which would permit an Immigration Judge to consider an arriving alien's application for adjustment of status. Id. Accordingly, the BIA concluded that reopening is not warranted in this case. The respondent must pursue any application for adjustment of status with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) independent of these removal proceedings. Id.