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

Heading: Dinanto’s First Motion to Reopen

Text: On December 31, 2008, Dinanto filed a motion to reopen his removal proceedings with the BIA so he could apply for adjustment of status, pursuant to INA § 245(a), 8 U.S.C. § 1255(a), on account of his marriage to Santoso. An alien spouse also may apply to adjust his status to that of a lawful permanent resident by filing a Form I-485A with the USCIS. INA § 245(a), 8 U.S.C. § 1255(a); 8 C.F.R. § 245.1(a). The I-485A application for adjustment of status can be filed concurrently with or after the alien spouse’s I-130 visa petition. See 8 C.F.R. § 245.2(a)(2)(i). Here, Dinanto did not file a concurrent I-485A application to adjust his status. 3 On July 21, 2009, the BIA denied the motion to reopen, pointing out “that in order to establish eligibility for adjustment of status, an applicant must demonstrate, among other things, that ‘an immigrant visa is immediately available to him at the time his application is filed.’” The BIA found that Dinanto, though married to a lawful permanent resident, could not demonstrate that a visa was immediately available to him at the time he filed his motion to reopen. Although both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may file I-130 petitions on behalf of their alien spouses, they are treated differently for purposes of issuing visas. If the I-130 petitioner is a U.S. citizen, the alien spouse qualifies for classification as an “immediate relative,” which is not subject to the number and worldwide level limitations on the issuance of immigrant visas. INA § 201(b)(2)(A)(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1151(b)(2)(A)(i). Under these circumstances, a visa is immediately available for the alien spouse once the citizen spouse’s I-130 petition is approved. If the I-130 petitioner is a lawful permanent resident, the alien spouse qualifies for classification as a “preference immigrant,” for which there are allotted a certain number of visas annually. INA § 201(a)(1), 8 U.S.C. § 1151(a)(1); INA § 203(a)(2), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(a)(2); 8 C.F.R. § 204.1(a). In this case, the alien spouse is given a “priority date,” based on the date of the filing of 4 the I-130, which is used to create waiting lists and issue visas as they are available. INA § 203(e)(1), (3), 8 U.S.C. § 1153(e)(1), (3); 8 C.F.R. §§ 204.1(c), 245.1(g)(2). Even after the I-130 petition is approved, therefore, the alien spouse of a lawful permanent resident must wait for a visa to become available.1