Opinion ID: 673239
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Special Immigrant Minister

Text: 6 An alien is eligible for (though not necessarily entitled to) a special immigrant visa by establishing that he is a special immigrant minister under Sec. 101(a)(27)(C) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(27)(C) (1988). See 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1204 (1988). Under the pre-1990 version of the INA, Wu had the burden of showing that at the time he applied for adjustment of status, he was 7 an immigrant who continuously for at least two years immediately preceding the time of his application for admission to the United States has been, and who seeks to enter the United States solely for the purpose of carrying on the vocation of minister of a religious denomination, and whose services are needed by such religious denomination having a bona fide organization in the United States. 8 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(27)(C) (1988). 9 Wu argues that the BIA adopted an overly restrictive definition of minister. At the time of Wu's Show Cause hearing, the BIA used the State Department's definition of minister, which provided that 10 [t]he term minister, as used in section 101(a)(27)(C) of the Act, means a person duly authorized by a recognized religious denomination having a bona fide organization in the United States to conduct religious worship, and to perform other duties usually performed by a regularly ordained pastor or clergyman of such denomination. The term shall not include a lay preacher not authorized to perform the duties usually performed by a regularly ordained pastor or clergyman of the denomination of which he is a member, and shall not include a nun, lay brother, or cantor. 11 Matter of Rhee, 16 I & N Dec. 607, 608-9 (1978) (quoting 1978 version of 22 C.F.R. Sec. 42.25, now codified at 22 C.F.R. Sec. 41.58). The BIA also looks to the ordinary use of the term minister, i.e. the dictionary definition. Id. at 610 (quoting 1961 edition of Webster's Dictionary: One, usually a priest, who officiates, as at an altar, or administers, as sacraments.). 12 Adoption of the State Department's definition of minister is not unreasonable per se. The problem is that the definition fails to describe the duties of a minister. Wu correctly argues that the BIA erred in holding that regular duties of a minister can not include engaging in advice and counselling similar to that of a social worker. An ordained pastor who spends part of his time preaching and part of his time counselling his parishioners is a minister under the ordinary meaning of that term. Cf. In the Matter of Z---, 5 I & N Dec. 700, 703 (C.O.1954) (Catholic minister considered a minister even though he taught in a boarding school where he was required to teach some academic subjects besides teaching religion and doing religious work.)