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NAVIGATING DUAL INTENT – HOW
TO STEER THE SHIP AND KEEP IT
FROM SINKING
by Dagmar Butte, Rómulo E. Guevara
and Ronald Matten
2010 AILA Teleconference/Web Conference
© 2010 American Immigration Lawyers Association
The General Presumption Framework
• Every Foreign National Is An Intending
Immigrant INA 214(b)
• Options
– Overcome Presumption
– Fall Within An Exception
2010 AILA Teleconference/Web Conference
© 2010 American Immigration Lawyers Association
Quick Poll
• Do you file I-485 for individuals who ARE NOT
in an underlying H-1 or L-1 status?
– Always
– Only if in E, O & P status
– Depends on critical issues in the case
– Never
2010 AILA Teleconference/Web Conference
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We Shall Overcome – But How?
• Burden on Applicant
• Maintain and not intend to abandon “residence”
abroad INA §101(a)(15)
– Residence = general abode or principal, actual
dwelling place irrespective of intent. INA §101(a)(33)
– Objective Test
– Can be Someone Else’s Home 9 FAM 41.31 n.2.
• Must seek favorable exercise of discretion by
showing ties to home country 9 FAM 41.31 n.3.4.
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Non-Immigrant Intent vs.
Preconceived Intent
• Distinct Concepts
– General Desire to Remain US is Permitted
• Matter of H-R-, 7 I & N Dec. 651 (RC 1958)
• Matter of Hosseinpour, 15 I & N Dec.191 (BIA 1975).
– Fixed Intent to Remain in US is Prohibited
• Lauvik v. INS, 910 F.2d 658, at 660 (9th Cir. 1990)
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Everyone’s a Sinner Except When
They’re Not
• Exceptions toProhibition on Immigrant Intent
– H1 and L1 Visas
• INA §214(h)
– Often called “Dual Intent”
– E, O-1 and P Non-Immigrants Get Limited
Dispensation
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And Some Sinners Always Are
• Can Categories that Can Never Have Intent
– B 1/B2
– F-1
– J-1
–Q
– TN
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TNs – They May Quack Like Ducks but
They Are Not Ducks
• Enter “w/o intent to establish permanent
residence.” 8 C.F.R §214.6(b)
• Stay Must Have Reasonable and Finite End. Id.
See also 22 C.F.R. §49.59(c).
• No Immediate Intent to Immigrate. 9 FAM 41.59
n5.
• I-140 Alone Does Not Establish Intent. LaFleur
letter, INS HQ 1815-C (June 18, 1996), reprinted
in 73 No. 28 Interpreter Releases 970, 979-80 (Jul
22, 1996). 2008 Paul Morris Letter reconfirms
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The Sinners Who Get Dispensation
• H1 –B and L-1 A and B
– May Have Immigrant Intent Despite Temporary
Employment. 8 C.F.R.§214.2(h)(16)(i); 8
C.F.R.§214.2(l)(16); FAM 41.53 n3.1
– Immigrant Petition Not Basis for Extension Denial
• Not True for H-2A, H-2B and H-3. 8 CFR 214.2(h)(16)(ii)
– Intent Irrelevant At Consular Interview. DOS
Cable, 91-State-171115, (May 24, 1991), rep 68
No. 21 IR 681-84 (June 3, 1991).
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H-1 Gotcha
• Exemption Does Not Apply to
– Chile H-1B1. United States-Chile Free Trade
Agreement Implementation Act (Pub.L. No. 10877)
– Singapore H-1B1. United States-Singapore Free
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub.L. No.
108-78).
– These Are Treated Like TN. 9 FAM 41.53 N27.5
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And Now For The Grey Areas
• E-1/E-2/E-3 Visas. 8 C.F.R. §214.2(e)(5); 22 C.F.R.
§§41.51(a)-(c); 9 FAM 41.51 n15.
– Maintain an intention to depart the United States
upon expiration or termination of status
– E Visas may not be denied solely on the basis of a
labor certification or immigrant visa petition
– Need not keep foreign residence. 9 FAM 41.51 n15
– Unequivocal Expression of Intent to Return is
Sufficient. 9 FAM 41.51 n15
– E-3 intent same as E-1/E-2. 9 FAM 41.51 n16.6
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More Grey Areas
• O-1–Wow, You’re Special But Not That Special
– Similar to E-Visa. 9 FAM 41.55 n5.1.
– O-1 Need Not Maintain Residence
– O-1 Visas may not be denied solely on the basis of
a labor certification immigrant visa petition. 8
C.F.R. §214.2(o)(13); 9 FAM 41.55 N8.2.
– O-2 Support Personnel Specifically Prohibits
Immigrant Intent. INA §101(a)(15)(O)(ii)
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And The Grey Continues
• P-1Visas
– Must Maintain Foreign Residence. INA
§101(15)(P).
BUT
– Labor Certification or Preference Petition Shall not
be Basis for denying P Visa 8 C.F.R. §214.2(p)(15);
9 FAM 41.56 n9.2.
– May Lawfully Seek LPR Status While in P Status. 8
C.F.R. §214.2(p)(15)
– Support Personnel Not Protected
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Adjustment of Status
or
Will It Come Back to Bite Me Later
• Anyone Who Can Adjust Will Want To
– Quicker Processing
– No Need To Depart
– Ability to Continue Working
– Often Less Expensive
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Preconceived Intent
Not Just Bad But Really, Really Bad
• Burden is On Applicant to Show No
Preconceived Intent. INA §214(b)
• Problem for Anyone in the Prohibited
Categories
• Can Be A Problem in the Grey Areas
• Preconceived Intent Potential Basis for Denial
of Adjustment. Von Pervieux v. INS, 572 F.2d
114, 118 (3d Cir. 1978)
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30/60 Days – Count Carefully
• Actions Evaluated Depending on Proximity to
Entry. 9 FAM 40.63 n4
• DOS applies through FAM But Used By USCIS
– 30 Days – Intent Likely to Be Found
– 31 to 60 Days – Rebuttable Presumption of Intent
– 61-90 Days – No Presumption
– Controversial
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Additional Considerations
• Well Documented Changed Circumstances Can
Rebut Presumption
• Remember to Distinguish Between
– Long Term Desire = OK
– Present or Immediate Intent = Not OK
• Watch Out for “Rapid Sequence of Events”
Matter of Patel, 19 I&N Dec. 774 (BIA 1988) citing
Matter of Lasike, 17 I & N Dec. 445, 446-48
(1980); Matter of Ro, 16 I & N Dec. 93 (1977)
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Questions?
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