Aug 2 2010
Board of Immigration Appeals Finds Grant of Family Unity Benefits is not an "Admission" 

According to a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals dated July 30, 2010, a grant of Family Unity Program benefits does not constitute an "admission" to the United States for the purposes of establishing the seven year continuous residence requirement for cancellation of removal eligibility.

In Matter of David Reza-Murillo, the Board found that a lawful permanent resident was ineligible for cancellation of removal because he had not resided in the U.S. for the requisite seven years after having been "admitted in any status."  The Board stated that the seven years of residency must begin at the date the alien was admitted for lawful permanent residency, rather than the earlier date when he received Family Unity Program benefits. 


Information for this article was obtained from American Immigration Lawyers Association Web site at www.aila.com.