dismissed
E-2
dismissed E-2 Case: Pet Supplies
Decision Summary
The motion to reopen and reconsider was denied because the AAO lacks jurisdiction over the appeal. Federal regulations, specifically 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(c)(5), state there is no appeal from the denial of an application for an extension of stay for an E-2 treaty investor. Since the original decision was not appealable, the AAO has no jurisdiction to review subsequent motions.
Criteria Discussed
Jurisdiction 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(C)(5) 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(A)(6)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services MATTER OF L-0-, INC. Non-Precedent Decision of the Administrative Appeals Office DATE: JAN. 13,2017 MOTION ON ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OFFICE DECISION PETITION: FORM I-129, PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER The Applicant, a pet supplies store, seeks to employ the foreign national in the United States as its "VP/Manager" under the E-2 nonimmigrant classification for treaty investors. See section 101(a)(15)(E)(ii) ofthe Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(l5)(E)(ii) and 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e)(2). In accordance with the regulations at 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e)(20) and (21), the application for a change of status and extension of stay was filed on Form 1-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. See 8 C.F.R: § 214.1(c)(l). The Director, California Service Center denied the application. The Applicant then filed two subsequent motions to reopen and reconsider on March 24, 2015, and July 1, 2015, respectively. The Director dismissed both motions. The Applicant appealed the latter decision to our office. We rejected the appeal based on our lack of jurisdiction. Subsequently, the Applicant tiled a motion to reopen and reconsider. We denied the combined motion, advising that since we rejected the appeal, there was no merits-based decision to reopen or reconsider, and we had no jurisdiction to grant the motion. The matter is now before us again on a combined motion to reopen and reconsider. On motion, the Applicant cites several sources in support of its claim that this office does in fact have jurisdiction to adjudicate its motion, including the AAO Practice Manual and two recent adopted decisions in which we adjudicated petition extensions involving H-1 Band L-1A nonimmigrant classifications. Upon review, we will deny the combined motion. As we discussed in our prior decision rejecting the appeal, and noted in our latest decision denying the · prior motion, there is no appeallfrom the denial of an application for an extension of stay of an E-1 or E- 2 treaty trader or treaty investor. 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(c)(5). Further, although an application for E-2 treaty investor status is made on Form l-129, there is no petition requirement for E-2 treaty investors and there is no petition determination that may be appealed. When it published the Final Rule governing the nonimmigrant classification, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (former INS, now U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)) noted: [U]nder section 103 of the Act, the service has exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate applications for admission to this country, as well as applications for change of Matter of L-0-, Inc. nonimmigrant status to, or extensions of stay in, E nonimmigrant classification. In this regard, it should be noted that, unlike other employment-driven classifications, E nonimmigrant visa classification is not confened by means of a petition, but instead by an application. 62 Fed. Reg. 48138 (Sept. 12, 1997). While the Applicant conectly states that our office has appellate jmisdiction over most employment based nonimmigrant visa matters filed on Form 1-129, the E nonimmigrant classification is an exception. Our appellate jurisdiction over applications for E nonimmigrant classification filed on Form I-129 is limited to applications filed under 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e)(23), which provides for special procedures for classifying foreign investors in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) as E-2 nonimmigrant treaty investors, and specifically authorizes these employers to appeal denied applications to the AAO. See 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e)(23)(ix). Although the Applicant filed an appeal subsequent to the Director's denial of the application, \Ve properly rejected that appeal. The regulation at 8 C.F.R. § 214.l(c)(5) states: Decision in Form 1-129 or 1-539 extension proceedings. Where an applicant or petitioner demonstrates eligibility for a requested extension, it may be granted at the discretion of the Service. There is no appeal.from the denial of an application for extension of stayfiled on Form 1-129 or 1-539. (Emphasis added.) Additionally 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(6) states that we may only consider an appeal from a motion ifthe original decision was appealable before us. Such is not the case in the matter at hand. We did not en in rejecting the appeal, and because the Petitioner filed a combined motion on an appeal of an application over which we have no jurisdiction, we properly denied the previous combined motion. Because the Petitioner has once again filed a combined motion on an appeal of an application over which we have no jurisdiction, the combined motion must be denied. 1 ORDER: The motion to reopen is denied. FURTHER ORDER: The motion to reconsider is denied. Cite as Matter of L-0-, Inc., ID# 108962 (AAO Jan. 13, 20 17) 1 When we reject an appeal, there is no merits-based decision to reopen or reconsider. 2
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