dismissed E-2

dismissed E-2 Case: Pet Supplies

📅 Date unknown 👤 Company 📂 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)

Sign up free to download the original PDF

View Full Decision Text
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 
Using this case in a petition? Let MeritDraft draft the argument →

Avoid the mistakes that led to this denial

MeritDraft learns from dismissed cases so your petition avoids the same pitfalls. Get arguments built on winning precedents.

Avoid This in My Petition →

No credit card required. Generate your first petition draft in minutes.