Interim .Decisicin *1474
Manna or Avarks SAVALA In Deportation Proceedings 4-18228424- Decided by B oard March 10, 1965. . . 'Respondent'il• misrepresentations as to marital stated and the existence of • minor' Oilmen were material under section 212(0 (19), Immigration and Nationality Act, since the facts, including respondent's pending divorce suit, his love for his -cousin who also' had it) visa application pending, and his )desire to marry .her in the United Sta- , , if revealed to the consul, might \have resulted in a finding of excludability under section 21804(18) of the Act. [Matter of M—B—, 9 L & N. Dee. 802, and Matter of J—D—D—, 9 L & N. Dec. 888, distinguished.] .thseasze• Order: Act of 1952—Section 241(a) (1) (8 U.S.C. 1251(a) (1)1—Excludable at entry—Visa procured ty misrepresentation of material. fact. Act of 1952—Section 241(a) (1) '[8 1111(I , 1251(a) (1)1—Excludable at entry, :Na valid Vial.-
' The "Service appeals from the order of the special inquiry officer terminating proceedings. The appeal will be sustained. Respondent, a 40-year-old married male, a native and citizen of Peru, was admitted to the United States on March .16, 1962, upon surrender of a non-quota immigrant visa issued -to him on Jan-, nary 18, 1962, at Lima, Pin'. The Service charges that the re- . spondent obtained his visa by misrepresenting, a material fact, when he showed himself to be without wife and children whereas, in fact, he was married and had four minor children.- Respondent married in Peru on. May 19, 1950. He did not estab- lish a separate home for his, wife; for a time they lived with her parents. They separated sometime before 1985, but had marital re- lations until that year. There are four minors of the union. About 1959 or 1960, respondent and his cousin Dora. Mercado decided they would like to get married. The law did not bar such marriage but respondent was unable to obtain. a divorce from his wife because she
190 Interim Decision #1474 demanded too much money. Dora made up her mind that she could not continue living in. Peru near the respondent while he was not free to marry. She decided to come to the United States; respondent decided he would also come and that he urOuld marry Dora when he was free to do so. On October 3, 1961, the respondent filed an action for divorce against his wife. (As of October 10, 1963, the divorce had not been granted although it appeared to be ready for a decision upon the petition of the interested party.) Both respondent and Dora •applied for visas in 1962. Respondent stated he represented. himself as being single because it was his intention to marry in the United States and because he thought the court action would solve the situa- tion. Respondent and Dora left Peru by dilrerea airports primarily to prevent her parents from knowing that he was going to the United States with her. Upon arrival in the United States they began liv- ing together as husband and wife; about 20 days after arrival, upon learning that Dora. was pregnant, respondent married her (April 12, 1962). Two children were born of this union. Respondent• alleges that he sends $95.00 a month for the support of his children in Peru; his wife has charged him before Peruvian officials -with abandonment: The respondent's actions came to light after his wife had informed the United States Consul at Lima, Peru that respondent had traveled to the United States with a woman and might try to marry her here. The special inquiry officer held that respondent had made a wilful misrepresentation as to his marital Status and the existence of chil- dren, but that since the true facts would not have revealed that he was within, the excluding provisions of section 212(a) of the Act and since in several decisions, the Board has held that similar misrepre- sentations had not cut off a line of inquiry relevant to an alien's eligibility,-;the; proceedings should be terminated.. The special in- quiry Officer did not consider 'it a distinguishing factor that the re- spondent intended marrying his cousin in the United States. The Service contends. that the information withheld from the consul was material to the issuance of the visa because (1) had the consul known of the respondent's dependents, he would not have issued 'a visa without having been satisfied that respondent had the -ability to•suppoit his family — an ability that the respondent was in no position to establish; (2) abandonment of children may involve • moral turpitude and since there was the possibility that respondent was-abandoning his children, consul could have refused to issue a visa; and- (3) had consul known the facts, he would have refused to issue a $isa on the grand of one since respondent was coming to the United States for an immoral purpose. 197 Interim Decision #1474 Counsel contends that Board precedents in similar situations re- quire a finding that merely leaving behind children who were later supported • did not constitute abandonment (Matter of M R , 9 – –
I. 84 N. Dec. 802). He contends that since there was neither an abandonment nor prosecution for abandonment before the respond- ent left there could have been no question of denying respondent a visa because of the possible commission of a crime birdying moral turpitude. Counsel contends the record does not establish it was the respondent's purpose to bring his cousin to the United States as a concubine since the record does establish that he intended to marry her as coon as ho was legally free to do so he having already started divorce proceedings to free himself: Counsel contends that in any event, respondent is not charged with having entered the United States for an immoral purpose, and it would have made no dif- ference to his eligibility for the issuance of a visa had the informa- tion been known. Matter of S B — and C—, 9 I. ez .N. Dec. 436, —
and Matter of Martinez Lopes, Int. Dee. No. 1312, are cited. -
To permit a finding that the misrepresentation was not material, the respondent must establish that he was not inadmissible to the United States on the true facts and that his misrepresentation did not cut off an inquiry which might have properly resulted in a denial of the visa (Matter of S B and C , supra, at 448 9). — — — -
Respondent and his present wife testified in% frank and coopera- tive manner in their pre-hearing statements. • (Counsel refused to permit respondent to testify at the hearing (p. 22).) The respondent had never been arrested in Peru. There is no reason to doubt re- spondent's testimony that when he left for the United States with his cousin, he did not intend to marry her until his divorce became final. In• deciding whether inquiry might have revealed a ground of in- admissibility, an absolute defence is not presented by showing that the applicant may not have been inadmissible; the important factor is how the case would have appeared to the consul had he been in possession of all the facts at the time application was made. If having been in possession of all the facts, it would have appeared probable to the consul that respondent was inadmissible, then the concealment of those facts was a material matter (Matter of S B-- —
and C , supra, at 449-50). Certainly, with information that the —
respondent, a married man with a family, was leaving the family, consul would have- questioned respondent about his plans for his family, and could have learned of the respondent's separation from his wife, the pendency of the divorce suit and failure to prosecute it, respondent's love for his cousin who too had her visa application
198 Interim Decision #1474 pending and his desire to marry her in the United States.
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Interim .Decisicin *1474
Manna or Avarks SAVALA In Deportation Proceedings 4-18228424- Decided by B oard March 10, 1965. . . 'Respondent'il• misrepresentations as to marital stated and the existence of • minor' Oilmen were material under section 212(0 (19), Immigration and Nationality Act, since the facts, including respondent's pending divorce suit, his love for his -cousin who also' had it) visa application pending, and his )desire to marry .her in the United Sta- , , if revealed to the consul, might \have resulted in a finding of excludability under section 21804(18) of the Act. [Matter of M—B—, 9 L & N. Dee. 802, and Matter of J—D—D—, 9 L & N. Dec. 888, distinguished.] .thseasze• Order: Act of 1952—Section 241(a) (1) (8 U.S.C. 1251(a) (1)1—Excludable at entry—Visa procured ty misrepresentation of material. fact. Act of 1952—Section 241(a) (1) '[8 1111(I , 1251(a) (1)1—Excludable at entry, :Na valid Vial.-
' The "Service appeals from the order of the special inquiry officer terminating proceedings. The appeal will be sustained. Respondent, a 40-year-old married male, a native and citizen of Peru, was admitted to the United States on March .16, 1962, upon surrender of a non-quota immigrant visa issued -to him on Jan-, nary 18, 1962, at Lima, Pin'. The Service charges that the re- . spondent obtained his visa by misrepresenting, a material fact, when he showed himself to be without wife and children whereas, in fact, he was married and had four minor children.- Respondent married in Peru on. May 19, 1950. He did not estab- lish a separate home for his, wife; for a time they lived with her parents. They separated sometime before 1985, but had marital re- lations until that year. There are four minors of the union. About 1959 or 1960, respondent and his cousin Dora. Mercado decided they would like to get married. The law did not bar such marriage but respondent was unable to obtain. a divorce from his wife because she
190 Interim Decision #1474 demanded too much money. Dora made up her mind that she could not continue living in. Peru near the respondent while he was not free to marry. She decided to come to the United States; respondent decided he would also come and that he urOuld marry Dora when he was free to do so. On October 3, 1961, the respondent filed an action for divorce against his wife. (As of October 10, 1963, the divorce had not been granted although it appeared to be ready for a decision upon the petition of the interested party.) Both respondent and Dora •applied for visas in 1962. Respondent stated he represented. himself as being single because it was his intention to marry in the United States and because he thought the court action would solve the situa- tion. Respondent and Dora left Peru by dilrerea airports primarily to prevent her parents from knowing that he was going to the United States with her. Upon arrival in the United States they began liv- ing together as husband and wife; about 20 days after arrival, upon learning that Dora. was pregnant, respondent married her (April 12, 1962). Two children were born of this union. Respondent• alleges that he sends $95.00 a month for the support of his children in Peru; his wife has charged him before Peruvian officials -with abandonment: The respondent's actions came to light after his wife had informed the United States Consul at Lima, Peru that respondent had traveled to the United States with a woman and might try to marry her here. The special inquiry officer held that respondent had made a wilful misrepresentation as to his marital Status and the existence of chil- dren, but that since the true facts would not have revealed that he was within, the excluding provisions of section 212(a) of the Act and since in several decisions, the Board has held that similar misrepre- sentations had not cut off a line of inquiry relevant to an alien's eligibility,-;the; proceedings should be terminated.. The special in- quiry Officer did not consider 'it a distinguishing factor that the re- spondent intended marrying his cousin in the United States. The Service contends. that the information withheld from the consul was material to the issuance of the visa because (1) had the consul known of the respondent's dependents, he would not have issued 'a visa without having been satisfied that respondent had the -ability to•suppoit his family — an ability that the respondent was in no position to establish; (2) abandonment of children may involve • moral turpitude and since there was the possibility that respondent was-abandoning his children, consul could have refused to issue a visa; and- (3) had consul known the facts, he would have refused to issue a $isa on the grand of one since respondent was coming to the United States for an immoral purpose. 197 Interim Decision #1474 Counsel contends that Board precedents in similar situations re- quire a finding that merely leaving behind children who were later supported • did not constitute abandonment (Matter of M R , 9 – –
I. 84 N. Dec. 802). He contends that since there was neither an abandonment nor prosecution for abandonment before the respond- ent left there could have been no question of denying respondent a visa because of the possible commission of a crime birdying moral turpitude. Counsel contends the record does not establish it was the respondent's purpose to bring his cousin to the United States as a concubine since the record does establish that he intended to marry her as coon as ho was legally free to do so he having already started divorce proceedings to free himself: Counsel contends that in any event, respondent is not charged with having entered the United States for an immoral purpose, and it would have made no dif- ference to his eligibility for the issuance of a visa had the informa- tion been known. Matter of S B — and C—, 9 I. ez .N. Dec. 436, —
and Matter of Martinez Lopes, Int. Dee. No. 1312, are cited. -
To permit a finding that the misrepresentation was not material, the respondent must establish that he was not inadmissible to the United States on the true facts and that his misrepresentation did not cut off an inquiry which might have properly resulted in a denial of the visa (Matter of S B and C , supra, at 448 9). — — — -
Respondent and his present wife testified in% frank and coopera- tive manner in their pre-hearing statements. • (Counsel refused to permit respondent to testify at the hearing (p. 22).) The respondent had never been arrested in Peru. There is no reason to doubt re- spondent's testimony that when he left for the United States with his cousin, he did not intend to marry her until his divorce became final. In• deciding whether inquiry might have revealed a ground of in- admissibility, an absolute defence is not presented by showing that the applicant may not have been inadmissible; the important factor is how the case would have appeared to the consul had he been in possession of all the facts at the time application was made. If having been in possession of all the facts, it would have appeared probable to the consul that respondent was inadmissible, then the concealment of those facts was a material matter (Matter of S B-- —
and C , supra, at 449-50). Certainly, with information that the —
respondent, a married man with a family, was leaving the family, consul would have- questioned respondent about his plans for his family, and could have learned of the respondent's separation from his wife, the pendency of the divorce suit and failure to prosecute it, respondent's love for his cousin who too had her visa application
198 Interim Decision #1474 pending and his desire to marry her in the United States. Consul could then well have refused to issue a visa on the ground that there was reason to believe that the respondent was coming to the United States for an immoral purpose; i.e., to enter into a relationship which amounted to concubinage (section 212(a) (13) of the Act; Hansen v. Half, 291 U.S. 559 (1931) ). Natter of M—R—, 9 I. & N. Dec. 602, relied upon by the speCial inquiry officer and counsel concerned a widow with three children who applied for a visa in her maiden name concealing the fact that she had been married. and that she had children; it is distinguishable because the element of entering for an immoral purpose was absent. Matter of S—B— and C—, ewe, referred to generally by counsel is consistent with the position we take. In Matter 'of Martinez- Lopez It Dec. No. 1232, cited by the special inquiry officer and counsel, concerned an alien who in applying for a visa had furnished. a forged offer of employment: The misrepresentation was found not material because nothing an investigation could have brought to light would have revealed the possible grozmd of inadmissibility; in the instant case, a possible ground could well have been revealed. In Matter of J—D—D--, 9 L & N. Dec. 636, relied upon by the special inquiry officer and counsel, the alien indicated she was single when in fact she was married and had two children. She was sep- arated from her husband at the time she made application. There was no showing that inquiry based upon the true-facts would have revealed a possible ground of inadmissibility - There was nothing to show she was coming to the United States to live with anyone. We find that respondent has failed to bear his burden of estab- lishing that his misrepresentation was not material; the charges must be sustained. The respondent having failed to establish that his extramarital relations do not constitute adultery appears ineligible for voluntary departure. His deportation must be ordered. ORDER: It is ordered that the appeal of the Service be and the same is.lulreby sustained. It is farther ordered that respondent be depoited from the :United States to Venezuela on the charge contained in the order to show. MMES. .
It is further ordered that if the aforenamed country advises the Attorney General that it is unwilling to accept the "respondent into its terrinity or fails to advise the Attorney General within three . Monthsflwigranquyhetiwlornacept the respondent into its territory, respondent shall be deported to Peru.