The Third Circuit has found that the Board of Immigration Appeals acted outside its authority when it certified a late appeal of a case granting adjustment of status to a non-citizen. The Court noted that once the 30-day appeal period had run, the applicant’s permanent residency status was final as a matter of law, and the executive branch had to utilize the provisions of the rescission statute if it wished to claw back that status. It was improper for the Board to circumvent the statutory rescission process by certifying an appeal of the immigration judge’s decision more than 30 days after if was issued.
The full text of Qatanani v. Attorney General can be found here: