WPC> Md%P Hoe<sD:` law[)3  `*c]B.D$eT@@BͽEpBzv樓"f谊/[DTڃ=S/?i[ܿtclsɱiҔy$\Lo*lCnf\Կg˓ÜafSY|v.-dхn:nS(߾WiT@B޲7#P0)ϳwH*K8􉭈1YɕJTea!ATixMԒyWgtM ,̐;\ N2H{YBod3JF-^ Իʪ]d |Ty{ͧ-j#DLF`#@ % 0D 0GK U: 0 U8 nT N= UN? U F ^ w 4   E f a m _7 N^UBb8@ 0U 0 0 0 0 0 0 0c 0: 0C 0Q 0( B 0 0 0 0 0K 0! 0@! 0" 0" 0# 0$ 0N% 0& 0& 0' 00Z( 0<( 0( 0>) 0v) 0`8** 0`-, 0`, 0`, 0`M- 08- 0- 02. 0. 0:/ 0Y0 0_x0 0 0 0j1 0K3 B*4 D/4 D+(5 0S5 D/6 07 067 0 8 0:9 0^L9 0<9 1e9U6K:U>:U*:: 1uk= 72= 0c> 0Nu>HP LaserJet 5/5M - Standard,,,,0X(#$  0  ($XXXX<6X9`("Courier NewTT(:2$ !XHhXXX    =HhXXdd=    0  <4 9Z+ Courier New <6X9`("Courier NewTTXXx6X@DQX@<6X9`(CourierTTXXw6X@QX@vr Z6Times New Roman Regular<4 9Z+.Courier New Regular`w1s L=16X?,}backup3|x TABLE AU U $XDlXXX  =DlXXdd=    1    _InMarch2003,therelevantfunctionsoftheINSwere  transferredtotheDepartmentofHomelandSecurityandreorganized  astheBureauofImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement("_BICE_"). SFor \ simplicitywerefertotheagencythroughoutthisopinionasthe 2 INS.L:\JUDGES\Boudin\TEMPLATE\OPINIONS\ALDRICH.WPT<6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpi- - { $XDlXXX  =DlXXdd=    3    _Thephotographsthat_Syed_Ԁsubmittedincludedimagesofhis  weddingto_Hiraldo_ԀatCityHallinMay1994,ofthecoupledining  with_Syed_smotherathisapartment,andof_Hiraldo_spurported \ birthdaycelebrationinDecember1994,alsoathisapartment.The 2 _IJ_Ԁviewedthesepictureswithskepticism,notingthat_Syed_Ԁworethe X sameclothinginpicturespurportedlytakenondifferentdays.*+ (_2623  ..*G+M (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *D+M (_24   ," hp x ,23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *A+M (_23  ` ) hp x )23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *>+M (_22   &hhp x &23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *;+M (_21   #p x #23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *8+M (_20  h  p x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *5+M (_19   pp x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *2+M (_18    x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  * (_1723  Ԁ*GM (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *DM (_15   ," hp x ,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5   d*AM (_14  ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *>M (_13   &hhp x &23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *;M (_12   #p x #23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *8M (_11  h  p x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *5M (_10   pp x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  (2M &_9    x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  ( &_823  (GM &_7   /%` ` hp x /23   5+ ` hp x 5  (DM &_6   ," hp x ,23   5+ ` hp x 5  (AM &_5  ` ) hp x )23   5+ ` hp x 5  (>M &_4   &hhp x &23   5+ ` hp x 5  (;M &_3   #p x #23   5+ ` hp x 5  (8M &_2  h  p x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  (5M &_1   pp x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  &2M $_    x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  0.Normal<:Definition T<AA:Definition L , 5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 586Definition(''&H1      (&H2    $XDlXXX  =DlXXdd=    2    _Therelevantprovisionsof8U.S.C.1251weretransferred  to8U.S.C.1227onSeptember30,1996.Pub.L.No.104208,110  Stat.3009598.(&H3  (&H4 XXX (&H5  (&H6  20Address8MM6Blockquote , , 5+ ` hp x 5   5+ ` hp x 5,*CITE,dl*CODEKX<6X9`(Courier NewKSY\  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis64Hyperlink    <:FollowedHype    4go2Keyboard KX<6X9`(Courier NewKSY\  `&Times New RomanS <:Preformatted/%  ,Kk %#/KX<6X9`(Courier NewKSY\  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk %#/<:zBottom of 7M(X7  ?Z%2A`Arial?  SY\  `&Times New RomanS7N(X7&  d dL)1dxd'dxd<:zTop of For7P(X7  ?Z%2A`Arial?  SY\  `&Times New RomanS7N(X7L)2dxd0KS.SampleKX<6X9`(Courier NewKSY\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKX<6X9`(Courier NewKSY\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB  $%&()*+, 35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.<6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial   5# ' Turner0Turner .   3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)\i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  (O$ !XDlXXX  _TRY,3'X3' Letter 3' Letter3'T ? * ! X$XXXDl 6X X$     UnitedStatesCourtofAppeals S 6  FortheFirstCircuit  R S XDlX R  A') ` dE< ` A   No.031715 K     `     h @xx!_HASEEB_ԀSULTAN_SYED_,  G  @XX%Petitioner,   @tt)v. O  @#JOHNASHCROFT, K  @XX%Respondent.  A') ` dE<R` A S @ PETITIONFORREVIEWOFANORDER 8   OFTHEBOARDOFIMMIGRATIONAPPEALS ^ A') ` dE<` A  @'Before u @ Torruella,CircuitJudge, !q   Campbell,SeniorCircuitJudge,and G Lipez,CircuitJudge.  A') ` dE<N ` A O "       JamesP._Duggan_forpetitioner. 4!$   PeterD._Keisler_,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,CivilDivision,  "Z% MaryJane_Candaux_,SeniorLitigationCounsel,OfficeofImmigration "0& Litigation,andJamesE.Grimes,Attorney,OfficeofImmigration #' Litigation,forrespondent. $( *'ddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,( dd ,( dd ,( dd +  '^"+'^"  SIr'",  @38313 @SNovember23,2004 H(#.  RHC)n$/"  @38313  @ R(r'"0  (  * !    + '2? _   8DlXXdd8*,X` XX* ` LIPEZ,CircuitJudge .PetitionerHaseebSultanSyed  challengesafindingbyanImmigrationJudge,affirmedbytheBoard x ofImmigrationAppeals,thatheenteredintohisfirstmarriagefor $t thesolepurposeofobtaininganimmigrationbenefitandisthus   ineligibleforanadjustmentofstatustothatoflawfulpermanent |  residentonthebasisofhissubsequentmarriage.Forthereasons ( x  setforthbelow,weaffirm. $     @` I.     ` HaseebSultanSyed(Syed),acitizenofPakistan,entered H  theUnitedStatesonFebruary15,1994withpermissiontoremain D untilFebruary19,1994.Hestayedinthecountrypastthis  deadline,marryingCarmenHiraldo(Hiraldo),aUnitedStates L citizen,onMay13,1994.HiraldofiledavisapetitionforSyed, H whichwasapprovedinOctober1994,andSyedappliedtoadjusthis  statustothatoflawfulpermanentresidentbasedonthevisa. P  ` Hiraldosubsequentlywithdrewhervisapetitionin L January1995,claimingthatsheandSyedhadneverlivedtogether.   Accordingly,onFebruary13,1995,theINS #  1      ׀deniedSyed'spetition T!" foranadjustmentofstatusandinstituteddeportationproceedings #P$ onthegroundsthathewasanalienwhosoughttoprocure $& immigrationbenefitsthroughfraud,8U.S.C.1251(a)(1)(A) X&!( (1994);= #  2      ׀8U.S.C.1182(a)(6)(C)(1),andthathehadremainedin  theUnitedStateslongerthanpermitted,8U.S.C.1251(a)(1)(B) \ (1994). X  ` InhearingsbeforeanImmigrationJudge(IJ)between1995   and1997,Syedofferedtestimonialanddocumentaryevidence `  allegingthatheandHiraldohadenjoyedabonafidemarriageprior  \  totheirdivorceinAugust1995.TheIJrejectedthisevidence,   concludingthatSyed'stestimony"lack[ed]theringoftruth."The d  IJalsoquestionedwhetherphotographsthatSyedpresentedas `  evidenceofthemarriagehadbeenstaged. #  3      ׀OnSeptember15,1997,   theIJissuedadecisionfindingthatSyedhadremainedinthe h UnitedStateslongerthanpermittedandhadenteredintomarriage d solelytogainanimmigrationbenefit.TheIJorderedSyed  deportedanddeniedhisrequestforvoluntarydeparture.Syedthen l appealedtotheBoardofImmigrationAppeals(BIA). h  ` WhileSyed'sappealtotheBIAwaspending,hissecond  wife,FatimaGillSyed(whomhemarriedlessthanonemonthafter p  hisdivorcefromHiraldo),filedanimmediaterelativevisa !l" petitiononhisbehalf.TheINSapprovedthevisainSeptember  1998,andSyedsubsequentlyrequestedthattheBIAremandhiscase \ toallowhimtoapplyforanadjustmentofstatusbasedonthe X visa.TheBIAgrantedSyed'smotiononMarch6,2000,remanding   thecasetotheIJtoconsiderwhetherSyedwaseligibletoadjust `  hisstatusandwithinstructionsthatSyedbegivenafurther  \  opportunitytopresentevidencethathisfirstmarriagewasbona   fide. d   ` Onremand,theIJfoundthatSyedwasineligibleforan `  adjustmentofstatusbecauseofhispreviousfraudulentmarriage   andthattheINSshouldnothaveapprovedtheimmediaterelative h visapetitionbecauseSyedhad"previously...soughttobe d accorded,animmediaterelativeorpreferencestatusasthespouse  ofacitizenoftheUnitedStates...byreasonofamarriage l determinedbytheAttorneyGeneraltohavebeenenteredintofor h thepurposeofevadingtheimmigrationlaws."8U.S.C.  1154(c)(1).However,theIJcertifiedthequestionofwhether p  Syed'sfirstmarriagewasfraudulenttotheBIApursuanttoSyed's !l" previouslyfiledappeal. "$  ` TheBIAaffirmedboththeIJ'sSeptember1997conclusion t$& thatSyed'sfirstmarriagewasfraudulentandtheIJ'sDecember  &p!( 2000conclusionthatSyedwasineligibleforastatusadjustmenton '#*  thisbasis. x)$,  ` Syednowappeals.Hedoesnotdisputethatafraudulent   firstmarriagewouldrenderhimineligibleforanadjustmentof \ status.Rather,hisappealisbasedsolelyontheclaimthatthe X IJandBIAerroneouslyconcludedthatheenteredintohisfirst   marriageforthepurposeofobtainingimmigrationbenefits.XDlXX XDl `     @` II.   \  "# ` Ourreviewoffactualfindingsandcredibility $  determinationsbyanIJisdeferential.Mendesv.INS,197F.3d6,   13(1stCir.1999);AlvarezFloresv.INS,909F.2d1,3(1stCir. ,|  1990).WewillupholdtheBIA'saffirmanceofanIJ'sdecisionso ( longasitis"supportedbyreasonable,substantial,andprobative  evidenceontherecordconsideredasawhole."INSv.Elias 0 Zacarias,502U.S.478,481(1992)(internalquotationsand , citationomitted).# XDlXXXDl"#XDlXX XDlԀInotherwords,toprevail,Syedmust  demonstratethattheevidencehepresentedwas socompellingthat 4 noreasonablefactfindercouldfailtofindthathehadabona 0 fidemarriage.Mendes,197F.3dat13(quotingEliasZacarias,   502U.S.at48384). 8!"    III. "4$ ' ` TheIJ'sfindingthatSyed'sfirstmarriagewasnotbona $& fiderestedonmultiplegrounds:thatdocumentssubmittedonSyeds X&!( behalfwerefraudulent,thatSyed'sowntestimonywasinconsistent (T#* andnotcredible,andthatphotographsSyedsubmittedappearedto )%, havebeenstaged.Syedarguesfirstthattheseconclusionswere \+&. erroneous,andsecond,thatthejudgeincorrectlyconsidered  HiraldoandSyedssubsequentdivorceinassessingwhetherthe \ marriagewasfraudulent.Weaddresseachclaiminturn. X  ` SyedassertsthathismarriagetoHiraldowas basedupon   mutualattractionandromanticlove,notimmigration `  considerations.Insupportofthisposition,hereiteratesthathe  \   knewtheparticularsof[Hiraldos]lifeandrefersto   photographsthatdocumenttheirlifetogether.TheIJdidnot d  considertheseavermentstobesufficientevidenceofabonafide `  marriage,particularlyinviewofthecourtsadversecredibility   determinationanditsconclusionthatthephotographswerestaged. h Syedchallengesbothassessments,arguingthattheIJimproperly d dismissedthephotographsas notconvincingand didnotstate  anyreasonsforhisdeterminationthat[Syeds]testimonywasnot l credible.Weareunpersuadedonbothcounts. h  ` Becausetheimmigrationjudgeisinthebestpositionto  evaluateanalienstestimony,hisorhercredibility p  determinationsaretobegivenmuchweight.Estradav.INS,775 !l" F.2d1018,1021(9thCir.1985)(internalquotationmarksomitted). "$ Thus,wedefertoanIJ'scredibilityfindingsolongastheIJ t$& "offer[s]aspecific,cogentreasonfor[his]disbelief."# XDlXXXDl&#XDlXX XDlԀMihaylov  &p!( v.Ashcroft,379F.3d15,21(1stCir.2004)(citingQinv. '#* Ashcroft,360F.3d302,306(1stCir.2004)).Withoutsuchan x)$, explanation,wewouldbeunabletoconductaproperreviewofthe $+t&. IJ'sdecision.Gailiusv.INS,147F.3d34,4647(1stCir.1998);  seealso# XDlXXXDl0#XDlXX XDlԀMihaylov,379F.3dat2021. \  ` Here,despiteSyedsprotestationstothecontrary,the X IJdidofferaspecificreasonfortheadversecredibilityfinding.   Syedsstatusadjustmentapplicationincludedaletter,purportedly `  signedbyastoremanager,indicatingthatHiraldoworkedata7  \  ElevenstoreadjacenttoSyed'sapartmentduringtheirmarriage.   SyedassertedinahearingbeforetheIJthatHiraldosubmittedthe d  letterwithouthisknowledge.# XDlXXXDl2#XDlXX XDlԀHowever,whenHiraldowithdrewthe `  visapetition,shestatedthatshehadneverseentheletter;# XDlXXXDl\5#XDlXX XDlԀa   witnessalsotestifiedduringtheimmigrationproceedingsthat h HiraldowasunemployedwhilesheandSyedweremarried.# XDlXXXDl6#XDlXX XDlԀBasedon d thisevidence,theIJconcludedthattheletterwasfraudulentand  thatSyed'sdisavowalofanyresponsibilityforitunderminedhis l credibility.Syedhasnotdirectlyaddressedthisfindingon h appeal.   ` AlthoughtheIJdidnotspecifyotherbasesforthe p  credibilitydetermination,itmaywellhavebeeninformedbythe !l" vaguenessandinconsistencyinSyedstestimony.Therecord "$ reflectsthatSyedwasunabletorecallwherehehadproposedto t$& Hiraldoandthathegavevaryingaccountsofwhentheymovedin  &p!( together.Infact,theIJnotedthatwhileSyedclaimedthathe '#* andHiraldohadlivedtogether,Hiraldoassertedwhenshewithdrew x)$, thevisapetitionthattheyhadneverlivedtogether.Again,such $+t&. contradictoryclaimsprovidesubstantialevidencefortheIJs  adversecredibilitydetermination. \  ` SyedalsoconteststheIJsfindingthatthephotographs X werenotpersuasiveevidenceofabonafidemarriage.Sucha   challenge,standingalone,isnotasufficientbasisuponwhichto `  disturbtheIJsdecision.TheIJnotedthatSyedworethesame  \  clothesinseveralofthepicturespurportedlytakenondifferent   days.TherecordalsoreflectsthatSyedsmotherandHiraldowere d  alsowearingthesameclothing,andappearedtobeeatingthesame `  food,inmultiplepicturesthatSyedclaimedweretakenon   differentoccasions.Together,thesefactorsprovidedsubstantial h evidencefortheIJsconclusionthat [t]hephotographsin d themselvesarenotconvincingevidenceoftheviabilityofthe  marriage. l  ` Finally,SyedarguesthattheIJimproperlyconsidered h thefactthatthemarriagehaddissolvedafterHiraldofiledthe  visapetition.ThispositionisbasedontheIJsstatementthat p   [t]hereisno...evidencepresented...toestablishan !l" ongoingconjugalrelationship.... "$  ` Syedcorrectlynotesthat# XDlXXXDl6#XDlXX XDlsubsequentseparationdoesnot, t$& byitself,renderamarriageinvalidfromitsinception.SeeBark  &p!( v.INS,511F.2d1200,1202(9thCir.1975)( Theinferencethat '#* thepartiesneverintendedabonafidemarriagefromproofof x)$, separationisarbitraryunlesswearereasonablyassuredthatitis $+t&. moreprobablethannotthatcoupleswhoseparateaftermarriage  neverintendedtolivetogether.);seealsoDabaghianv. \ Civiletti,607F.2d868(9thCir.1979)(similar).ButtheIJs X decisiondidnotstateotherwise.Althoughthereferencetoan    ongoingconjugalrelationshipispotentiallymisleading,wedo `  notreadittomeanthatSyedhadtoestablishapresentlyongoing  \  relationship.Rather,viewedincontext, ongoingclearly   referredtotheperiodoftimewhenSyedcontendsthatheand d  Hiraldoenjoyedabonafidemarriage.Thereisnoevidencethat `  theIJconsideredthecouplesseparationinassessingthebona   fidesoftheirmarriage,asidefromHiraldossubsequentassertion h that,infact,sheandSyedhadneverlivedtogetheratall.This d isnotthetypeofimpermissibleinferencefromseparation  addressedinBark;Hiraldo'sexplicitstatementunderminesboththe l validityofthemarriagefromitsinceptionandthecredibilityof h Syedstestimonytothecontrary.   `  Affirmed. # XDlXXXDl?A#G  S p   W$%&()*+,(03\