8 C.F.R. § 216.3

Termination of conditional resident status

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(a) During the two-year conditional period. The director shall send a formal written notice to the conditional permanent resident of the termination of the alien's conditional permanent resident status if the director determines that any of the conditions set forth in section 216(b)(1) or 216A(b)(1) of the Act, whichever is applicable, are true, or it becomes known to the government that an alien entrepreneur who was admitted pursuant to section 203(b)(5) of the Act obtained his or her investment capital through other than legal means (such as through the sale of illegal drugs). If the Service issues a notice of intent to terminate an alien's conditional resident status, the director shall not adjudicate Form I-751 or Form I-829 until it has been determined that the alien's status will not be terminated. During this time, the alien shall continue to be a lawful conditional permanent resident with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities provided to persons possessing such status. Prior to issuing the notice of termination, the director shall provide the alien with an opportunity to review and rebut the evidence upon which the decision is to be based, in accordance with § 103.2(b)(2) of this chapter. The termination of status, and all of the rights and privileges concomitant thereto (including authorization to accept or continue in employment in this country), shall take effect as of the date of such determination by the director, although the alien may request a review of such determination in removal proceedings. In addition to the notice of termination, the director shall issue a notice to appear in accordance with 8 CFR part 239. During the ensuing removal proceedings, the alien may submit evidence to rebut the determination of the director. The burden of proof shall be on the Service to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that one or more of the conditions in section 216(b)(1) or 216A(b)(1) of the Act, whichever is applicable, are true, or that an alien entrepreneur who was admitted pursuant to section 203(b)(5) of the Act obtained his or her investment capital through other than legal means (such as through the sale of illegal drugs).

(b) Determination of fraud after two years. If, subsequent to the removal of the conditional basis of an alien's permanent resident status, the director determines that an alien spouse obtained permanent resident status through a marriage which was entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws or an alien entrepreneur obtained permanent resident status through a commercial enterprise which was improper under section 216A(b)(1) of the Act, the director may institute rescission proceedings pursuant to section 246 of the Act (if otherwise appropriate) or removal proceedings under section 240 of the Act.

[62 FR 10349, Mar. 6, 1997]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: STOWERS
STOWERS (1999) bia · cites it 9× “See 8 C.F.R. § 216.3 (a). Nonetheless, the Immigration Judge declined to terminate proceedings because the Service had lodged the substitute allegation that the respondent had obtained a divorce from his wife.”
Mahmoud v. Gonzales (2007) ca1 “3537 (1986); see also 8 C.F.R. § 216.3 (b). Pertinently, if it were found that Mahmoud had in fact entered into this marriage simply to defeat removal, he would be ineligible for an adjustment of status from removable alien to permanent resident.”
Derrick John Wallace v. Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2015) ca11 “Nothing in this section shall entitle an alien to proceedings under [INA § 240] who is not otherwise so entitled.”
Kadim v. Holder (2014) ca10 “605, 612 (BIA 1999); see also 8 C.F.R. § 216.3 (a) (“The termination of status .”
Maerker v. Ashcroft (2004) ca9 · cites it 4× “2 (b)(16)(i) and 8 C.F.R. § 216.3 (a). 2 After the termination of his marriage to Susan Massaro, upon which his conditional permanent resident status was based, Maerker applied for a § 216(c)(4)(B) waiver of the joint petition filing requirement.”
Balogun v. Mayorkas (2025) ded “8 C.F.R. § 216.3 . Within 90 days of the second anniversary of the noncitizen’s receipt of CLPR status, the noncitizen and her spouse are required to file a joint Form I-751 petition that establishes that: (1) the marriage was legal where it took place; (2) the marriage has not…”
Juan Manuel Delgado v. Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security; Kika Scott, Director, United States (2026) hid “§ 1186a(c)(3)(D); see also 8 C.F.R. § 216.3 (a) (stating that, upon termination of CPR status, “the alien may request a review of such determination in removal proceedings”).”
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