GOORAHOO

Citations

• 20 I. & N. Dec. 782

Syllabus

GOORAHOO, 20 I&N Dec. 782 (BIA 1994) ID 3216 (PDF) (1) In order to obtainpreference status for the beneficiary as his son pursuant to section 203(a)(2)of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1153(a)(2) (1988),a petitioner must establish that the beneficiary qualifies or once qualifiedas his \child\ within the meaning of section 101(b)(1) of theAct, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(b)(1) (1988). (2) When the countrywhere a child is born eliminates all legal distinctions between illegitimateand legitimate children, all natural children are deemed to be the legitimateoffspring of their natural parents from the time that country's laws arechanged. (3) By virtue of theChildren Born Out of Wedlock (Removal of Discrimination) Act, effectiveMay 18, 1983, Guyana has eliminated all legal distinctions between legitimateand illegitimate children. (4) Children born outof wedlock in Guyana after May 18, 1983, and children who are under theage of 18 prior to that date are deemed legitimate and legitimated children,respectively, pursuant to sections 101(b)(1)(A) and (C) of the Act. Matterof Gouveia, 13 I&N Dec. 604 (BIA 1970), modified.