Zhang v. United States Department of State
- Van Keulen
- 5:26-cv-00562
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 1
In Yuchen Zhang v. United States Department of State, Judge Van Keulen scheduled a hearing on defendants’ motion to dismiss or transfer venue.
Yuchen Zhang, the defendants, and their counsel are affected because the court scheduled the hearing and required counsel to prepare answers to the identified venue questions.
What happened
In Yuchen Zhang v. United States Department of State, the defendants asked the court to dismiss the case or transfer it to another venue. The order does not describe the underlying claims or decide that motion.
The court scheduled an in-person hearing for September 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. It directed counsel to be prepared to address whether Zhang’s approved Form I-140 affects whether venue is proper in the Northern District of California and whether Zhang’s location outside the United States when the case was filed matters.
Judge Susan Van Keulen issued the order. The court did not grant or deny the motion to dismiss or transfer; it only set the hearing and identified questions for counsel.
The detailed version
- Zhang v. United States Department of State · No. 5:26-cv-00562
- Van Keulen
- Sept. 1, 2026
Order and procedural posture
The court set an in-person hearing on the defendants’ motion to dismiss or, alternatively, to transfer venue. The hearing is scheduled for September 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The order does not rule on either requested disposition.
Questions for the hearing
The court noted that Zhang submitted evidence of an approved Form I-140. It directed counsel to address whether that approval has significance for deciding whether venue is proper in the Northern District of California. The court specifically asked whether the approved Form I-140 could show that Zhang took steps under the immigration laws that objectively manifest an intent to become a permanent resident of the United States and therefore could claim residency for purposes of establishing venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c)(1).
The court also directed counsel to address the significance, if any, of Zhang’s being located outside the United States when the action was filed.
Disposition
Judge Susan Van Keulen ordered the hearing and identified issues for counsel to address. The opinion does not state that the motion to dismiss or transfer was granted or denied.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.