No one can deny that immigrants always face various challenges during their stay in the United States. From securing a home to finding a job, it’s hard to imagine the pressure that they experience. However, while obtaining citizenship can relieve most of the stress, some immigrants prefer the easy route and lie about their status. What starts as a little lie can quickly become perjury, which can have serious consequences. But that begs the question — what happens if I lied about being a United States citizen?
What Happens If I Lied About Being a United States Citizen and What Can I Do About it?
Even though there are many situations in which people could lie about their citizenship, some are more dangerous than others. For instance, telling a friend that you are a citizen is not as bad as checking the US citizen form on your tax statement. To better understand the consequences, we need to take a look at each particular situation.
I-9 Employment Form
Each employee needs to submit an I-9 employment form to his employer before starting work. The form contains specific boxes regarding citizenship status and eligibility to work. Under no circumstances should you check off the US citizen box in order to obtain work if you are not a US citizen. And if you have a Green Card or Work Permit, there are specific fields that you can check off instead.
If you lie about your citizenship on the I-9 form, you are committing perjury and may face deportation. Not only that but you can also get banned from working in the United States in the future.
Loan Applications
Federal loans, and even some state and private loans, require US citizenship as a condition of eligibility. As a result, it is important to check the requirements before applying for any type of financial aid. Non citizens that lie about their US citizenship on loan applications face deportation and criminal charges for fraud and theft.
Voter Registration
In order to be able to vote, you need to be a US citizen. For instance, in some states, you can state your citizenship by simply signing the voter application form. In contrast, other states require you to check a specific box to indicate your citizenship. Nonetheless, permanent residents, such as Green Card holders, are still ineligible to vote, no matter what some campaign workers might tell you.
If you attempt to vote without being a US citizen, you risk deportation and criminal charges. Therefore, our advice is to check your local election board or office and see if you can find your name on the voter lists. And if that’s the case, ask for its removal immediately to avoid possible charges.
Passport Application
Generally speaking, US passports are only available to people who have valid citizenship. By presenting a fake birth certificate or other citizenship evidence, not only do you face deportation, but also criminal charges. The same thing applies if you are in the process of obtaining your passport or other government-issued documents. And in some cases, you even risk getting banned from the United States for the foreseeable future.
The Bottom Line
What happens if I lied about being a United States citizen? More often than not, it results in your deportation and a complete ban from the United States. Even worse, sometimes, you might face charges for fraud and other crimes that have long-lasting consequences. Therefore, you should always be honest with your status and never lie to get any benefit. Also, keep in mind that getting your own Green Card will make you a lawful citizen, giving you a variety of rights and benefits.
Other Immigration Topics You Will Want to Read
What Happens if I Worked Illegally?
How Can I Get a Work Permit as an Immigrant?
Is There Medical Help for Illegal Immigrants?
