Claimed to be US Citizen

[saf]

Oh my goodness, I did not know the ramifications of my answer. I have never claimed it on paper (and that's what I wrote in my reponse) and that is the truth. It was more if some aquaintance had asked me and it was a casual responce. I have been in the US for close to 30 years, have two kids and I am married to the same US citizen I applied citizenship with. Can they really deport me? I am very scared now, I can't believe this.

1) How did you come to USA? K visa (spouse visa or fiancee visa)?
2) Do you have a green card? If you have a green card, then you will be fine for applying for US citizenship based on 5 years.
2) Did your husband file immigration petition for you long time ago?

I think you should consult an attorney.

 

[Texas Resident]

Yes, sometimes common sense needs to be applied...

I agree with you. I think the OP should have answered no to the question.

 

[Bobsmyth]

Hi Bobsmyth.

I wrote, “The reason I said I was a US Citizen was because it was less complicated. It was verbally and not on paper.” Looking back I should have given a more detailed description, I am truly naïve on these matters. I should have gone to an attorney from the start. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Thank you for your time … I guess I just have to wait now and prepare for an appeal.

The only suggestion I would have for you at this point is to write up a detailed, sworn clarification letter and provide it via Infopass to your IO. It's worth a try to see if USCIS will accept a clarification letter as evidence to your case.

 

[vdostoi1]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your time and reading my post.

On my N-400 I answered truthfully and said I have claimed to be a US Citizen. The IO had me write a sentence down on why I did so and made me sign and date it. He also stamped it and signed it himself. The IO also said he could not make a decision today (by the way, I do not have a criminal record or anything bad for that matter … I thought my case was simple). What gives? Has anyone had this happen – what was your outcome?

Thanks in advance

I agree with the posters. You should not have answered "yes" to this question to begin with. Casual conversation is not something that USCIS cares about. But what's done is done. Submit a letter to USCIS via InfoPass. Feel free to post the letter here to get feedback.

 

[natur08]

I agree with the posters. You should not have answered "yes" to this question to begin with. Casual conversation is not something that USCIS cares about. But what's done is done. Submit a letter to USCIS via InfoPass. Feel free to post the letter here to get feedback.

I would agree with that course of action as well. However, I would strongly encourage the OP to run the draft letter by a good immigration attorney, given that it is going to be a high-stakes document.

 

[sarrebal]

You should not have said yes.
This is what paranoia about "lying" can cause.
Now you will probably not be able to become a US citizen ever, which is not a drama. I just hope they won't find you deportable, which would be a drama, considering your situation.
There's no way they could have ever found out unless you put that in an official govt document.

 

[WBH]

You should not have said yes.
This is what paranoia about "lying" can cause.

We can imagine quite a lot of natualized citizens actually voted before citizenship and they just did not say it.

 

[vdostoi1]

You should not have said yes.
This is what paranoia about "lying" can cause.
Now you will probably not be able to become a US citizen ever, which is not a drama. I just hope they won't find you deportable, which would be a drama, considering your situation.
There's no way they could have ever found out unless you put that in an official govt document.

I doubt she will never become a US citizen. My prediction is that in the worst case scenario, the OP's case will be denied and she will win on appeal. If it goes anywhere else, then I will have lost faith in the justice system in this country.

 

[WBH]

I doubt she will never become a US citizen. My prediction is that in the worst case scenario, the OP's case will be denied and she will win on appeal. If it goes anywhere else, then I will have lost faith in the justice system in this country.

I agree. If the OP was denied simply because she once said she was a citizenpretty much as a joking matter, then I would have a very cynic
attitude about this citizenship business. This citzenship then is a matter
of only practicvity but nothing else left.

I would aslo question the fairness. and I would also think many answers
in civic tests are not true but I just needed to answer them for practical reasons.

 

[sarrebal]

We can imagine quite a lot of natualized citizens actually voted before citizenship and they just did not say it.

That is an actual crime.
Talking to a friend is a private matter.
Do you know how many times I lied to a girl (before I met my wife, lol).
Are those CIMT?
Lies are sometimes necessary.

 

[Mr Vertigo]

Do you work? If so, what legal status have you declared to have? Have you filled out the employment form as a GC holder? If so, you can ask your HR for a copy of that as proof that it was only a casual slip and not a claim to U.S. citizenship to extract undue benefits.

 

[KatyLane]

I guess I’m not making myself clear, US Citizenship for me is extremely important. It is not about just passing a test or just getting a passport. I barely speak another language, English is my language and the US is the only home I know – I have NO allegiance whatsoever to any other country. I came here as a small child without a choice and have been denied an opportunity to be a Citizen merely because the laws said so.

I am in no way being flippant about it but rather just honest. I have met many people that ask, oh where you born here? Well how long have you been here? Then why are you not a citizen? Repeatedly this question has been asked of me from just mere acquaintances during my last 28 years in the US. At one point in my life I was fed up with explanations, my life was private and ultimately none of their business. I had absolutely no gain whatsoever from telling these people this and I should have realized back then that I should have said it was none of their business. But instead I lied, just to quickly dismiss their questioning.

Thank you for your post everyone.

 

[Bobsmyth]

I am doubttful about this info'pass and letter submission method.
As per OPs posting IO has not decided and still a decision is to be made on this.

Until a decision is made on a case, any evidence can influence the outcome of a case. The whole point in submitting the letter is to provide clarification of previous evidence in order to better explain under what circumstances the OP claimed US citizenship..similar to submitting RFE when a decision has yet to be made.

 

[sarrebal]

I guess I’m not making myself clear, US Citizenship for me is extremely important. It is not about just passing a test or just getting a passport. I barely speak another language, English is my language and the US is the only home I know – I have NO allegiance whatsoever to any other country. I came here as a small child without a choice and have been denied an opportunity to be a Citizen merely because the laws said so.

I am in no way being flippant about it but rather just honest. I have met many people that ask, oh where you born here? Well how long have you been here? Then why are you not a citizen? Repeatedly this question has been asked of me from just mere acquaintances during my last 28 years in the US. At one point in my life I was fed up with explanations, my life was private and ultimately none of their business. I had absolutely no gain whatsoever from telling these people this and I should have realized back then that I should have said it was none of their business. But instead I lied, just to quickly dismiss their questioning.

Thank you for your post everyone.

I understand that and it totally makes sense.
The only (costly) thing that doesn't make sense is your disclosure on the N-400 form.

 

[Devi Dewata]

I think you should be ok, providing that you gave this explanation to the IO.

We all should take this as a good lesson: COMMON SENSE is extremely important. Sometimes 'over revealing' can get us into trouble. I'm not saying to lie or to hide anything, but 'casual conversation' should have been treated as it was - it wasn't something that you should submit in your N400 form.

Hope things work out tho.

Devi

 

[Jackolantern]

I am in no way being flippant about it but rather just honest. I have met many people that ask, oh where you born here? Well how long have you been here? Then why are you not a citizen? Repeatedly this question has been asked of me from just mere acquaintances during my last 28 years in the US. At one point in my life I was fed up with explanations, my life was private and ultimately none of their business.

You should have explained it like that in writing at the interview instead of just saying it was to make things less complicated.

But I can understand what you went through. Many Americans think that if you are living here and are not a citizen, you're an illegal alien. Or they think green card = citizenship. I told somebody I got a green card, they said "oh, so you're American now!" Another person at another occasion said "So you're legal now!" (dude, I've always been legal). So sometimes you just say something that isn't exactly true in order to avoid bogging down the conversation with the complexities of immigration law.

 

[WBH]

I understand that and it totally makes sense.
The only (costly) thing that doesn't make sense is your disclosure on the N-400 form.

No offense to the OP but I think the OP grew up in USA and she may not
have some common sense in this respect. She does not know she
should never claim to be a citizen, and if she did she should know informal claiming
on casual occastion should not matter and she should answer No. Neither did she
know a symple Yes answer coould lead to dramatic results


And this is why I always urge
parents to watch out for their non-citizen children and try to get citizenship
for their sake.

 

[Huracan]

From the whole thread I also agree that if that claim to citizenship was only done to acquaintances on casual conversations then the answer in the N-400 should have been No, and the poster shouldn't be in the trouble she is now. I also tend to agree that the application might be denied but that it looks like the chances of winning on appeal seem good. I also agree that it would be wise to start looking for a good lawyer (don't spend money until you know that the application is denied).

 

[WhichWay2Go]

I came here as a small child without a choice and have been denied an opportunity to be a Citizen merely because the laws said so.

Katy,

There has been a lot of good advice given here and also some rather unsettling stuff too.

Here's an old person's take on this. Try to stay calm and think positive as I believe deporting is almost totally out of the list of possible outcomes.

There is no point in self-recriminations for what has been done, whether it was smart, wise, good or bad so get those thoughts out of your head. They are in the past and cannot be undone.

The wheels are in motion as you have already written the statement and handed it to the IO.

Let USCIS handle this first stage and see what transpires then deal with the next step. Who knows it may not be a problem.

I would not be getting and Infopass or writing more letters at this stage as the outcome may be favorable.

I would be looking for a good experienced immigration Lawyer but not hiring them at this stage. Do some solid research and make sure they are well experienced. I would go with a small company of maybe one or two Lawyers in the firm. Large Law firms will push small cases to junior Lawyers who may not have the experience yet. Just my experience and opinion mind you.

When USCIS contacts you with the results, then go to the Oath ceremony or hire that Lawyer and keep your fingers crossed. As has been stated since there was no gain to claiming to be a Citizen I believe your case will hold. If it is not approved by USCIS then almost certainly it will be upheld on appeal.

Stay calm and deal with each step as it happens. These are things you cannot control and getting upset over something that may NOT happen is not a good plan. Good luck and my thoughts are with you.

 

[John Smith 1]

I guess I’m not making myself clear, US Citizenship for me is extremely important. It is not about just passing a test or just getting a passport. I barely speak another language, English is my language and the US is the only home I know – I have NO allegiance whatsoever to any other country. I came here as a small child without a choice and have been denied an opportunity to be a Citizen merely because the laws said so.

I am in no way being flippant about it but rather just honest. I have met many people that ask, oh where you born here? Well how long have you been here? Then why are you not a citizen? Repeatedly this question has been asked of me from just mere acquaintances during my last 28 years in the US. At one point in my life I was fed up with explanations, my life was private and ultimately none of their business. I had absolutely no gain whatsoever from telling these people this and I should have realized back then that I should have said it was none of their business. But instead I lied, just to quickly dismiss their questioning.

Thank you for your post everyone.

dear katy

i don not understand why you told the officer that you lied about being citizen

what were you doning is personal thing,

lying or hiding immigration status to friends, strangers,colleages,boyfriends,
or girlfriends is not crime,

if you lied about it at government agencies to get benefits, this ia s real crime

when you told the officer during interview you lied about being citizenship,
you made it sound crime to lie about person things to other people

it is not government job to interfere in your personal life

what you did in the interview is so naive