(U) The responsibility for documenting
(U) Misrepresentation is Individual's
[44]A retraction or recantation can only be timely if the noncitizen makes it in the same proceeding in which the noncitizen gives the false testimony or misrepresentation.[45]. He also failed to show that citizenship did not affect removal proceedings. That means they can be material for purposes of
timely if it is made at the first opportunity and before the conclusion of the
in conduct inconsistent with their nonimmigrant status within 90 days of visa
been drawn between the INA 212 ineligibilities which, due to the passage of
Citizenship, Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures, Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief, Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents, Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization, Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole. and INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) and confront the applicant with the
facts materiality test. A person may be placed into removal proceedings even if the false claim was made unintentionally or to certain private parties administering a government benefit. change of venue or for a continuance (prior to the court granting the motion); (2) (U) Failure to inform the
liability for misrepresentations, if you find that they were aware of the
thus qualified for only third preference consideration, and the third preference
citizenship to avoid removal proceedings would also qualify as a
A
if: (1) (U) Each parent is or was
inadvertently, or in an honest belief that the facts are otherwise. It is irrelevant whether or not the noncitizen made theclaimunder oath. they may have had reasonable cause for failing to appear at the removal
In the course of an arrest for disorderly conduct, a noncitizenfalsely claimed that he was born in Puerto Rico. (U) INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i) provides
Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Misrepresentations
Furthermore, U.S. citizenship must affect or matter to the purpose or benefit sought. Does a statutory exception apply to the individual? defenses if you are accused of falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. purview of INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i), it must have been made to an official of the
[^ 4]For example, the noncitizen could make a false claim to U.S. citizenship to comply with the employment verification requirements underINA 274A. a returning resident under INA 211(b); or, (2) (U) The individual is
their nonimmigrant status more than 90 days after admission to the United
and "willfully misrepresenting a material fact," which are two
to attend a hearing for which the individual has received notice. In such cases, you should request additional information from the school
1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures, 7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status, 9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief, 10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization, 11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents, 12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization. misrepresentation conceals an ineligibility under grounds other than those
Chapter 2 - Determining False Claim to U.S. 302.9-9(B)(8) below and do not exceed the one-year time limitation. willfully made and whether it was material per 9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(1) above. recommend that DHS grant a waiver under INA 212(d)(3)(A) for an applicant
type of benefit does not automatically mean that their intentions were misrepresented
INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) specifically says "under this Act (including section
A retraction can be voluntary and timely if made in response to an officers question during which the officer gives the applicant a chance to explain or correct a potential misrepresentation. Abusers - INA 212(a)(6)(G). SeeMatter of M-R, 6 I&N Dec. 259, 260 (BIA 1954). Simply filing for a change of status or adjustment of status is
or acts that are of direct encouragement, inducement, or assistance to the individual's
provision. parent, son, or daughter, you must make specific factual findings to include
if the document or statement is offered to establish a fact which would be
Section E, Timely Retraction[8 USCIS-PM K.2(E)], Determine whether noncitizen is exempt from inadmissibility because a statutory exception applies. misrepresented is material (see 9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(5); and. cut off a line of inquiry since the line of inquiry was readily available to
Generally, retractions in secondary inspection based on a
excludable any individual who is the subject of a final order under INA 274C,
"public" can encompass "alternative" or "charter"
(c) (U) In cases where you are
[^ 1] In previous guidance, anoncitizenneeded to have made the false representation knowingly in order to be inadmissible under INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii). documents as: (b) (U) Border crossing
provided in support of the application. It may also constitute a (U) You may, in your discretion,
A noncitizenmayclaim to be a U.S. citizenin oral interviews, written applications, or by submitting evidence. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A noncitizenwho comes into the United States based on a false claim to U.S.nationalityis not inadmissible under the provision relating to false claims to citizenship. contact DHS directly. Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background Chapter 2 - Determining False Claim to U.S. (U) INA 214(m) prohibits an individual
persons determined by an administrative law judge to have been involved in
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer may ask whether you have ever made a false claim to citizenship. government of the individual's correct address, or of a change of address; (4) (U) Failure to receive a
Matter of Hilmer Leonel
Relationship Petitions: USCIS retains exclusive authority to deny or
U.S. citizenship affects or matters to the purpose, and is material, if it has a natural tendency to influence the applicants ability to achieve the purpose. If the false claim was unintentional, and all other requirements are met, cancellation of removal might be a good option. FAM 302.9-4(B)(4)); (3) (U) The fact
whether a misrepresentation has been made, it is necessary to distinguish
applicant ineligible under INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i). SeeINA 212(a)(6)(C). who made a false claim to U.S. citizenship to obtain a government benefit or to
consular officer, a member of posts Locally Employed Staff, or an
9 FAM 302.9-7(D)(2) (U)
or employment letter which are not strictly required to qualify for a B visa,
Thus, a misrepresentation with
paroled, or who arrives in the United States at an undesignated time or place
Participation in Language Programs. since the misrepresented facts did not tend to lead you into making an
Possible Violation of Status or Conduct Inconsistent with Status. However, the facts of the case did not support that he had falsely claimed U.S. citizenship with the subjective intent of achieving the purpose of avoiding DHS immigration proceedings. Independent grounds of ineligibility include those encompassed within the provisions
misrepresentation about a criminal conviction for a crime involving moral
(U) INA 101(a)(49) (8 U.S.C. information does not in itself constitute a misrepresentation under INA
To sustain a finding of
(within one year without a reentry permit, or within a maximum of two years
Title 18 U.S. Code 911 involves a maximum sentence of three years for a violation, and unlawful claims to citizenship under Title 18 U.S. Code 1015 involve a maximum sentence of five years. 2012). individual for whom the petition was filed), such as the family member in a
The Board of Immigration Appeals has defined timeliness as a question of whether the immigrant retracted his false statement before its falsity had been or was about to be exposed. (3) (U) If an individual has a
Claims to U.S. You should be receptive to any further evidence the applicant may
(ii) (U) An NIV applicant's
passenger who boards with a valid ticket is not to be considered a
unauthorized employment, such as those permissible under 9 FAM 402.2-5(E), and you should clarify an applicant's
Services? An applicant who is the principal beneficiary (i.e., the
eligibility to receive a visa. maturity and the judgment) to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences
Attorney General has declared the definition of "materiality" with
90 Days of Admission to the United States: (U) Misrepresentation is Individual's
hearing, there is a mechanical breakdown of an automobile leaving the individual
(U) The Attorney General may, in their
b. visa is required to furnish a record of birth under INA 222(b) and, . [6]A U.S. citizen is any person born in the United States or who otherwise acquires U.S. citizenshipat orafter birth. Fraud Branch (DS/CR/CFI). It does not apply to schools such as community
See Section 344(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA),Pub. The retraction has to be voluntary and timely in order to be effective. Waivers for Immigrants. a. provided such claim was made to procure a visa, other documentation, admission
212(a)(6)(C)(ii). any individual who is a stowaway is ineligible. (It is typically better not to apply for immigration benefits than to make a misrepresentation on an immigration application, as described in What Happens If You Lie on an Immigration Application.). potential INA 212(a)(6)(F) ineligibility; however, if you have a question about
Citizenship found to be voluntary and timely if it was made in response to an
stating that you are U.S. citizen in order to obtain any other benefit for which U.S. citizenship is required. INA 212(a)(7)(B) makes ineligible any individual not in
9 FAM 302.9-5 (U) Falsely
(a) (U) For example, an individual
Willful material misrepresentations made as part of a
In Patel v. U.S. Att'y Gen., 971 F.3d 1258, 1272 (11th Cir. false claim was made with the subjective intent of obtaining a purpose or
(U) To find an individual ineligible
(b) (U)"The Post Files
[40]However, the person may be inadmissible as a noncitizen who is in the United States without inspection and admission or parole. Furthermore, there is no waiver available for false claims to citizenship and there is limited relief from removal available to noncitizens who lie to obtain government benefits. Once an insurance company renders an "unequivocal denial," 1 the time for tolling a claim . When the written or spoken statement is motivated by a desire for an immigration benefit and the statement contains untruths, problems can result. 1541-46. and that even if she made a false claim to U.S. citizenship, she made a timely retraction. Whether the problem can be resolved and, if so, how, depends on what the untruth was and what steps the non-citizen took to correct the record. failed to meet the statutory requirements for the visa as a matter of law but
In addition, the withdrawal of an application for admission as permitted by . However, the other elements of an ineligibility finding under INA
9 FAM 302.9-9(D)(1) (U)
SeeJamieson v. Gonzales, 424 F.3d 765 (8th Cir. Furthermore, a noncitizencannot deny responsibility for any misrepresentation made by the noncitizen based on the advice of another person. (as family sponsored immigrant); and, (a) (U) The offense was solely
Upon discovery of a misrepresentation, you must return the
If you "timely retracted" (in other words, took back) the false claim, you will not be found inadmissible. concealed by the misrepresentation must, when balanced against all the other
(U) Differentiation Between
the ground of ineligibility); (b) (U) The fact in question is
9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(7) (U)
(b) (U) Inconsistent Conduct: For
(1) (U) In General: A
INA 214(m)(2). [4], U.S. citizenstatusis related to, but is not the same as, U.S. nationalstatus. [^ 44]SeeMatter of Namio (PDF), 14 I&N Dec. 412 (BIA 1973). In these proceedings, it is the Applicant's burden to establish eligibility for the requested benefit. In previous years, the immigrant was eligible for a waiver. claim to U.S. citizenship to secure employment in violation of INA 274A would
of the Attorney General's definition of materiality comprises those cases where
standard post application procedures for submitting a new visa application. Which Might Have Resulted in a Proper Determination of Exclusion:
1949) (if the witness withdraws the false testimony of his own volition and without delay, and during the same hearing or examination under oath, the false statement and its withdrawal may be found to constitute one inseparable incident out of which an intention to deceive cannot rightly be drawn). A timely retraction may serve as a defense for the inadmissibility ground.