Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

A. Purpose

U.S. citizenship confers important rights and responsibilities, including the right to vote and to hold public office. U.S. citizens also have an unqualified right to live in the United States. In recognition of these principles, Congress provided a specific ground of inadmissibility to address when a noncitizen falsely claims to be a U.S. citizen for any purpose or benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) or any other federal or state law. Indeed, the immigration consequences for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship are severe.^[1] The noncitizen is permanently barred from admission.^[2]

There are exceptions and waivers to this ground of inadmissibility. The Department of Homeland Security has the authority to waive inadmissibility for purposes of a nonimmigrant admission. A waiver is not available, however, to most noncitizens seeking lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. 

B. Background

Congress added the ground of inadmissibility for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship with the passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA).^[3] Prior to the passage of IIRIRA, a noncitizen who falsely claimed U.S. citizenship for purposes of immigration benefits was inadmissible because of fraud and willful misrepresentation.^[4] Concerned about non-citizens’ increased use of fraud to access various federal benefits,^[5] Congress divided the provision into two separate inadmissibility grounds including:^[6]

• Fraud or willful misrepresentation made in connection with obtaining an immigration benefit;^[7] and ​

• False claim to U.S. citizenship made on or after September 30, 1996 in connection with obtaining any benefit or for any purpose under federal or state law, including immigration law.^[8]

These two grounds differ significantly. This part only addresses the inadmissibility determination for false claims to U.S. citizenship made on or after September 30, 1996, the date that the new inadmissibility ground for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship became effective. 

The officer cannot make a finding of inadmissibility under the false claim to U.S. citizenship ground of inadmissibility for noncitizens who made a false claim to U.S. citizenship prior to September 30, 1996.^[9] In those cases, the officer must analyze the noncitizen’s inadmissibility according to the fraud and willful misrepresentation ground of inadmissibility.^[10]

This distinction is important, because noncitizens who made a false claim to U.S. citizenship before September 30, 1996, may apply for a waiver of the ground of inadmissibility for fraud and misrepresentation.^[11] Noncitizens who made a false claim to U.S. citizenship on or after September 30, 1996, generally are not eligible for waivers if they seek permanent resident status.^[12]

The chart below outlines the distinctions between the inadmissibility grounds of fraud or willful misrepresentation^[13] and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.^[14]

C. Scope

This guidance addresses inadmissibility for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship^[17] for any purpose or benefit under the INA or any other federal or state law, made on or after September 30, 1996.

D. Legal Authorities

• INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) – Illegal entrants and immigration violators – falsely claiming citizenship

Footnotes

[^ 1] Falsely claiming U.S. citizenship is also a criminal offense under 18 U.S.C. 911. This Part K does not address the criminal consequences of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship but addresses when a criminal conviction is evidence for purposes of the inadmissibility determination.

[^ 2] See INA 212(d)(3). If the noncitizen needs a nonimmigrant visa, then the Department of State (DOS) must concur in the waiver.

[^ 3] See Pub. L. 104-208 (September 30, 1996).

[^ 4] See INA 212(a)(6)(C). For more information on fraud and willful misrepresentation, see Part J, Fraud and Willful Misrepresentation [8 USCIS-PM J]. 

[^ 5] See H.R. Rep. 104-861, p. 50 (Sept. 28, 1996). See 142 Cong. Rec. S11503 (daily ed. September 27, 1996) (statement of Sen. Hatch). See H.R. Rep. 104-828, p. 199 (Sept. 24, 1996) (Conf. Rep.) (Joint Explanatory Statement). See Matter of Richmond, 26 I&N Dec. 779 (BIA 2016).

[^ 6] See Section 344(a) of IIRIRA, Division C of Pub. L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-637 (September 30, 1996).

[^ 7] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i). 

[^ 8] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii). See Matter of Richmond, 26 I&N Dec. 779 (BIA 2016).

[^ 9] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii). See Section 344(c) of IIRIRA, Pub. L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009-546, 3009-637 (September 30, 1996).

[^ 10] For more information, see Part J, Fraud and Willful Misrepresentation [8 USCIS-PM J]. 

[^ 11] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i) and INA 212(i).

[^ 12] Depending on the immigration benefit the applicant is seeking, the noncitizen may have a waiver available; however, noncitizens seeking to immigrate as immediate relatives, under a preference category, or based on the diversity visa lottery do not have a waiver available. 

[^ 13] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i).

[^ 14] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii).

[^ 15] For example, a Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or USCIS officer, a consular officer, or an immigration judge.

[^ 16] For example, a private employer, lender, school, or other entity.

[^ 17] See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii). Inadmissibility for fraud or willful misrepresentation or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship before September 30, 1996, is a separate inadmissibility ground. See INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i).