WASHINGTON, D.C.- The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy manual, serving notice to non-citizens that a false claim to US citizenship could lead to a permanent ban from the country. The agency announced it is strengthening its screening and vetting processes to identify individuals who “defraud or abuse the immigration system.”
The updated guidance focuses on the rule concerning false claims to citizenship. This regulation, which has been in place since September 30, 1996, makes any non-citizen who falsely claims US citizenship for an immigration or legal benefit permanently barred, with very few exceptions.
According to the agency, the new rules are effective immediately for all pending and future requests. USCIS also stated, “We are actively increasing public awareness among non-citizens and the public about the consequences of committing immigration fraud.”
The policy change incorporates a 2019 Board of Immigration Appeals ruling, which determined that an individual can face immigration consequences for a false claim to citizenship, even if the claim was not made knowingly. A narrow exception exists for individuals who permanently lived in the United States before the age of 16.