Immigration Site

Im devastated.

Im a USC married to an out-of-status gentleman. He came here on a student visa, and after graduated, he received one yr of OPT then overstayed for 4 yrs.

In order to work and keep a roof over his head he claimed US citizenship on employment forms and taxes. He didnt realize that this was a felony, although he probably knew it was wrong. He paid his all his taxes and never voted or claimed any other benefits. (Im sure that doesnt make a difference). Hes currently unemployed.

We dated for 3 years, our marriage is legitimate, and we have been married for 4 months now. He was going to apply for his GC but the forms ask if hes ever knowingly committed a crime or claimed citizenship.

Hes torn because he has no significant ties to his home country and we would be literally starting from scratch, with very little money. We are currently living paycheck to paycheck.

I just read that falsely claiming citizenship carries a lifetime ban as punishment.....and therein lies the dilemma. Be denied, deported and live in poverty or tick no.

Hes really beating himself up over this and for putting me through this. If he could do it over he definitely would not claim to be a USC, but it cant be undone.

Can USCIS easily find out he did this in his past? We cant afford a lawyer at the moment, I afraid. Any help you can provide would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS

He lied about being a USC which is one of the worst possible things for US immigration. Get a lawyer! Your financial problems are of no consequence to US immigration; there are social service agencies that assist with immigration matters. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, how do you expect to fulfill the support obligations?

He should not lie again. Even if he were to get a GC or USC, those would be lost when his lies are detected.

You picked him; you married him; you thought that marrying someone who was illegally in the US was acceptable and should have known the consequences. You should be prepared to leave the country to live with him as he is subject to deportation and exclusion. He can start over elsewhere or be a criminal in the US if he does not leave.
There are no excuses accepted for these lies!!!!!

(I cannot understand why people do this to themselves! He had the educational qualifications for H1B yet decided to violate US laws rather than make the proper effort to remain legally. On top of that, he falsely claimed to be a USC putting his employer at risk of action for hiring someone not entitled to work in the US. The consequences are severe for a reason.)

So in the last 4 years (plus time spent as a student), all ties (social, family, friends, childhood, etc) to his country of birth evaporated? May I know what country this is?

Hes torn because he has no significant ties to his home country

So in the last 4 years (plus time spent as a student), all ties (social, family, friends, childhood, etc) to his country of birth evaporated? May I know what country this is? Hes Kenyan. What I should have said was that we would be starting over on our own without help from people there - he does have childhood friends and some extended family there that he hasnt seen in about a decade. We do fulfill the support obligations, we are still stretched thin however. A while back we had a consultation with a lawyer who said shed charge $4000. Is that higher than most people are paying in the DC, MD VA area?