Mistakenly registered to vote as a Permanent Resident; never voted

[dwrecks 1]

Hi, i’ve been freaking out lately. When I was 18 I applied for a California state ID, and I was asked to register to vote, which I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to do. I used those machines at the dmv to register and I don’t remember if whether or not I have claimed to be a US Citizen. I will be able to apply for citizenship around 2019, and i’ve been stressed out from reading other people’s posts and how I could get deported. What should I do?

[charmander 692]

I don't think I've ever seen a LPR who registered to vote but never voted deported. If you google for people who actually voted, you'll find numerous deportation stories. Actual voting is the absolute red-line.

 

At this point, deregister yourself as soon as possible and keep all the records.

 

Between now and your eligibility to file N400 begins, go through the past threads on VJ (or other immigration websites) on this issue. Usually it is not the case but I hope you find someone who shared their story completely, from the application package to N400 interview details and such. This posting tells about statutory periods 

 

Also take a look at this official USCIS memo from 2002.  https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/VoterMem_Plus86.pdf

and compare if anything has changed since at the current USCIS policy manual https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartF-Chapter5.html

 

Eventually I'd also recommend consulting to at least one immigration attorney, hopefully someone who represented such a client before.

 

Good luck.

 

[Unlockable 7,315]

Agree that you should de-register ASAP. If I was a gambling man, I would wager that you should be fine. If asked about it, be honest about the mistake and the steps you took to rectify it.

[dwrecks 1]

so if i applied for citizenship using the n-400, i would check yes to the questions “have you ever claimed to be a us citizen” and “have you ever registered to vote”? The thing is I don’t remember if i actually said i was a citizen, and if i did when i registered to vote (and checked yes on the n-400) would they want to proceed to deport me or deny me citizenship? I’m scared about the whole “claiming to be a citizen” stuff.

[dwrecks 1]

hi, i’m 19 and a permanent resident. when i was 18 i registered to vote when i got my california state id at the dmv. I never voted, but i might have claimed to be a us citizen when i registered, which i’m worried would make me deportable. people have told me it would help my case that i never voted, but there’s still the fact that i claimed to be a us citizen. i already unregistered and am in the process of getting proof from the election office of me unregistering/never voting. i know it was a stupid mistake to make, but considering that i’m still in high school, am a dependent on my mom, how likely is it that they’d proceed to deport me because of the citizen thing, when it was just an honest mistake by a stupid kid?

[Ontarkie 14,439]

~~Related thread merged Please do not start more then one thread for all related questions.~~

[payxibka 10,047]

10 minutes ago, dwrecks said:

hi, i’m 19 and a permanent resident. when i was 18 i registered to vote when i got my california state id at the dmv. I never voted, but i might have claimed to be a us citizen when i registered, which i’m worried would make me deportable. people have told me it would help my case that i never voted, but there’s still the fact that i claimed to be a us citizen. i already unregistered and am in the process of getting proof from the election office of me unregistering/never voting. i know it was a stupid mistake to make, but considering that i’m still in high school, am a dependent on my mom, how likely is it that they’d proceed to deport me because of the citizen thing, when it was just an honest mistake by a stupid kid?

Ignorance of the laws is not an excuse...  You are an adult now

 

[Sunnyland 639]

It's simple, or you are a US citizen or you are not. You know the difference. Yes it can make you deportable. Now if they actual do it that is another story. From now on, just tell them the truth. I don't know if they will care that you are in high school. You are 19 so you are an adult to them.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/Print/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartK.html

[dwrecks 1]

Just now, payxibka said:

Ignorance of the laws is not an excuse...  You are an adult now

 

...and you saying this helps me how?? do you think that i don’t already realize the consequences of what i did? Thanks for reminding me but I’m now trying to take responsibility for a stupid mistake; all i’m asking for is advice, not a snarky reaffirmation of what i already know.

[dwrecks 1]

5 minutes ago, Sunnyland said:

It's simple, or you are a US citizen or you are not. You know the difference. Yes it can make you deportable. Now if they actual do it that is another story. From now on, just tell them the truth. I don't know if they will care that you are in high school. You are 19 so you are an adult to them.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/Print/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartK.html

that “other story” is what i’m worried about. compare another person who commits the same mistake i did; what if he’s in his 40’s, well settled, independent. Now compare that to my situation. Legally we’re equal, but wouldn’t you think that they’d more likely deport someone older and wiser and more successful than (basically) a kid who can’t even live on his own yet? Because with the other guy, better is expected of him, making a mistake like that would be way overdue on reconciliation. kids like me, although legally an adult, wouldn’t you think i get more of a pass?

[Sunnyland 639]

Maybe you need to consult a lawyer about this. For what I have read in immigration law forums is that this unfortunately is very common and what it makes it worse is that the people in charge of issuing your State ID often ask people if they want to vote but they don't explain the requirements to be able to vote or they do not even know it themselves. Not everyone knows that only US citizens can vote.  The only "good" thing in your case is that at least you did not vote in any federal election. That would be the final red light you don't want to cross.  

 

You may want to take a look at this links.

 

http://www.usavisacounsel.com/articles/i-am-not-a-u-s-citizen-but-i-registered-to-vote…-and-even-voted.htm

https://www.floridaimmigrationlawyerblog.com/2016/09/i_am_not_a_us_citizen_and_i_re_1.html

[payxibka 10,047]

49 minutes ago, dwrecks said:

that “other story” is what i’m worried about. compare another person who commits the same mistake i did; what if he’s in his 40’s, well settled, independent. Now compare that to my situation. Legally we’re equal, but wouldn’t you think that they’d more likely deport someone older and wiser and more successful than (basically) a kid who can’t even live on his own yet? Because with the other guy, better is expected of him, making a mistake like that would be way overdue on reconciliation. kids like me, although legally an adult, wouldn’t you think i get more of a pass?

NO.  That would be discrimination based on age and that is illegal.  

1 hour ago, dwrecks said:

...and you saying this helps me how?? do you think that i don’t already realize the consequences of what i did? Thanks for reminding me but I’m now trying to take responsibility for a stupid mistake; all i’m asking for is advice, not a snarky reaffirmation of what i already know.

Your original post you had some doubt as to whether you made a claim of US citizenship.  My post was intended to remove that doubt.    

[dwrecks 1]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

NO.  That would be discrimination based on age and that is illegal.  

I wasn’t focusing on age, i was focusing on the circumstances. Isn’t there always an element of reflection/consideration in each case based on its situation? You can tell me that the law is black and white but that’s not always the case; situation affects everything, and the situation at hand is that I made a mistake (a bad excuse i admit but it’s the truth).

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  2 of Josephs relatives registered and voted for Obama .   One ended up losing his green card over it  and the other is now a citizen.  So it isn't black and white. 

[Going through 5,671]

9 hours ago, dwrecks said:

I wasn’t focusing on age, i was focusing on the circumstances. Isn’t there always an element of reflection/consideration in each case based on its situation? You can tell me that the law is black and white but that’s not always the case; situation affects everything, and the situation at hand is that I made a mistake (a bad excuse i admit but it’s the truth).

Possibly.  I would presume that the amount of reflection/consideration in each case is also directly related to the amount of rectification done by the applicant afterwards.

 

Any consideration given is also up to the discretion of the IO you encounter during your interview.  One may be more lenient than another, but bottom line is they each must follow the policies set out in their manuals when determining whether an application is approved or denied.  In some areas there may be a bit wiggle room, in others there is none.

 

11 hours ago, dwrecks said:

hi, i’m 19 and a permanent resident. when i was 18 i registered to vote when i got my california state id at the dmv.

On an aside----it becomes more difficult to use the excuse of "well, I was just a kid" when this occurred only a year ago.

 

It's good that you have already unregistered.   The fact that you never actually voted will also be a good mark in your favor.