USCIS Updates Guidance on False Claims to U.S. Citizenship

 Key Point 

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to enforce stricter consequences for individuals who falsify information in immigration applications, including false claims to U.S. citizenship 

Immigration Scrutiny for False Claims to U.S. Citizenship 

On August 20, 2025, USCIS revised its Policy Manual to clarify the legal consequences of making false claims to U.S. citizenship. According to the announcement, this update reinforces the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the immigration system and deterring fraud. 

The revised guidance applies to a wide range of immigration benefits and emphasizes that false claims, regardless of the applicant’s age, knowledge or mental capacity, may result in inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act.  

Effective Date and Applicability 

This guidance is effective immediately and applies to all pending and future immigration benefit requests. 

Key Highlights:

• Clarification of Standards: USCIS confirms that a false claim to U.S. citizenship does not need to be knowingly made to trigger inadmissibility. This aligns with the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision in Matter of Zhang. 
• Permanent Bar: Individuals found inadmissible under this ground face a permanent bar from adjustment of status. No waiver is available, except for a narrow exception for those who resided in the U.S. before age 16. 
• Immediate Implementation: The updated guidance is effective immediately and applies to all pending and future immigration benefit requests. 
• Policy Manual Update: Officers will follow the revised steps outlined in Volume 8 of the USCIS Policy Manual.

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