An applicant for U.S. citizenship must honestly list all residential addresses on Form N-400. Providing a fictitious address to obtain a driver’s license or other document can be classified as fraud against the government, freezing a citizenship application and requiring consultation with a criminal defense attorney.
How USCIS Verifies Addresses
Previously, the U.S. immigration agency had access to roughly 35% of all addresses an applicant had ever used. Now, thanks to advances in technology and artificial intelligence, that figure has risen to about 95%. This means USCIS can detect discrepancies between addresses listed in different documents and applications with a very high degree of certainty. When filing to remove conditions on residence (Form I-751) or applying for citizenship (Form N-400), the agency has the resources to cross-check all previously provided addresses.
The Problem of a Fake Address for a Driver’s License
In one case, an applicant, after receiving a green card, moved to a state with stricter requirements for obtaining a driver’s license. The new state required holding a provisional license for 18 months before obtaining a regular license. This meant he would have had to wait 10 months before getting a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Instead of waiting, the applicant and his wife used an acquaintance’s address and listed it when applying for the driver’s license. The applicant never actually lived at that address. He later obtained a CDL using false residency information.
Why This Is Considered a Crime
Providing a fictitious address when obtaining a government document is treated as fraud against a government agency. This applies to both state administrations and federal agencies. The crime is not any less serious simply because the applicant later obtained a document he was otherwise entitled to. For example, if a person is eligible to get a CDL in one state but committed fraud in obtaining it in another, the crime is still counted.
Duration and Renewal of Harm
There is an argument that the crime can be “continuing,” meaning the harm renews every day the applicant uses a document obtained through fraud. If the applicant initially obtained a CDL with falsified residency information and used it for eight months, then even after legitimately obtaining a CDL in another state, the initial crime remains a fact of his history. This can be treated as an obstacle to proving the “good moral character” required for a citizenship application.
Discrepancies Across Applications
If the applicant did not list the fake address on Form I-751 (removal of conditions on residence) but used it when obtaining a driver’s license, this also creates a problem. USCIS will recognize what happened, and it will be viewed as an attempt to conceal information. At an I-751 interview, an officer may directly ask about the missing address and request an explanation. This will not necessarily result in a denial, but it will create additional complications.
Recommendations Before Filing N-400
Before filing a citizenship application, it is essential to carefully review all addresses in one’s history and make sure they match the information in other documents. If discrepancies suggesting possible fraud against the government are found, one should consult a criminal defense attorney before submitting any new documents to the immigration agency. Attempting to hide or alter information in a new application can be viewed as an attempt to conceal evidence, which further complicates the situation. It is worth waiting for a decision on Form I-751, if that application is still pending, and conducting a thorough analysis of all possible risks before applying for citizenship.
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