U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has tightened its approach to false citizenship claims: under the new position, a false voter registration is considered a false claim to citizenship regardless of intent, and this can close off the path to naturalization. In the case described, an applicant who received a green card through employment and has lived in Missouri since March 2021 learned she had been registered to vote in May 2023, while getting a driver’s license at the DMV, and her naturalization application (N-400) was filed on November 30, 2025.

What Happened

The applicant learned about her registration after receiving a letter about voter roll removal. Checking the rolls at the local county office, she found out the registration had been added at the DMV. According to the office, this happened in May 2023. The applicant herself did not recall knowingly agreeing to be added to the voter rolls. Her spouse is not listed.

The applicant has lived in Missouri since March 20, 2021. She entered as a permanent resident and got her driver’s license right after arriving. Since then, her license has been renewed twice in Missouri: first when moving from Florida, then after a change of address.

Why This Matters for Naturalization

The N-400 form has two separate questions: whether the applicant has ever voted and whether she has ever registered to vote. It also asks whether she has ever falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen. Previously, USCIS, according to those discussing the issue, was usually lenient in such cases if the person had not voted. However, around March–April 2025 the position changed: a false voter registration is now treated as a false claim to citizenship, which disqualifies someone from naturalization. In theory, even a green card could be at risk.

So it becomes crucial to prove that the registration happened due to a DMV employee’s mistake, not the applicant’s own choice. It is most favorable when the agency itself admits the error, rather than when the applicant knowingly checked the relevant box.

The first step named is a written request to the DMV asking to remove the data from the voter database. A verbal agreement is not enough — all requests need to be documented in writing. Next, it’s worth finding a responsible employee at the DMV branch, getting a written explanation of exactly how the registration happened, and any documents confirming the applicant is not at fault.

If USCIS schedules an interview, everything will need to be explained in detail there. So it makes sense to compile a history of all DMV visits: license renewals, address changes, and other transactions. According to the applicant, there were about five, including plate renewals, but for the registration question, what matters are the visits related to the driver’s license — and there were three of those.

A DMV branch building with a line of people at the entrance on a sunny day

Is a Lawyer Necessary

Asked whether a lawyer is needed, the answer was clear: it’s better not to go to the interview without an attorney. The applicant described her situation as frightening, but what matters for the outcome are the documents: written correspondence with the DMV, the employee’s explanation, and the timeline of visits. These are what will determine whether the case can withstand scrutiny.