Legal resident signed up to vote when was renewing drive licenses.

[luiza123]

back in 2002 I went to renew my dl I checked to vote. I did not have sufficient English to understand everything in the application. Most of what I understood were words that were similar in my language. When I started studying to became American citizen I learned that I committed two crimes: one for applying to vote and the other for voting. I don't understand how can they don't verify if the people who are signed to vote are eligible for. In USA live people from all around the world,people who don't speak English and have to file out papers without understand half of they are reading. My case is that I would like to became an American citizen, I never applied because I am afraid of being deported. I have called several layers and some say do not do it,but I have found layers who say yes(the ones who say yes are not charging a lot of money). What should I do? I never had any ilegal problems in my life, and now I have this crime that I committed by mistake.

Thank you.

[rayb]

Some states allow Green Card holders (Permanent Residents) to vote in some local and some state elections. So to assume you committed a crime by registering to vote is debatable.

But on the other hand, voting in a Federal election is a serious offense, as is lying when answering this question on form N-400 (Naturalization Application).

Any attorney who tells you it is okay to apply for Naturalization, given your having voted in Federal elections, is out of line. Additionally, any attorney who recommends that you answer "no" to the question, because it is not likely to be verified, is encouraging you to commit immigration fraud.

In your place, I would not risk applying and answering the question correctly, or applying and answering the question by lying.

Your excuse that your English was not adequate to understand the consequences of registering and voting will not get you any sympathy when being interviewed by a USCIS employee.

Of all the USCIS procedures (visa applications, Adjustment of Status, Naturalization), Naturalization is taken most seriously by DHS, and that is the one time that a review of all prior immigration procedures which you have completed is made. I had personal contact with one immigrant who was threatened with deportation when they discovered her N-400 listed an additional divorce that had not been on her original fiancee petition or Adjustment of Status.

--Ray B

back in 2002 I went to renew my dl I checked to vote. I did not have sufficient English to understand everything in the application. Most of what I understood were words that were similar in my language. When I started studying to became American citizen I learned that I committed two crimes: one for applying to vote and the other for voting. I don't understand how can they don't verify if the people who are signed to vote are eligible for. In USA live people from all around the world,people who don't speak English and have to file out papers without understand half of they are reading. My case is that I would like to became an American citizen, I never applied because I am afraid of being deported. I have called several layers and some say do not do it,but I have found layers who say yes(the ones who say yes are not charging a lot of money). What should I do? I never had any ilegal problems in my life, and now I have this crime that I committed by mistake.

Thank you.

[luiza123]

I don't pretend to lie or any lawyer suggested it.

Thank you.

[rayb]

I was not implying that you lie. I was merely telling you that answering the question incorrectly has serious consequences.

But you did say that some attorney(s) suggested you should go ahead and apply. Applying by answering the question incorrectly would be lying. But applying by answering the question correctly (admitting that you did register to vote and did vote) would guarantee a Naturalization delay, possibly a denial, and possibly threatened deportation. Most likely, however, the deportation threat wold be mitigated by the nice attorney representing you at a USCIS hearing and getting your deportation order waived. Attorney fees for that type of representation would be a minimum of $1,000 per hearing, but full representation would probably be $5,000 or greater.

-Ray B

I don't pretend to lie or any lawyer suggested it.

Thank you.

[luiza123]

That is I was trying to say is that I would never lie. I do want to tell the truth,and hoping for a forgiveness.

Thank you, I do appreciated very much your reply.

- - - Updated - - -

Today I spoke with one attorney who would take my case for $1,500 for everything. I am a skeptical with the fee because it is to low.

[rayb]

An attorney fee of $1,500 (plus government fee of $680) is not bad for finalizing and submitting your N-600 package, as it's a two-hour job (maybe you would be in his office twice). But he would have to charge you more for going to your interview and any subsequent hearings. $800 - $1,000 per hearing (in addition to the iniital N-400 fee) is about average for his presence in any interview or hearing.

On the other hand, if he commits to reviewing and submitting your N-400 package, AND GOING TO YOUR INTERVIEW, that's a fair price.

I would question, however, whether he has had any Naturalization clients who had a problem with the registration or voting questions. I've had experience with two clients who had those issues, and $1,500 would not have covered my going to any interviews or hearings with them.

--Ray B

That is I was trying to say is that I would never lie. I do want to tell the truth,and hoping for a forgiveness.

Thank you, I do appreciated very much your reply.

- - - Updated - - -

Today I spoke with one attorney who would take my case for $1,500 for everything. I am a skeptical with the fee because it is to low.

[luiza123]

The attorney said that he had 4 cases similar to mine,and he asked me $1,500 plus $680 for the immigration fee. I'm afraid because I have been talking with so many attorneys and most of them say no,I should not try. I had one attorney who asked me $500 for look into the case. I could tell that he never had a case like mine because he was looking at the book.

I am putting my case in here so I can have an idea in what to do. I know out there are many people with the same situation as mine.


Thank you.

[rayb]

Luiza,

I don't mean to "badmouth" the attorney, but saying he has had 4 cases like your's is a questionable statement. First, he is expected to say he has had similar cases, even he he hasn't, else you won't have any confidence in him. Second, your case is unique, and every applicant would have had different reasons for checking "yes" for those questions. The two I have experienced were entirely different from each other. With one applicant, the lady was later found to already have derivative citizenship from her father (complicated story), so USCIS had no basis to penalize her. In the other case, the lady's N-400 was denied, and she had adjudication hearings with an Immigration Judge later on. I never found out the outcome.

--Ray B

Also, for $1,500, he is not charging you enough to cover interviews or hearings at which may be needed to attend.

--Ray B

The attorney said that he had 4 cases similar to mine,and he asked me $1,500 plus $680 for the immigration fee. I'm afraid because I have been talking with so many attorneys and most of them say no,I should not try. I had one attorney who asked me $500 for look into the case. I could tell that he never had a case like mine because he was looking at the book.

I am putting my case in here so I can have an idea in what to do. I know out there are many people with the same situation as mine.


Thank you.

[luiza123]

Motor vehicle's application back in 2002 was different than now. The new application is more detailed, however, for someone who can't read English well it does not make a lot of differences. I assumed that I could vote because one of the options said "resident of Massachusetts". I thought that I was resident and have my GC.


The attorney's fee $1,500 is included interview and courts if needed. I had another attorney who would charge $1,000 + $680 including interview; the only problem is he does not return my phone calls.

[rayb]

Luiza,

The fee quotes you are getting sound somewhat preliminary. It would be nearly impossible for a $1,500 fee to buy you the naturalization package completion and submittal, then the actual interview and any subsequent hearings to adjudicate your admission of a voting violation. Perhaps the interview appearance would be included for that fee, IF THERE ARE NO ANTICIPATED PROBLEMS WITH YOUR APPLICATION.

The "Resident of Massachusetts" has nothing to do with your immigration status, but only to establish that you have been in Massachusetts long enough to qualify to vote.

--Ray B

Motor vehicle's application back in 2002 was different than now. The new application is more detailed, however, for someone who can't read English well it does not make a lot of differences. I assumed that I could vote because one of the options said "resident of Massachusetts". I thought that I was resident and have my GC.


The attorney's fee $1,500 is included interview and courts if needed. I had another attorney who would charge $1,000 + $680 including interview; the only problem is he does not return my phone calls.

[luiza123]

thank you very much!

I will call others attorneys until I find someone who I think can help me. The two attorneys that gave me the fees make it seems to be an easy case,but I know it is not.

[rayb]

Luiza,

You might want to consider not applying for Naturalization, so that you don't have to deal with the USCIS about the voting mistake.

This is not something that a USCIS interviewer will tell you.."We understand you made a mistake and we forgive you, and your Naturalization is approved."

More likely, it will be something like,"We cannot approve your Naturalization because you registered and voted illegally." You would then lose the $680 submittal fee and would probably have a hearing in a USCIS office. You might be threatened with deportation, but I doubt that it would get that serious.

--Ray B

thank you very much!

I will call others attorneys until I find someone who I think can help me. The two attorneys that gave me the fees make it seems to be an easy case,but I know it is not.