Consequences of Immigration Document Forgery
My questions: Should I file to become a citizen of the U.S. through naturalization as quickly as possible; what would happen? How do I prevent spouse from filing complaints against me with immigration services? Even if spouse filed, will anything happen to me; do you think my case is low priority since so many years have already passed? What should I do to prevent deportation if it ever come to that; I worked for AAFES or The Exchange and doubt they would allow the case to move forward but just in case. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
My Situation: I came to the U.S. on an F-1 visa in 1993; began working as a language school recruiter in 1994-1996 without work permit; did not file taxes on the income made but had the commissions wired back to Taiwan instead; during that same period, charges were filed against me for "possession of unauthorized fund" in the amount of $8K, spent minor time in jail, but case was eventually settled out of court; I also left the U.S. to go back to Taiwan for family emergency, came back to find myself out of status due to not maintaining credit hours and minimum grades and expired visa; my school was willing to write me a letter for good standing with immigration services, but out of fear of deportation, I wooed and married a naturalized citizen, whose mother sponsored my permanent residency application ... here's where I may have messed up by asking the bank to forge a signed statement declaring my spouse and I had shared an account since 1993, even thought I met spouse in 1996. And that bank document was part of my residency application to USCIS. Last year (2012), my spouse began cleaning up the garage of the home we live in, and discovered documents uncovering the above facts, which prompted spouse's filing for annulment of the marriage based on fraud (I am in the state of Texas). We have a fifteen-year-old child and I have been arrested and charged but never convicted for spousal assault twice.
Re: Consequences of a 16-Year Immigration Document Forgery
This is way beyond what can be handled on a internet forum. You need an experienced immigration lawyer FAST. You can't "prevent" your spouse from doing anything. Naturalization isn't an instantaneous thing and there's a strong chance such fraud will be discovered in the process especially if your wife informs on you (you can guarantee they will talk to her). Further, if they find you shammed your way into permanent residence EVEN after you are naturalized, they can take you to court to reverse that (it's takes a court rather than administrative action after you're a citizen, but IT CAN HAPPEN).
You certainly do ***NOT*** want to be caught making further INTENTIONAL FALSE STATEMENTS in your naturalization. You need a lawyer to go lever EVERY THING YOU PUT ON PAPER FROM NOW ON.
Re: Consequences of a 16-Year Immigration Document Forgery
While you wait for your immigration lawyer appointment, start planning your trip home.
Re: Consequences of Immigration Document Forgery
Quote:
Quoting
arichardson
here's where I may have messed up by asking the bank to forge a signed statement declaring my spouse and I had shared an account since 1993, even thought I met spouse in 1996. And that bank document was part of my residency application to USCIS. Last year (2012), my spouse began cleaning up the garage of the home we live in, and discovered documents uncovering the above facts, which prompted spouse's filing for annulment of the marriage based on fraud (I am in the state of Texas).
I find it implausible that a bank would agree to "forge" such a letter on your behalf, that your wife was paying so much attention to a stack of old document that she found the date in that letter, that her first thought upon finding an incorrect date was "My spouse committed immigration fraud", and that her second thought was, "...so I'm going to file for divorce."
You should discuss the full facts with an immigration lawyer.
Re: Consequences of Immigration Document Forgery
On the bank letter, one statement said that spouse and I owned the account since 1993, and second statement said bank officer doesn't know when spouse's name was added to the account. Is this forgery? I agreed with your perspective and thought I would be safe just leaving things as they were in the garage but spouse is very detail-oriented and has been suspicious of my behavior since spouse stumbled onto several other documents that raised doubts about a financial matter I was involved in back in July.
Re: Consequences of Immigration Document Forgery
Forgery would be along the lines of your fabricating a letter and pretending it came from the bank.
Re: Consequences of Immigration Document Forgery
Providing a knowingly false document can be held against you by immigration also.