Lied on tourist visa

[ConOfficer 167]

It's not an issue. To find someone ineligible for a tourist or immigrant visa under Section 212(a)(6)(c)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act the conofficer must find that the lie was both willful and material. That is to say that the applicant lied about something that would have had an impact on the officer's decision. She would have been refused regardless of who she said she was planning to visit, thus the lie was not material. Therefore no fraud issue. 

 

You get into fraud issues in tourist visa interviews if you repeatedly lie about prior unlawful presence or criminal issues (or if you are approved for a visa based on a statement to you solely intend to engage in tourism and it later comes to light that you had the intention of working or adjusting status in the U.S.). If you just lie about your job, income, or who you want to visit it's not an issue. You would have been refused under the true facts or the false narrative provided. 

 

Though I believe when you apply for naturalization you need to declare whether you have ever lied to a U.S. government official...