Can an Illegal Immigrant File for Bankruptcy?

An illegal immigrant can file for bankruptcy in the United States. There is no reference to a citizenship requirement in the Bankruptcy Law. US Code §109 provides the requirements to be a “debtor.” The most common way to be eligible to be a debtor is to have a “domicile” in your state. A domicile “requires the physical presence of a person at the place of the domicile claimed, coupled with the intention of making it his present home. The timing of where you use as a domicile can be tricky if you have not been domiciled in your state for two years.

Assuming you’ve been living in your home state for a while, what other hurdles might an illegal immigrant face? You don’t need a Social Security card to file for bankruptcy, but if you don’t have one, you will need to provide an ITIN. An ITIN is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which is often used by people who can’t obtain a Social Security Number but want to pay taxes to avoid problems with the IRS.

If you have been using a SSN that isn’t yours, don’t put it on your bankruptcy petition! Bankruptcy courts don’t like being lied to and will serve up jail time to those who attempt fraud. Not only can you get in legal trouble for false statements on your bankruptcy forms, but debts incurred using a SSN that wasn’t yours may not be dischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code.

You will also need to be able to prove your identity at the 341 meeting, also known as the First Meeting of Creditors. You will need an ID document that proves your SSN or ITIN such as a SSN card or a pay stub, and a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.

Of course, there is a long list of other things you will need for your bankruptcy, but those are requirements that all debtors must face, not just those without citizenship. Bankruptcy is a complicated process, but there are few additional barriers to non-citizens.