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Lied When Applying for a Student Visa

Question

I applied for a student visa to go to a foreign country. When applying I submitted a 3 month training that I didn’t get, I did this without knowledge of any future consequences. Now I know this is a lie. After getting my visa I went to the foreign country and attended school and paid for it with my own money. After months I met a lady and we got married legally in Islam. And we applied for permanent residence and later the citizenship through my wife.When applying for citizenship we put correct information on the application I got both and started working. After a few years had passed I remembered the lie I made when applying for the student visa and started feeling guilty for what I had done.I reviewed my citizenship application with my wife and found some small date discrepancy in dates I attended school as well as where I lived and for how long difference is about 2 months max in date of school I said I attended school until May but it was only until March. As for the address I put my friend’s address who I would stay for a short while when coming in to the country until I found my own place, I did this to condense the address to be listed on the application and show stability. I repented to Allah for my action however I’ve contacted lawyers (to fix this information) who have advised not to bother revising the application because the dates are inconsequential and were originally done in good faith,I don’t know if I did it by purpose or I just put this information without paying attention to details.Like the lawyer said it s not that important and he advised me to forget about it ,My guilt has me doubting everything I did regarding the student visa and this is carried to my citizenship application and to work. From all what I wrote you and how I got my papers citizenship and getting the right to work I ‘m wondering if my money income is halal (My nature of work is halal). How to repent from this? I tried to fix things but they advised me to forget and go forward

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

What you mentioned does not affect your work or what you earn from it, if it is a permissible work and you do it as you are required.

Repentance from what had happened in the past is by seeking the Forgiveness of Allah, regretting having done it, and being determined not to do it again.

Changing the dates and other matters will not have any effect; so just forget it as you were advised by the lawyers.

Repel the whispers that you have about this matter, and be steadfast on the obedience of Allah by adhering to His Commands and refraining from His Prohibitions.

Your regret and remorse is evidence of your since repentance, and that you have turned to Allah.

Hence, we ask Him to grant you steadfastness and not cause your heart to deviate after having guided you.

Allah knows best.

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