Frequently Asked Questions – for Lawful Permanent Residents

who want to apply for U.S. citizenship but have past criminal histories

Thisdocumentisnotasubstituteforindividualizedlegaladvice.Consultalawyertofindoutaboutyourspecificsituation.©ImmigrantDefenseProject,May2017

Ifyouarealawfulpermanentresident(“greencard”holder)andhaveeverbeenarrested–regardlessoftheoutcomeofthecase–CONSULTALAWYERBEFOREAPPLYINGFORU.S.CITIZENSHIP!Applyingcouldputyouatriskofdeportationoryoucouldbedeniedbecauseofyourcriminalhistory.BelowareanswerstofrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutapplyingforU.S.citizenship(naturalization)withpriorarrestsorcriminalconvictions.

GettingscreenedWhatdocumentsdoIneedtobescreenedbyanexpert?Ineveryplacewhereyouhavebeenarrestedorgivenaticketbypolice,obtainthefollowing:

• ALLcertificatesofdisposition,evenifchargesweredropped,dismissedorexpunged• DeclinetoProsecuteletters

Ifyouareunsureofhowtodothis,contactthecourtclerktorequestinformation.BEWARE:Evencasesthatseemedminor,werealongtimeago,orwherechargesweredroppedcanbeaproblem!WhatshouldIaskanexpertbeforeapplyingforU.S.citizenship? BEFOREapplying,askalawyer:

• Willmycitizenshipapplicationleadthegovernmenttotrytodeportme?

o IfIfacedeportation,wouldIbeeligibletoaskajudgetoletmestayintheU.S.andkeepmygreencard?WouldIbedetainedinanimmigrationjailwhilefightingmycase?

• Doesmycriminalhistorymakemeineligibleforcitizenship?• Wouldvacatingtheconviction(s)incriminalcourtorapplyingforapardonallowmetogetridofthe

“deportable”offense(s)orbecomeaU.S.citizen?

WhatcanhappenifyouapplyforU.S.citizenship

Howwillimmigrationknowaboutmycriminalhistory?Youhavetotellthemaboutanyarrestsorcitationsintheapplication–nomattertheoutcomeofthecase.Also,themandatorybackgroundcheckwillshowyourentirerecord,includingdismissedandsealedcases.Sometimes,theyfollowupbyaskingquestionsduringyourintervieworrequestingdocumentsfromthecase.Alawyercanhelpyoufigureoutwhatisnecessarytosharewithimmigration.Howcanmycitizenshipapplicationleadthefederalgovernmenttotrytodeportme?Underimmigrationlaw,thefederalgovernmentcantrytodeportgreencardholdersforcertaintypesofcriminaloffenses.Ifyouhavea“deportable”offenseonyourrecordandapplyforcitizenship,immigrationwilllikelystartadeportationcaseagainstyou.Ifthishappens,theymightdetainyouinanimmigrationjailandyourcriminalhistorymayaffectyoureligibilitytoaskanimmigrationjudgetostayintheU.S.Thisiswhyitisimportanttotalktoanexpertbeforeapplying.

Thisalertisnotasubstituteforindividualizedlegaladvice.Consultalawyertofindoutaboutyourspecificsituation.©ImmigrantDefenseProject,May2017

IfIdon’thavea“deportable”offense,howcanmycriminalhistoryaffectmyapplication?ItcanaffectwhetheryouaregrantedordeniedU.S.citizenship.OneoftherequirementstobecomeaU.S.citizenistoproveyouareapersonof“goodmoralcharacter”atthetimeyouapplyandduringthe5years(or3yearsifmarriedtoaU.S.citizen)beforetheapplication.Somecriminaloffensesbaryoufromproving“goodmoralcharacter”temporarilyorpermanently.Whilebarred,youarenoteligibleforcitizenship,yourapplicationwillbedenied,andyouwilllosethefilingfee.Also,evenifyouaren’tbarred,immigrationcandecidethatyoudonothave“goodmoralcharacter”becauseofyourcriminalhistoryanddenycitizenship.Talktoanexpertaboutwhetherthisappliestoyou.WhattypesofoffensescouldleadtodeportationorbarmefromU.S.citizenship?Someexamplesofoffensesthatcouldleadtodeportationorbar“goodmoralcharacter”are:

• Drugcrimes(evenviolations,misdemeanors,simplepossessionandmarijuana)• Theftorfraudoffenses(evenminoroffensesliketurnstilejumpingorshoplifting)• Offensesinvolvingphysicalharmtoothers,includingassaultormurder• Sexoffenses• Pleasintreatmentcourts,likedrugcourts,whereacaseisdroppedafteraprogram

BEWARE:Thisisnotacompletelist!Don’trelyonthenameofyouroffensetoguessifitcanhurtyou.Evencasesthatseemedminor,werealongtimeagoorwherechargesweredroppedcanbeaproblem!Youmustmeetwithanexperttotellifyourcaseinvolveda“deportable”offenseorbars“goodmoralcharacter.”

ImprovingyourchancesIdon’thavea“deportableoffense”andameligibleforU.S.citizenship,butI’mworriedabouthowimmigrationwilljudgemyrecord.HowcanIshowthe“goodmoralcharacter?”Whiletherearemanywaystoshow“goodmoralcharacter,”itcanbehelpfultoincludecertificates,lettersofsupportand/orothertypesofdocumentation(likephotographs)showingyourpositiveinvolvementinyourcommunity(e.g.participationincommunitygroupsortrainings,coachingLittleLeague,unionmembership,attendanceatreligiousinstitutions,goodworkreviews,etc.).WouldvacatingmyconvictionincriminalcourtorapplyingforapardonhelpmeavoiddeportationorallowmetobecomeaU.S.citizen?Ifyouhavea“deportable”offenseoronethatmakesyouineligibleforcitizenship,youmayhaveoptionstoremovethenegativeimmigrationconsequences.Youshouldconsultacriminaldefenseattorneytoseeifyoucanhaveyourpastcriminalconviction(s)vacatedbasedonsomelegalerrorinthecriminalproceedings.Thisissometimescalled“post-convictionrelief.”YoumayalsoconsiderseekingapardonofyourconvictionfromthePresident(federaloffenses)oraGovernor(stateoffenses).Thesestrategieshelpsomebutnotallpeople.So,seeklegaladviceonyourindividualcase.IfyourconvictionisfromNewYork,contactIDPtoseeifapardonorvacatingtheconviction(s)canhelpyou.

IfyouhaveaconvictionfromNewYork,ImmigrantDefenseProjectcanadviseabouthowitimpactsyourstatusoreligibilityforcitizenship.

Connectwithus:212-725-6422Formoreinformationoncitizenship:immdefense.org/natz