If you are a U.S. greencard holder but have a criminal background will that affect your application for citizenship?

Answer 1

Yes. Why would the USA accept someone with a criminal history?

Having a "criminal record " is very surely a "difficulty" but one that only about 10 percent of the population has to worry about. The other 90 percent of us are NOT criminals.

One of the parts of being "punished" for criminal behavior is NOT being able to Immigrate to the USA, or become a U.S. citizen, either.

BTW an American who is a " convicted Felon " cannot leave the USA either, as they are banned from having a U.S. passport, by Federal Law. They also cannot VOTE, nor work for any level of the government, or any defense contractor that does work for the US government.

So yes being a convicted criminal is not a nice thing, and it does have repercussions in the future, too.

Answer

A "criminal background" may or may not affect your application for citizenship. There is a general guideline that Immigration officers follow, but results can vary from officer to officer. I've helped people apply for their citizenship over the last 5 years (usually filing 2 a day), and I've seen some mixed results after they had their interview. I knew one guy that was given 4 violations for gambling over the last 17 years (once in the last 5 years) and he was denied citizenship because of the 4 misdemeanors. He was told that if that 1 misdemeanor didn't happen in the last 5 years, he would've passed. This case actually has a 50/50 chance of being approved, even with the one misdemeanor occurring in the last 5 years. Another person was arrested twice for robbery over the last 5 years; one resulted to a guilty plea to a felony and the other a guilty plea to a misdemeanor. He actually obtained citizenship, whereas most officers would deny the application and a smaller percentage would actually call for removal proceedings.

The general rule of thumb is to stay clean over the last 5 years. If you committed 2 felonies during your lifetime, committed crimes of moral turpitude (look that one up since there's no real definition as to which crimes would be considered so), or were in possession of 20 or more grams of cocaine or 30 or more grams of marijuana, then don't even bother applying. This can and most likely lead to removal proceedings.

I would also say that you should list all crimes committed, even violations or summonses for jaywalking or for not paying the bus or train fare. The FBI background check is pretty thorough. Even if the background check doesn't find a crime you listed, at least it shows better moral character that you would put even the pettiest of crimes. As for the question that asks whether or not you committed a crime that you were not arrested or cited for, that's up to your moral code. If you ever robbed a bank and not get caught, you better hope they don't catch you after you obtained your citizenship since that would mean you just lied while applying for a status change, and that's a big no-no which can and most likely lead to you going bye-bye.

Answer

It depends. It will likely affect you if you committed aggravated felonies(murder, rape, aggrav. assault, domestic violence, etc), crimes involving moral turpitude (usu. theft and fraud)or drug crimes. It also depends on how you pleed (try to avoid guilty or no contest pleas). Ultimately, it all depends on how sharp your attorney is, and what your Adjudicating Officer or Immigration Judge had for breakfast!!!!!(The person above me pretty much summed it up.)

Answer

It will affect your citizenship. But what was the level of crime which you committed. There are many crimes which have no effect on the citizenship approval. If it is something really serious then you are asking for trouble.

i was arrested on a dui, an possesion of cocaine 220.03 7th degree thi means. reduced to 240.20 07 v disordederly conduct. pled guilty. this happend amont right after. becoming a green car holder in 2003 in new york. moved to Orlando Florida, aplied for naturalization in march 2011. i got anotice saying imust bring the court disposition and arrest reports. i only got the court disposition. past the test officer told me he will write back to me . and i will receive an n-14 form for additional documents. 6 months went by never got nothing on the mail. went to alawyers office i was told iwas gonna be place in removal proceedings.i sufered for six months me and my family with fear of what would happend because of the cocaine possesion on 7th degree. call inmigration they told me my case was on hold pending for the arrest records. went to my local office two days later it was updated on line . am all set for oath ceremony. the lawyer wanted 10,000 dollars to help me out .even wanted to remove my application. if been clean for the las five years paid your taxes you shuld be able to become a citizen. thanks to people that let others know about success stories.