Many criminal charges have a drastic impact on a non-citizen’s immigration case. Most people who seek post-conviction relief are charged with being either inadmissible or deportable. Several criminal charges also pose a threat of harming a non-citizen’s “Good Moral Character,” which may result in the non-citizen becoming ineligible for citizenship or other immigration benefits. In most cases, the only way to assure that a conviction will not cause immigration harm is to vacate the conviction based on a specific ground of legal invalidity.
Criminal convictions can have complex legal implications for a non-citizen. The applicable rules are constantly changing and are specific to the person’s immigration status as well as their criminal record.
If you are a non-citizen who has been charged with a crime, it is important to consult an experienced immigration attorney. The definition of a “conviction” for immigration purposes may differ from what most people consider a “conviction”.
