You may have heard many times before that a criminal offense will follow you around for the rest of your lifetime. Well, let it be known that there is no hiding your misdemeanor or felony conviction when it comes to applying for a United States green card. This little-known fact may have the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) question whether to grant you lawful permanent resident status in the country. With that being said, read on to discover the likelihood of obtaining a green card with a misdemeanor on your criminal record and how a seasoned Baltimore County, Maryland green cards lawyer at Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC can help improve these chances for you.
Is it possible to receive a green card with a misdemeanor on my criminal record?
You may rest easier knowing that having a misdemeanor on your criminal record does not make you entirely inadmissible from the United States. But it may make receiving a green card much more challenging for you. In the end, though, the USCIS may decide based on the nature and severity of your misdemeanor offense, the number of misdemeanor offenses you have committed, and any other relevant information disclosed in your green card application. With this, it is worth mentioning that you do not need to cite any minor traffic violation you had in your home country or the United States.
Can I get a green card with any other criminal conviction on my criminal record?
Not including misdemeanor offenses, certain criminal convictions may make you completely inadmissible from entering the United States with a green card. More specific examples read as follows:
- Aggravated felonies, such as murder, sexual abuse of a minor, money laundering, and fraud.
- Crimes of moral turpitude, such as kidnapping, robbery, embezzlement, and identity theft.
- Crimes involving illegal drugs, such as drug possession, manufacturing, and distribution.
Can I get a waiver of inadmissibility?
Expunging a criminal conviction from your permanent criminal record may improve your quality of life in many ways. However, it may do little to help with your green card application. This is because you may still be required to disclose it in the criminal history section of this application, along with popping up in the USCIS’s background check against you. This is to say that an expunged aggravated felony, crime of moral turpitude, or crime involving illegal drugs may still make you inadmissible.
The one way of avoiding this, though, is by filing a waiver of inadmissibility. With this, you may have your criminal conviction excused so long as you can prove that your entering the United States would not pose a public danger. Plus, you must prove that your spouse, a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, would suffer extreme hardship if you were barred from living with them in the country.
Please do not wait for another second. Retain the services of a competent Baltimore County, Maryland immigration lawyer from Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC today. We look forward to working with you and taking on your case.
