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Am I Eligible for a Green Card if I Have a Record of Crimes?

You may find yourself eligible for a green card through connections with family, a job offer or employment, refugee or asylum status, or special programs, such as the Cuban or Haitian Family Reunification Parole Programs. However, this eligibility may be hindered if the government officials reviewing your application determine that your record of crimes makes you inadmissible. If you are seeking permanent resident status in the United States but are unsure of how your criminal record will impact your admissibility, follow along to learn how a proficient Lyndhurst green card immigration lawyer at the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC can help to improve your chances.

Which crimes will make you inadmissible for a green card?

Not every crime on your record makes you inadmissible for a green card. However, the following do:

  • Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, but not if it was a purely political offense.
  • Convictions for two or more crimes for which the prison sentences totaled at least five years, but not if they were purely political offenses.
  • Conviction or admission of a controlled substance violation, or conviction of or participation in controlled substance trafficking.
  • Commission of or conspiracy to commit human trafficking offenses.
  • Intention to engage in prostitution or commercialized vice upon coming to the United States, or a history of such within the previous 10 years.
  • Procurement, attempted procurement, or importation of prostitutes, or receipt of proceeds of prostitution, within the previous 10 years.
  • Intention to engage in money laundering upon coming to the United States, or a history of having laundered money.
  • Assertion of immunity from prosecution after committing a serious criminal offense in the United States.
  • Commission of severe violations of religious freedom while serving as a foreign government official.
  • Conviction of an aggravated felony.

Importantly, not all of these crimes require an actual conviction in court for the government officials reviewing your application to determine you as inadmissible.

Is it still possible to obtain a green card if I have committed crimes?

If you have committed any of the aforementioned crimes, you should not lie about it in your green card application. As fingerprint checks are a requirement for your application, you will likely be caught in your lie and become ineligible for virtually any United States immigration benefit in the future.

With that being said, the law may provide you with an opportunity to apply for legal forgiveness, otherwise known as a waiver, so that your admissibility is still possible. If you require assistance for this, contact our dedicated Lyndhurst family & individual immigration law firm today.

Contact our experienced New Jersey firm

We understand how much is on the line when clients face matters related to immigration. If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for matters regarding immigration, please contact the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC and we would be happy to provide you with assistance. Our firm is located in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.