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Can a Criminal Record Prevent You From Becoming a United States Citizen?
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Are you a green card holder who is ready to apply for United States Citizenship? If so, you need to fill out and submit application form N-400 (the official application for U.S. naturalization) and eventually go before immigration officers for a naturalization interview. United States immigration officials will take a very close look at your history and general character, including any history of arrests or criminal convictions.
Under United States immigration law, you are legally obligated to answer a wide array of questions regarding your criminal history on form N-400. Indeed, you will be required to disclose any arrests or convictions. To be clear, a criminal record will not automatically prevent you from becoming an American citizen. However, it will make things far more challenging, and certain crimes could make you ineligible to apply. Here, our experienced Chicago immigration attorneys explain the impact that certain crimes will have on the naturalization process.
The Crimes That Will Permanently Ban You From Obtaining United States Citizenship
Under U.S. immigration law, a criminal conviction for any of the following will permanently bar you from getting American citizenship:
- Murder;
- Rape;
- Sexual assault;
- Violent sexual abuse;
- Child sex crimes;
- Possession of child pornography;
- Armed robbery; and
- Any violent crime that led to a prison sentence in excess of twelve months.
The Crimes That Will Temporarily Bar You From Applying For United States Citizenship
Under U.S. immigration law, a criminal conviction for any of the following crimes will temporarily make you ineligible to apply for American citizenship:
- Prostitution;
- Financial fraud;
- Other fraud crimes;
- Drug driving or drugged driving;
- Possession of illegal drugs;
- Certain drug trafficking crimes; and
- Certain violent crimes.
If you have been convicted of any of the crimes listed above and you wish to apply for U.S. citizenship, it is imperative that you speak to a qualified Chicago immigration attorney as soon as possible. Your Chicago immigration lawyer will be able to review the specific circumstances that you are facing, and explain when you will be able to apply and what type of supplemental documentation you will need to produce.
Consult With an Experienced Chicago Immigration Lawyer Today
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, our Illinois naturalization and citizenship lawyers have experience handling very complex immigration cases. To learn more about what we can do for you, please give us a call today at (312) 332-2550 to schedule your confidential case evaluation. From our main office in the heart of Chicago, we represent clients throughout Cook County, including in Oak Lawn, Arlington Heights, Oak Park, Palatine, Northbrook and Evanston.
What Our Clients Say
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I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
In the final stages of our employment based green card, Maya Flores was very helpful. She guided us through the details, made a mock up interview and then went with us to the actual appointment. We were able to see her expertise because she made some clarifications to the officer. Very good service, 5 well deserved stars.
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