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If I committed a misdemeanor crime, would it affect my naturalization application?
Any criminal conviction can affect your naturalization application. To be naturalized, an applicant must demonstrate he or she has good moral character. The USCIS has discretion to determine whether you have good moral character, and it may view any criminal conviction negatively. Some convictions will render an applicant ineligible for naturalization. An applicant is ineligible for naturalization if the applicant has ever been convicted of an aggravated felony or a crime involving moral turpitude within the past five years.* Also, if a crime makes the applicant removable from the U.S., naturalization will not be granted. An applicant is also ineligible for naturalization if on parole for a crime. Other crimes, not involving these elements or consequences, while not rendering an applicant statutorily ineligible for naturalization, may still result in an unfavorable determination of good moral character. Generally, the applicant must demonstrate good moral character for the five year period leading up to the naturalization decision, although case law has established that officers can consider earlier incidents so long as they do not serve as the sole basis for a denial.
Thus, any conviction may affect your naturalization application, and sometimes may even affect your green card status. If you have a previous criminal conviction, please contact the experienced Long Beach immigration attorneys of Smith & Garg at 562-590-7300 or call our toll-free number at 877-517-4275 prior to filing your naturalization appliaction. . You can also submit an inquiry through our Long Beach Immigration Online Inquiry.
*Under some circumstances, the period examined for good moral character is a three or one year period. Please consult with a Smith & Garg attorney for specific advice.
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