Whether an immigrant legally applies to become a citizen of the United States, or crosses our borders illegally to find work in our country, criminal convictions can play heavily in whether or not an individual will ultimately be able to stay here.
And if you fall into the latter category, that being an illegal immigrant with a criminal past, the attorneys of the Law Office of Shawn C. Brown can assist you in any legal strife that you will or have encountered. The situation of any individual in an H-1B visa status, who has committed and been convicted of a crime, will greatly depend upon the kind of offense committed and the sentencing that one receives.
Regardless of whether a felony offense or a misdemeanor offense is committed, it my result in serious consequences to one’s immigration process, whether an individual is attempting to obtain a green card, already a green card holder or in the process of applying for citizenship status.
And be aware that honesty is always the best policy. You will not be able to keep secret your criminal record from the USCIS. They have access to the FBI criminal database, and if you have been in trouble before, they will find it. You can only harm your immigration chances if you attempt to disclose your criminal history, and that can ultimately result in the denial of your petition/application. (Attributed to Pacific Immigration Professionals, LLLC).
It may be advisable to run a complete national criminal background check on yourself, especially if you have been arrested or convicted a number of times. These are available online for a fee. (found on the ICE website at http://www.ice.gov/criminal-alien-program/).
And no matter what the circumstances are, an individual should always consult with a highly qualified criminal attorney in addition to an immigration attorney. Consider putting your trust in a criminal defense attorney from your local area. The Law Office of Shawn C. Brown will certainly offer you a highly-qualified lawyer to walk you through the constraints and intricacies of this country’s immigration laws and be there for you during the entire legal process.
But besides retaining help from the most competent defense lawyer, the consequences – sometimes even separate from the penal system — of any type of conviction are severe in regards to the immigration process. In the first place, a criminal conviction even for a minor misdemeanor or infraction of the law can result in your removal from the United States.
And you can also even be denied naturalization and denial of various immigration benefits, such as the ability to have a green card. You can also be deported and permanently barred from returning to the United States for any reason.
Even a dismissal of charges can still be classified as a conviction in the immigration context, unless a case is dismissed on its merit by the court in question. However, if the procedure that leads to dismissal requires the admission of guilt, that admission of guilt alone can be regarded as a removable offense, even despite the ultimate dismissal.
Also, the procedures that lead to dismissal vary from state-to-state. So again, your best bet is always to seek a qualified legal defense attorney. The Law Office of Shawn C. Brown will be a good fit not only for you but also for the members of your family as well. (facts found at the ICE website).