alert for lawful permanent residents who want to apply for ... · alert for lawful permanent...

Alert for Lawful Permanent Residents who want to apply for U.S. citizenship

but have past criminal histories

Thisalertisnotasubstituteforindividualizedlegaladvice.Consultalawyertofindoutaboutyourspecificsituation.©ImmigrantDefenseProject,May2017

Ifyouarealawfulpermanentresident(“greencard”holder)andhaveeverbeenarrested–regardlessoftheoutcomeofthecase–consultalawyerBEFOREapplyingforU.S.citizenship!Themandatorybackgroundcheckwillshowyourcompletecriminalhistory–includingsealedordismissedcases.Ifimmigrationbelievesyoucanbedeportedforyourcriminalrecord,theywilllikelystartadeportationcaseagainstyouandmayevendetainyouinajail.InsteadofbecomingaU.S.citizen,youcouldfacedeportation.Evenifyoudon’thavea“deportable”offense,yourcriminalhistorycouldmakeyouineligibletobecomeaU.S.citizentemporarilyorpermanently–leadingyourapplicationtobedeniedandyoutoloseyourfilingfee.BEFOREapplying,getscreenedbyanexpertincriminal-immigrationlaw!

COLLECTthefollowingdocumentsforscreeningwithalawyer:

Ineveryplacewhereyou’vebeenarrestedorgivenaticketbypolice,get:• ALLcertificatesofdisposition,evenifchargesweredropped,dismissedorexpunged• DeclinetoProsecutelettersIfyou’reunsureofhowtodothis,contactthecourtclerktorequestinformation.BEWARE:Evencasesthatseemedminor,werealongtimeago,orwherechargesweredroppedcanbeaproblem!

ASKthelawyerthefollowingquestionsbeforeapplying:

• Willmycitizenshipapplicationleadthegovernmenttotrytodeportme?o IfIfacedeportation,wouldIbeeligibletoaska

judgetoletmestayintheU.S.andkeepmygreencard?WouldIbedetainedinanimmigrationjailwhilefightingmycase?

• Doesmycriminalhistorymakemeineligibleforcitizenship?

• Wouldvacatingtheconviction(s)incriminalcourtorapplyingforapardonallowmetogetridofthe“deportable”offense(s)orbecomeaU.S.citizen?

IfyouhavehadacriminalcaseinNewYork,ImmigrantDefenseProjectcanadviseabouthowitimpactsyourstatusoreligibilityforcitizenship.

Connectwithus:212-725-6422Formoreinformationoncitizenship:immdefense.org/natz