One of the things you will generally need to show if you are hoping to gain United States citizenship through naturalization is that you have had “good moral character” for a statutory period, which in most cases means the past five years.
If you have a criminal record that shows differently, it could make it less likely that your application succeeds. Not all criminal records are equal when it comes to the assessment of good moral character, though.
Some convictions can result in a permanent bar
Any aggravated felony convictions on or after November 29, 1990, can result in a permanent bar to establishing good moral character, while those with a conviction date prior to November 29, 1990, can also do so in certain circumstances.
Other convictions may result in a conditional bar
Convictions for lesser crimes within the statutory period can result in a conditional bar on being able to establish good moral character. Examples include drug offenses (with the exception of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana), convictions for two or more gambling offenses, failing to support your dependents, prostitution and human smuggling, among others.
If you spent 180 days incarcerated within that statutory period, that too could count. So would being sentenced in the statutory period for two or more offenses with a resulting custodial sentence of five years or more
Convictions within the statutory period for crimes considered to involve moral turpitude may also act as a conditional bar to establishing good moral character. This refers to acts the public would generally consider highly unethical, immoral, dishonest or depraved.
As you can see, if you have any dealings with the law or have had in the past, legal guidance may be crucial to protecting your options for the future.