Coming to the United States to build a life is a wish that many people have. Making that dream a reality means going through the immigration process, which is very thorough. One area that immigration applications cover is the applicant’s criminal history.
The questions that are asked during the immigration application process include those about arrests, charges, convictions, dismissed cases, probation and any contact with law enforcement. It’s critical to disclose all criminal history information, even if it seems minor or was an old case.
What criminal history can impact immigration?
All criminal history has the ability to affect a person’s eligibility for being able to immigrate into the United States. The exact impact on immigration depends on the type of offense, but the date, sentence and immigration benefits also play a role. For example, a minor traffic offense will have a much different outcome than a drug conviction.
Leaving out any criminal incident can also cause immigration issues. Immigration agencies will conduct background checks, use biometric identifiers and review court records as part of the application process. Even cases that were dismissed, expunged or reduced should be disclosed, because there’s likely a court record that will come up if during the immigration investigation. If the information an applicant provides doesn’t match, a denial of the application is likely.
It’s important to handle immigration applications properly. Any incorrect information, even if it’s not related to criminal history, can lead to significant problems, including denial of entry. It may be beneficial to work with someone familiar with current immigration laws, guidelines and policies since these can change frequently.