A naturalization applicant who has been convicted of an “aggravated felony” on or after November 29, 1990, will be permanently unable from establishing good moral character. If you have committed a criminal act considered an aggravated felony you will have a permanent bar that will make you ineligible for naturalization automatically.
We recall an aggravated felony is, as implied by its name, actions that are grave that you may have been convicted for. Some of these convictions or crimes are what you could expect given its seriousness, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, drug trafficking, or firearms trafficking, among others.
However, there are other convictions that fit the bill such as any violent offence with a minimum penalty of one year, stealing with a minimum of one year in prison, a year in prison for perjury, or even obstruction of justice.
While an applicant who was convicted of an aggravated felony before November 29, 1990, is not permanently barred from naturalization, the seriousness of the conviction will be taken into consideration as well as the applicant’s current moral character when determining whether the applicant meets the requirement.
It is very important to have the help of an expert immigration attorney that can assess your case and give you the best plan of action to protect the life you have built in the United States and, most importantly, the life you intend to keep. Prominent Attorney Jorge Molina can help you with your case – give us a call at (469) 708-5800 or book an appointment here.
