When someone is facing deportation, their moral character is frequently a sticking point. Cancellation of Removal or Voluntary Departure for non-residents are immigration benefits granted by an Immigration Judge, depending on whether the applicant shows Good Moral Character or not.
To show good moral character, you can’t have a record of breaking the law and you must show you usually follow it, just like any other resident or citizen would. It’s not always easy to tell if your personal experiences make you a person “without” good moral character. Even if you have a history of misbehavior and convictions, you can establish that you have since reformed.
These are some crimes you may want to pay attention to if you want to prove GMC:
- Gambling
- Prostitution
- Human smuggling
- Polygamy
- Giving false testimony to obtain a benefit, also known as perjury
- Drug offenses
- Crimes involving moral turpitude
- Being convicted of multiple crimes (not necessarily CIMTs)
- Being convicted of an aggravated felony at any time
- Being convicted to prison for 180 days or more
Why is it important? If you’re planning on applying for naturalization at some point, you will need to show excellent moral character on your years as a resident. You may also be refused re-admission to the U.S. as a resident should they find a criminal background. Also, breaking the law is against the law!
If you want to apply for citizenship or travel outside the U.S., and you have been convicted of a felony before, give us a call today. Schedule your initial consultation with an expert deportation defense attorney now – call (469) 708-5800 or book online. Your doubts and concerns about good moral character are important to us.
