If you live in the United States as an immigrant, or if you hope to migrate to the United States, it is critical that you maintain a clean criminal record. Failure to do so could cause you to become inadmissible for entry.
If you already have a criminal record, you may wonder if the crimes listed on it will result in a bar of entry. The Office of Law Revision Counsel United States Code details the types of crimes that may render you inadmissible for entry.
Crimes that may result in inadmissibility
The USCIS lists the various crimes that could result in your inadmissibility to the United States. The list includes but is not limited to the following crimes:
- A violation of a controlled substance law and/or drug trafficking
- Crimes of moral turpitude, meaning crimes that break the accepted rules of morality and the duty of persons to others and society; or crimes that are inherently vile, depraved or base
- Violations of religious freedom
- Human trafficking and prostitution
- Money laundering
- Commercialized vice
If you committed one or more crimes within these categories, you may find that entry to the U.S. proves difficult.
Multiple convictions
Though not necessarily a crime in and of itself, multiple convictions is the 10th criminal reason you may face hardship on your path to citizenship. “Multiple convictions” means you committed two or more crimes for which you had to serve five or more years in prison.
Overcoming an inadmissible declaration is tough, but it is not impossible. With the right help on your side, you can file a waiver and fight for your right to live in the United States.
