What Crimes (CIMT) are considered conditional bar to Naturalization

09 Jan What Crimes (CIMT) are considered conditional bar to Naturalization

By Atty. Crispin C. Lozano

There are permanent and conditional bars to the determination of good moral character.

We will discuss the conditional bars to naturalization in this article.

Q: What do conditional bars to good moral character mean?

A:  Conditional bars are not permanent in nature and are triggered by specific acts, offenses, activities, circumstances, or convictions within the statutory period for naturalization, including the period prior to filing and up to the time of the Oath of Allegiance. Some crimes bar you from naturalizing for only the five or three years prior to your applying for naturalization. That’s because the law requires a naturalization applicant to prove five years of good moral character as a condition for naturalizing, three years if you qualify under the special rules that apply to certain spouses of US citizens.

Q: What crimes are considered conditional bars to good moral character?

A:  Crimes in this conditional bar category include any crime involving moral turpitude, two or more gambling offenses, a drug offense, two or more nonpolitical offenses for which a judge sentenced you to five years’ imprisonment or more, and any crime for which you were confined to prison for more than 180 days. So, if the crime is in this group, but is not an aggravated felony, you can naturalize five (or three) years after having committed the crime.

Q:  How can it be determined that an act is a crime involving moral turpitude?

A: Whether an offense is a CIMT is largely based on whether the offense involves willful conduct that is morally reprehensible and intrinsically wrong, the essence of which is a reckless, evil or malicious intent. The Attorney General has decreed that a finding of “moral turpitude” requires that the perpetrator committed a reprehensible act with some form of guilty knowledge.

Q:  What crimes can be considered crimes involving moral turpitude?

A:  A crime involving fraud or dishonesty is usually considered to involve moral turpitude.

Other crimes the law considers to involve moral turpitude are: arson; assault with intent to kill or inflict serious bodily harm; bigamy; blackmail; bribery; bad check convictions; burglary; counterfeiting; larceny; perjury; prostitution; rape; drug crimes; receiving stolen goods; robbery; and sexual offenses. These crimes may be divided into crimes against a person, crimes against property, sexual and family crimes, and crimes against the authority of the government,

Q:  When are crimes against a person considered a CIMT?

A:  Crimes against a person involve moral turpitude when the offense contains criminal intent or recklessness or when the crime is defined as morally reprehensible by state statute. Criminal intent or recklessness may be inferred from the presence of unjustified violence or the use of a dangerous weapon. For example, aggravated battery is usually, if not always, a CIMT. Simple assault and battery is not usually considered a CIMT.

Q:  When are crimes against property considered a CIMT?

A: Moral turpitude attaches to any crime against property that involves fraud, whether it entails fraud against the government or against an individual. Certain crimes against property may require guilty knowledge or intent to permanently take property. Petty theft, grand theft, forgery, and robbery are CIMTs in some states.

Q:  When are sexual and family crimes considered CIMTs?

A:  It is difficult to discern a distinguishing set of principles that the courts apply to determine whether a particular offense involving sexual and family crimes is a CIMT. In some cases, the presence or absence of violence seems to be an important factor. The presence or absence of criminal intent may also be a determining factor. The CIMT determination depends upon state statutes and the controlling case law and must be considered on a case-by-case basis. Offenses such as spousal or child abuse may rise to the level of a CIMT, while an offense involving a domestic simple assault generally does not. An offense relating to indecent exposure or abandonment of a minor child may or may not rise to the level of a CIMT. In general, if the person knew or should have known that the victim was a minor, any intentional sexual contact with a child involves moral turpitude.

Q:  When are crimes against the authority of the government considered crimes involving moral turpitude?

A:  The presence of fraud primarily determines the presence of moral turpitude in crimes against the authority of the government.

Note:   This is not a legal advice.

SUCCESS STORIES

1. On December 19, 2016, we received an approval of petition by a Dental office for green card.
2. On December 15, 2016, we received an approval of adjustment of status for a client who entered without inspection with Sec. 245(i).
3. On December 14, 2016, we received an approval of naturalization for a client who had a bigamy case seven years ago.
4. On December 10, 2016, we received approval of adjustment of status for a client who been denied a green card before.
5. On November 16, 2016, we received an approval of provisional waiver I-601A after proving extreme hardship to spouse.
6. On October 21, 2016, we received an approval of N-400 naturalization for a client who has child support and tax debts issues by submitting documents proving good faith compliance.
7. On October 20, 2016, we received an approval from USCIS for adjustment of status for a client who has hearing disability.
8. On September 12, 2016, we received an approval from Immigration Court for a waiver of misrepresentation for a client who entered as single but actually married at date of entry.
9. On September 1, 2016, we received an approval of naturalization from USCIS for two clients who has unpaid taxes but with IRS agreement.
10. On August 11, 2016, we received an approval from USCIS of a green card based on employment without any interview.
11. On July 29, 2016, we received an approval of Naturalization from USCIS for an alien who has an approved waiver for entering as single but actually married.
12. On July 21, 2016, we received an approval of Naturalization from USCIS for an alien who has an approved waiver for using a different name.
13. On July 11, 2016, we received an approval of I-360 self petition by abused spouse from USCIS.
14. On June 15, 2016, we received an approval of I-601 waiver for a client who made a misrepresentation when she entered on an A2 visa under another person name.
15. On May 25, 2016, we received an approval of green card for a client who used a different name from her birth certificate. We proved that she has been using her different name since she was in grade school.
16. On April 19, 2016, we received an approval from USCIS for naturalization of a client who has a criminal record that happened five years ago.
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