Denton, TX Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

A first time petty theft conviction will not affect naturalization, but the applicant must be a person of good moral character for at least 5 years immediately preceding the filing of the application. Thus, the applicant should wait at least until 2014 or 2015 before applying.

Yes, it may very well affect the application. Additionally, it might also make you deportable. *Criminal Relief* The U.S. Immigration laws are very strict. In this particular case, the past crime is preventing you from going forward with obtaining any immigration benefits. In fact, in a deportation in this type of matter, it could very well result in deportation for life without any possibility of coming back. It is never easy to obtain criminal relief, but it is the only realistic chance that exists. We file the necessary paperwork in order to try to get the conviction vacated or reduced so that it is not an aggravated felony. A Supreme Court case Padilla vs. Kentucky has come out which essentially states that if you were not properly notified of the immigration consequences of your plea, then your sixth amendment rights to counsel have been violated. Thus, we would go back into the criminal court based in large part on Padilla vs. Kentucky.