Gilman Hot Springs, CA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Everyone who applies for naturalization is supposed to disclose all prior arrests or convictions whether sealed or not. That information should be put on the N-400 form. If you disclosed that at the time of getting your green card, there is no reason that it should prevent you from becoming a citizen. If you did not disclose it at that time, there may be a problem if the act should have prevented you from obtaining a green card. But from your question, it appears that you were asked previously about your juvenile sealed records. The period of good moral character is generally five years (three in the case of people who are applying under the three-year rule) and U.S.C.I.S. officers will generally not look past the statutory period unless the offense was serious in nature. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.  

If your I-94 expires after the H1 effective date, you can stay in the US. For example, if your I-94 expires October 1, 2012 and your H1 becomes effective October 1, 2012, and CIS has approved change of status, you can stay. Otherwise you must leave the US and apply for H1 visa, then return to the US with H1 visa.