Legal Question in Immigration Law in New York

Thanks in advance for reading: I am a 22 year old green card holder. While celebrating birthday, I got very drunk and was being taken back to my dorm room by campus officers who wanted to ensure I was safe. While outside of my room I freaked out and tried to push the officer out of the way in order to enter my room. I was charged with misdemeanor assault on a campus officer. My lawyer set up a deferred prosecution arrangement for me where I complete a 100 hours of community service to have the case dismissed. Previously, when I was 20, I also received a ticket for underage drinking for which I finished an alcohol class and had it expunged from my record.

I understand the mistakes I made and am truly sorry for them. However, I would love to apply for US citizenship by next summer. Is that advisable? Is there any chance I will be able to pass the interview?


Asked on 11/26/10, 1:01 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Luba Smal Smal Immigration Law Office

As a general guideline, a person applying for a U.S. citizenship through naturalization, has to prove a 'good moral character' within a statutory period (which is usually 5 years prior to applying).

If your parents have naturalized while you were under 18, that's another option. Otherwise, when applying for naturalization, you have to meet all naturalization requirements: residence, physical presence, moral character, etc. I suggest, you consult a lawyer to review your criminal record and advise you on naturalization process.

If you would like to request a confidential legal advice or schedule telephone or email consultation regarding your specific situation, please email me directly at Attorney @law-visa-usa.com and I will send you a Questionnaire. I am an immigration attorney and work with clients from all States and globally. More information at http://www.law-visa-usa.com/.

Note: The above response is provided for legal information purposes only and should not be considered a legal advice; it doesn�t create an attorney-client relationship. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please visit http://www.law-visa-usa.com/contact_us.html

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Answered on 1/11/11, 3:47 pm


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