January 24, 2019

Questions of moral turpitude and immigration status

If you or a loved one is seeking to become a citizen, there are ways to approach the process that could prove beneficial. For most, this means receiving a green card and becoming a citizen. However, there may be some things that are more challenging. If a person has been accused of a crime of moral turpitude, it could hinder the green card process.

Moral turpitude crimes aren’t necessarily felonies, however, they could be. When a person is accused of crimes of moral turpitude, it refers to acts that are determined by a court to violate the accepted moral standards of the community. These are crimes that question a person’s moral compass. Perjury, tax evasion, wire fraud, carrying a concealed weapon and child abuse have all been deemed by courts in the past to be issues of moral turpitude, although, this is not an exhaustive list.

Moral turpitude crimes are generally not felonies. This is good news because felony convictions are often a real challenge during the immigration process. Remember that being accused of a crime is not the same as being convicted of one. Each person deserves their day in court, if they so choose, to refute the charges against them.

Immigration law can feel daunting, especially for those who were not raised in this country. However, it’s totally up to you if you want to seek the immigration status that will change your life. There could be bumps along the way. However, in the end, it could all be worth the effort.