Confused about 5 year wait after Criminal Case before applying for Citizenship

Safe to Apply for Citizenship 5 Years After:

  • Date of Arrest

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Date of Conviction

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • End of Probation / Sentence

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I don't know

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .

CitizenofUSA

New Member
I do plan on consulting with an experienced Immigration attorney. But before I start,

If someone can clarify, is it 5 years after:

  1. Date of Arrest?
  2. Date of Conviction?
  3. End of Probation?

Case Background..

September 2008 - Arrest for CIMT (Retail Theft from retail chain store, but charged as burglary (don't know why))

June 2009 - Sentenced to 2 years probation

June 2011- "TERMINATE SENTENCE - SATISFACTORILY"
 
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It depends on the offense. Some offenses are trivial enough that you can apply right after probation (or even during probation, as long as the probation will be completed during the naturalization process). Other more serious ones require you to wait at least 5 years after the conviction. And some are serious enough to permanently disqualify you from naturalization, and can result in deportation.

Consult a lawyer (or two or three) to review the specific details of the offense before you apply, because you could be risking deportation if you apply.
 
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