Bust for fake ID may trip naturalizing bid

AU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires that you mention all arrests when you apply to naturalize. You must also submit disposition records. Though you say the judge ordered the case dismissed, USCIS still considers you convicted. That’s because a conviction includes cases where the defendant had to take a class, pay a fine or do community service prior to the dismissal. Because the law considers crimes involving lying or fraud to be “crimes involving moral turpitude,” USCIS could deny your application. It depends on why you used the fake ID and whether you could show other, more positive aspects of your character. Speak to an immigration law expert before applying, but my guess is that applying now for U.S. citizenship is worth a try. If USCIS denies your application, you can reapply five years after your arrest, or three years if you qualify to naturalize under the special rules for the spouse of a U.S. citizen.

QAYou start by filing U.S. form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The I-130 filing fee is $535. USCIS will send a filing receipt and then an I-130 approval notice. In the next steps, you will receive a request for an affidavit of support and visa application form from the U.S. Department of State National Visa Center. The procedures vary a bit, depending on the consulate where your spouse will apply for the visa. The costs are $120 for affidavit of support fee and $325 for immigrant visa. Finally, the U.S. consul in your spouse’s country will schedule the immigrant visa interview.