Why a Good Moral Character is Important
When seeking U.S. citizenship or Naturalization, one of the main requirements is the good moral character. It is considered the responsibility of the applicant to show that, within the statutorily prescribed period, individual kept a person of good moral character. And, it’s the USCIS which could determine your moral character according to the laws passed by the Congress.
Now how does USCIS evaluate good moral character? Well, this can be done by having a combination of criminal background checks as well as the procedure. The Application form for Naturalization includes a variety of inquiries to cover criminal background, if any, political and personal affiliations.
USCIS basically investigates anyone:
a. Have committed and/or been in prison for a number crimes pertaining to moral turpitude
b. Have committed and/or been in prison for 2 or more offenses by which the overall sentence imposed was Five-years or more
c. Have committed and/or been convicted of any controlled substance law, except for a particular offense of simple possessing 30 grams or a reduced amount of marijuana
d. Have been confined to a penal institution during the statutory period, through a conviction, with an aggregate period of 180 days or over
e. Have committed and/or been found guilty of 2 or more offenses
f. Have earned principal income from illegal operations
g. Have been in prostitution or commercialized vice
h. Have been in exporting illegal aliens within the United States
i. Have been a habitual drunkard
j. Practices or have practiced polygamy
k. Have wilfully failed or refused to support dependents
l. Have given false testimony, under oath, in order to receive a benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
USCIS expects that you be truthful and honest during the entire processing of your own application especially within the interview, or perhaps it will deny the application. Also keep in mind, in cases once the application is approved, and citizenship is granted, if USCIS later discovers you committed a fraud when you get the approval, the citizenship will be rescinded.
Therefore, it is with your interest to clearly recognize all the steps and procedures associated with naturalization, primarily if you have some kind of criminal conviction.
To learn more on how to properly apply for U.S. Citizenship, it is better to seek help help from a knowledgeable immigration lawyer. Also, discover additional information about how to easily acquire a Marriage Green Card.
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