i want to apply for my green card but i have 3 prior arrest?
I’ve been a green card holder for 22 years been living in the US for 34 years unfortunately i was arrested in 1987 and in 1989 for Possession of a control substance and in 1990 for burglary the 87 case went to a drug diversion and the 1989 case i got 3 years probation and 20 days in jail now my question is will this affect my chances of applying for citizenship or renew my green card already talked to a few attorneys but the truth is they haven’t given me any answers they just say well you have to bring me your arrest record and they want to charge like 1500 for just to get my arrest record one wants to charge like 35,000 just looking for some really good help not to get rip off so if any one out there knows a Good attorney in the orange county California area please let me know thanks or some good feed back is welcome
Of course everyone would like to see a copy of your criminal history in order to give you an accurate answer. The law changed in 1996. You came to the U.S. in 1976.
Under section 237(a)(2)(B)(i), you appear to be deportable as an alien who has been convicted of a controlled substance violation (twice).
The burglary charge is a crime involving moral turpitude and an aggravated felony, but in 1976, there was no “aggravated felony” statute so someone would have to investigate retroactivity and ag felons. It’s definitely a CIMT, and that might make you deportable under section 237(a)(2)(A)(i).
You definitely should be served with a notice to appear before an Immigration Judge who would have the final word in your case. He might find that you should be removed from the U.S. Your case is legally sufficient to be pursued in court.
As for naturalization, at this point, your chances look poor. I wouldn’t even think about that until it is decided if you should be ordered removed.
Between 1979 and 1989, Forms I-551 were issued without expiration dates. You must have the old blue card (Form I-151) with perforated holes in your photograph. It’s pretty much worthless. You should have replaced it in the 1990s. The I-151 replacement program terminated on March 20, 1995.