Immigration regulations are crafted in an effort to help protect the public interest. Most notably, restrictions on who can lawfully enter the United States help to minimize the chances of violent and dangerous people entering the country.
Most immigrants with visas or green cards must undergo background checks to prove that they need the immigration standards currently enforced in the United States. Many serious criminal offenses, including drug crimes and violent offenses, render people ineligible for immigration and put them at risk of removal from the country. Yet, drunk driving charges are often misdemeanors. They may not carry the same social stigma as violent crimes or felonies.
Can driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges affect an immigrant’s status?
Convictions can cause applications
For those with a work visa, a DWI conviction might lead to a termination at work, which could then endanger their status in the United States. For others, repeated convictions or convictions involving aggravating factors could put them at risk of removal from the United States.
Multiple convictions or especially serious DWI offenses could also prevent people from renewing their visas or adjusting their status if they want to become permanent residents. Particularly when a DWI may have involved injury to others and leads to a lengthy prison sentence, even one conviction could be enough to have immigration consequences. Other times, three or more DWI convictions can be grounds for immigration consequences.
Repeated offenses may be indicative of a substance abuse issue that may deviate from immigration standards. Working with an attorney to fight DWI charges is important for those hoping to protect their immigration status. Those who understand how criminal charges could affect immigration opportunities can respond more effectively to criminal accusations.