As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This blog post considers the availability of green cards (permanent residence status) for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.

Whether applying for a marriage-based green card via consular process or adjustment of status, the issue of criminal disclosures will come up. USCIS will do criminal background checks for both the U.S. sponsor and the green card applicant as part of the marriage-based green card process. The government requires you to disclose absolutely every interaction you’ve had with law enforcement, both inside and outside of the U.S., with the sole exception of traffic violations. Even if the charges were dropped or your record was expunged, you must be honest and tell them about it. The consequences of not reporting it are very severe - lying, or misrepresenting, will make you ineligible for a green card. When in doubt, schedule an appointment with an immigration lawyer and ask them.