Impact of a three-year-old petit theft conviction on F1 and TN visa eligibility and the possibility of approval despite a criminal record.
In order to comply with the relevant immigration statutes while seeking to transition to an F1 or TN status, I have been reviewing the potential implications of a past legal incident. Three years ago, I was involved in a matter resulting in a petit theft conviction. While I have maintained a clean record since that time, I am concerned about the interpretation of ‘moral turpitude’ during the consular interview. I am attempting to determine if this single, minor incident will result in a disproportionate sanction, such as a permanent inadmissibility finding, or if the passage of time and the petty offense exception might apply.