If you have a criminal conviction or convictions, you should not travel outside the United States without first consulting with an experienced immigration attorney. A non-citizen may be questioned regarding their immigration status by an immigration officer either at the border, airport or any place within the U.S. A person arriving at the airport or at a border crossing may be detained immediately or referred to deferred inspection if a computer check reveals a criminal conviction, pending criminal case or criminal arrest warrant. Deferred inspection refers to an interview at the local U. S. Customs and Border Patrol office (CBP) to address the immigration problem in more detail. The CBP is a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security. A person with a criminal conviction will likely be asked to show up at the local CBP with a copy of their criminal disposition record.
If you have a criminal conviction and need to travel outside the United States, contact our law office at (408) 279-5793.