Could theft cause a problem when applying for a green card?
I was previously caught shoplifting at a department store by accident.
My case is still ongoing — I’d like to know if this kind of shoplifting or theft could cause a problem for a future green card application.
Theft falls under what USCIS classifies as a “crime involving moral turpitude.”
Moral turpitude is a legal concept in the United States and (prior to 1976) Canada, referring to “an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community.” This term has appeared in U.S. immigration law since the 19th century.
So, under immigration law, a moral turpitude issue can affect your green card application.