[이민/비자] 상담 글 질문에 공감하시면 '나도 궁금해요'버튼을 눌러주세요.

  • 글꼴 확대하기
  • 글꼴 축소하기

Q.DUI 영주권 영향

지역California 아이디z**tman11****
조회6,780 공감0 작성일11/1/2015 1:12:18 AM
안녕하세요!
현재 3순위 영주권 진행중입니다. 몇개월전 DUI 처음 걸렸습니다. 그리고 벌금과 교육등과 summary probation 5년 받았는데, 이게 영주권 받는데 어떤 영향이 있을까요? 그리고 만일 벌금내고 교육이수하면 문제 없다면 ,영주권 받는데 더 시간이 걸리는지 궁금합니다.
답변 부탁드립니다.
0/1000

* 등록된 총 답변수 3개입니다.

이재욱 님 답변 [이민/비자] 답변일 11/1/2015 1:43:38 AM
Consequences of a Criminal Charge and Conviction on Immigrant Status

A DUI record of arrest, criminal charge, and conviction may affect the status of an immigrant in the United States. When arrested, fingerprints and photographs of the alien are taken and registered in the national database. This record is permanent and will be referenced every time the alien makes an application for an immigration benefit -- for example applies for work authorization, visa renewal, asylum, adjustment of status, naturalization, or admission into the United States with a refugee travel document or a green card.

Having a criminal conviction on record can lead to a denial of reentry into the United States, or removal or deportation from the United States.

The immigration consequences of the client’s plea or conviction usually depend on specific facts of the crime, the client’s prior violations (if any), and where the client is in the immigration process. There are three main consequences of DUI convictions for aliens: deportation, denial of admissibility into the United States, and denial of citizenship.
Can an Alien Be Removed or Deported as a Result of a DUI Conviction?

DUI as a Crime of Violence
In the case of Leocal v. Ashcroft, the issue before the Supreme Court was whether a DUI crime is a crime of violence (deportable offense) for the purposes of an aggravated felony conviction. The Supreme Court considered the case of a lawful permanent resident (the “LPR”) who was convicted in Florida of two counts for driving under the influence and causing serious bodily injury. The Florida DUI statute penalizes as a third-degree felony the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence, where it causes serious bodily injury to another.

In Leocal, the statute required proof of driving under the influence but it did not require a specific mental state. Nevertheless, the LPR was placed in removal proceedings, charged as an aggravated felon for a crime of violence. The Supreme Court analyzed the definition of “crime of violence” codified in 18 USCA 16(a). This section defines the crime as an offense that has an element of the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or the property of another. The Supreme Court concluded that this definition demands a higher degree of intent than mere negligent conduct. The Court said that the “use of physical force” language in 18 USCA 16(a) aimed at a category of violent, active crimes that cannot be said naturally include DUI offenses.

The Court’s analysis suggested that the a crime of violence is an offense that presents significant risk that the intentional use of force will arise in the course of committing a crime. The Supreme Court reversed Leocal’s removal order.

DUI as a Crime of Moral Turpitude
In June of 2009 in Hernandez-Perez v. Holden, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a conviction under Iowa's DUI statute coupled with a conviction for child endangerment (the child was in the car) was a crime of moral turpitude preventing Hernandez-Perez from seeking cancellation of removal.

Hernandez-Perez, a citizen of Guatemala, entered the United States without inspection. While in the United States, he pled guilty in Iowa state court to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury pursuant to several Iowa statutes. Under Iowa law, a person is guilty of child endangerment if he is “the parent, guardian, or person having custody or control” over a minor child and “[k]nowingly acts in a manner that creates a substantial risk to a child or minor's physical, mental, or emotional health or safety.” Iowa Code § 726.6. The Eighth Circuit explained the term “knowingly” to mean actions with the knowledge that defendant was creating a substantial risk to the child's safety.

The phrase “crime of moral turpitude” is not defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act (the “I.N.A.”). The Eighth Circuit explained that the phrase “moral turpitude” refers to conduct which is inherently base, vile, or depraved, and contrary to the accepted rules of morality and the duties owed between persons or to society in general. The acts which involve moral turpitude are the acts which are accompanied by a vicious motive or corrupt mind, “the presence or absence of a corrupt or vicious mind is not controlling.”

Generally, to determine whether a conviction qualifies as one involving moral turpitude, the courts look at the language of the statute, and not at the underlying facts. Critical to a finding of moral turpitude is the intent required by the statute under which the petitioner is convicted. Although moral turpitude is typically found in crimes committed intentionally or knowingly, the courts have held that reckless conduct may be sufficient if an aggravating factor is present.

In Hernandez-Perez, the Eighth Circuit observed that even if the statute did not require a specific intent to cause harm, it required that the violator consciously disregard a substantial and unjustifiable risk. Although the court recognized that a drunk driving offense on its own “almost certainly does not involve moral turpitude,” it concluded that the statute's requirement that the defendant “create a grave risk of death to another person,” was an aggravating factor sufficient to find moral turpitude.

Hernandez-Perez was ordered to be removed from the United States.

이재욱 [이민/비자]

직업 변호사, 세무사, 변리사

이메일 jawala.lee@gmail.com

전화 323-553-1799

조나단 박 님 답변 [이민/비자] 답변일 11/1/2015 4:05:06 PM
단순한 음주 운전전력을 이민법상의 도덕성이나 폭력성 범죄로 간주하여 영주권 발급을 거부하거나 추방대상이 되지는 않습니다. 그러나 상습적이거나 반복적인 심각한 음주운전행위는 자신이나 다른 사람에게 해를 끼칠 수 있는 신체적 정신적인 일종의 지병으로 간주해 입국이나 영주권 발급시 까다롭게 심사대상이 되고 있습니다.

이민국 관련지침서에 따르면 아래5가지 시나리오가운데 하나라도 해당이된다면 심각한 음주운전 형사기록으로 간주하여 신체검사를 다시해야하며 영주권발급에 문제가될 소지가있습니다.

1) 과거음주 운전으로 인해 운전면허증이 정지 취소 또는 제한된상태에서 재차음주운전으로 적발된 경우
2) 음주운전사고로 사람이 다치거나 사망한 경우
3) 음주운전의 결과로 중범죄(Felony) 유죄 판결을 받았거나 실형이 선고된 경우
4) 지난 2년동안 2번이상 음주운전으로 적발된 경우
5) 3번이상의 음주운전 전력중 한번이 지난 2년안에 발생한경우등입니다.

질문자께서는 벌금내시고 교육이수후 관련서류 제때 제출하시면 통상기간안에 영주권받는데 문제가 없습니다. 영주권인터뷰가 있게된다면 서류모두지참하고 설명하시면 됩니다.

참고로 대사관에서 이민비자를 받는경우에도 FAM(Foreign Affairs Manual)에 의하면 지난5년안에 음주운전기록 1회 또는 지난 10년안에 2회이상 음주운전기록이 있으면 추가신체검사 검진을 받아야합니다.

조나단 박 [이민/비자]

직업 이민법·추방법 변호사

이메일 jonathan@jkparklaw.com

전화 (213) 380-1238

케빈 장 님 답변 [이민/비자] 답변일 11/2/2015 8:42:46 AM
안녕하세요

본인의 음주운전이 처음이셨고, 경범죄 또는 더 낮은 처벌을 받으실수 있다면, 영주권 승인에 큰 지장을 주지는 않으리라고 사료됩니다. 다만 이민국에서 해당 범죄를 고려할것을 대비하셔서, 담당변호사와 집행유예를 1년 이내로 협상을 해 보시기를 권해드리겠습니다.

하지만 Property Damage 또는 다른 사람에게 피해를 입히셨다거나, Felony 로 간주가 되신다면, 추방당하실수도 있으니, 이 점 주의하시기 바라겠습니다.

감사합니다.

케빈 장 [이민/비자]

직업 변호사

이메일 khjlawcorp@gmail.com

전화 213-221-1188

케빈 장

이민/비자 분야 질문 더보기 +

주의 !
상담 내용은 질문자의 질문 내용을 바탕으로 한 전문가의 소견으로, 답변과 관련하여 답변한 전문가나 회원, 중앙일보, 조인스아메리카의 법률적 책임이 없음을 알려드립니다.

추천전문가 전문가 리스트+

인기 상담글

ASK미국 공지 더보기 +

미국생활 TIP 더보기 +