As a full-time student in Colorado with an F-1 or M-1 visa, your focus is on your education. An arrest can derail your academic and professional goals.
Here is what you need to know about how an arrest can impact your U.S. student visa status.
Removal from the U.S.
After an arrest, you may face a criminal charge and trial. If you plead guilty, or if a judge or jury finds you guilty of the crime, you may see the same potential consequences as a U.S. citizen. Additionally, a conviction or guilty plea could lead to deportation.
Not all crimes will trigger a removal from the country. Deportable offenses include:
- Domestic violence
- Drug offenses
- Firearm offenses
- Aggravated felonies
- Crimes of moral turpitude
Crimes of moral turpitude is a loosely defined category that includes offenses involving dishonest or morally objectionable behavior.
Disciplinary action by your school
Your school or program of study can take disciplinary action against you for an arrest, regardless of whether you a judge or jury finds you guilty. If your school chooses to expel you, the institution must report the expulsion to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Because you must maintain full-time student status as a condition of your visa, an expulsion can lead to a revoked visa and removal from the United States.
Even without a conviction, an arrest can have serious implications for your current and future immigration status. You will likely need to report the arrest on any future applications for a change of status.