At Anna Korneeva Law we handle various
immigration cases
- Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
- Sponsorship of family members
- Fiancées
- Becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen
- Violence Against Women’s Act
- Consular processing
- Widows
we will do it together
If you are an immigrant facing a DUI arrest, the questions start immediately. Will this affect your immigration status? Can you keep your green card? Will it hurt a future citizenship application? The answer depends on your immigration status and the facts of your case.
The Law Firm of Anna Korneeva helps immigrants throughout Ohio and Kentucky understand both the criminal and immigration sides of a DUI case. Attorney Anna Korneeva is an immigrant herself and focuses on the area where criminal defense and immigration law meet.
Many lawyers handle only one area of law. Our firm understands how decisions made in criminal court can affect your future in the United States and works to protect your rights from the beginning.
A DUI does not automatically lead to deportation. However, that does not mean there are no immigration consequences. The effect of a DUI depends on many factors, including your immigration status, prior offenses, the facts surrounding the arrest, and whether additional criminal charges are involved.
A pending visa application, green card renewal, or citizenship application may receive closer review after a DUI. Immigration officials often consider the full history of a case rather than only the final outcome. My advice is to speak with a licensed lawyer as soon as possible so you understand how your criminal case could affect your immigration case.
Some situations carry greater immigration risk than others. A DUI involving drugs, multiple drunk driving offenses, serious injury, or allegations of another crime may create additional concerns for non-citizens. A conviction for certain criminal offenses may also affect removal proceedings or future immigration benefits.
Every case is different. That is why it is important to review the police reports, court records, and immigration history before making decisions. What appears to be a routine DUI case in criminal court may raise different questions for immigration purposes.
Many criminal defense attorneys focus on defending the criminal case without reviewing the possible immigration consequences. Immigration lawyers may understand immigration law but not the criminal court process. A DUI immigration lawyer works to understand both.
The Law Firm of Anna Korneeva reviews every case with both systems in mind. We examine the criminal charges, discuss possible outcomes, explain your rights, and look for options that may reduce immigration problems whenever the law allows. Our goal is to help clients make informed decisions before accepting plea agreements or other court resolutions.
The criminal and immigration processes often affect each other. A plea that seems reasonable in criminal court may create unexpected problems later during a green card renewal or citizenship application.
That is why timing matters. Before resolving a criminal case, it helps to understand how that decision may affect your immigration status. Every situation depends on the facts, and every client deserves advice that considers both areas of law together.
After a DUI arrest, avoid making assumptions about your case. Protect your driver’s license by meeting all required deadlines, appearing at every scheduled court proceeding, and keeping copies of any paperwork you receive. Missing deadlines or failing to appear in court can make both the criminal and immigration process more difficult.
The next thing to do is to call a licensed lawyer as soon as possible. Early legal advice often provides more options than waiting until the last minute. During the first meeting, your attorney can review the arrest, discuss the pending case, explain your rights, and identify issues that may affect your immigration status.
Sometimes clients ask whether a conviction can be changed after the case has ended. The answer is that it depends. In some situations, post-conviction relief may be available. Whether that option exists depends on the facts of the case, the court record, and the applicable law.
For immigration purposes, not every form of post-conviction relief changes the immigration outcome. That is another reason to work with a lawyer who understands both criminal defense and immigration law before making decisions about your case.
Your consultation is an opportunity to review your situation in detail. We discuss your immigration status, your criminal history, the facts surrounding the DUI, and any pending immigration applications or court proceedings. If additional charges are involved, we explain how they may affect your options.
You will receive honest answers based on the facts available. If the answer depends on additional information, we will explain what documents are needed and why they matter. Our firm believes clients should understand their rights before making decisions that could affect their future in the United States.
If you are an immigrant or non-citizen facing a DUI, do not wait to learn how your criminal case could affect your immigration status. Speaking with a licensed lawyer early gives you the opportunity to understand your options before making important decisions.
The Law Firm of Anna Korneeva represents clients throughout Ohio and Kentucky in matters involving criminal defense and immigration law. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your case, protect your rights, and receive advice based on your individual circumstances. Call us at 513-901-4143, email us at anna@annakorneevalaw.com, or use our online contact form to get in touch.
Yes. USCIS conducts fingerprint-based background checks on all immigration applicants. Arrests, charges, and DUI convictions will appear. Attempting to conceal a DUI from USCIS is itself a ground for denial based on misrepresentation. Full disclosure, combined with a well-prepared legal response, is always the correct approach.
A single DUI does not automatically bar naturalization, but it requires a stronger showing of good moral character and may delay the application timeline. Two or more DUIs within the five-year statutory period create a rebuttable presumption of lack of good moral character under Matter of Castillo-Perez. USCIS’s 2025 policy guidance takes a more demanding approach to this standard than in prior years.
A DUI involving a controlled substance is treated differently under immigration law than an alcohol-based DUI. It raises controlled substance inadmissibility concerns with more limited waiver options. This distinction should be addressed immediately after arrest, before any plea discussions begin.
A DUI arrest does not have to define your immigration future, but it requires immediate and coordinated legal attention on both the criminal and immigration sides. The decisions made in the first days and weeks after an arrest will shape the consequences for years to come.
The Law Firm of Anna Korneeva represents non-citizens at every stage of DUI cases. Our firm is equipped to handle the full scope of the implications of a DUI arrest for a non-citizen’s future in the United States. Contact us now to schedule a consultation with an experienced Cincinnati DUI immigration lawyer.
Contact Us
Hablamos Español
Мы говорим по-русски