I was arrested but my crime was dropped because I completed PTI (pre-trial intervention). I can apply for US citizenship without any worries, right?
No, you must consult an experienced immigration lawyer before filing for US citizenship. While the criminal records may indicate that the charges are dropped, USCIS has its own legal standards to determine whether the charge is considered dropped for immigration reasons. The answer will depend on an immigration attorneys review of the all the documents relating to the PTI (pre-trial intervention) agreement. If USCIS determines that part of the PTI agreement required signature of a standard form that states that the applicant admits his or her guilt, then USCIS may consider this to be an admission to the crime and thus a conviction of the crime. Many times this will depend on the county in Florida, for example, where the PTI agreement took place, as each county has their own PTI agreement that they require applicants to sign and some require admitting guilt while others do not. Again, seek the advice of an experienced immigration attorney and do NOT assume that your crime was dropped, a
