Immigrant Inadmissibility to the U.S.

Within the U.S. immigration laws is a long list of things that make a person “inadmissible” to the United States. What that means is that, despite the person being otherwise eligible for a visa or green card, the U.S. government will not allow it to that person based on the person’s history of criminal convictions, security, immigration violations, commission of fraud, high-risk health problems, and need for financial support from the government.

For example, a foreign-born person who marries a U.S. citizen is, in theory, eligible for a green card. But that person could be found inadmissible and denied the green card for having a violent crime on his or her record, appearing likely to need public assistance (often called welfare), or having entered the United States without inspection and remained here for six months or more.