Aggravated Felonies

            Persons applying for non-immigrant visas are generally subject to the grounds of inadmissibility.  See § 2.16, supra.  After admission on a non-immigrant visa, the noncitizen will be subject to the grounds of deportation.  Even if conviction of a criminal offense does not result in deportability, the immigration authorities may find that the conviction, and any service of sentence imposed as a result, defeats the purpose for which the noncitizen was admitted.[334]  There are several classes of visas that have a particular bearing on immigrants with criminal issues.

[334] But see Matter of Murat-Kahn, 14 I. & N. Dec. 465 (BIA 1973) (student’s conviction that did not result in long period of incarceration and did not interfere with her studies so as to meaningfully disrupt her education does not constitute a failure to maintain status). See also Mashi v. INS, 585 F.2d 1309 (5th Cir. 1978) (reversing BIA where student substantially complied with terms of visa).