Am I allowed to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy as a non-citizen?
A Northern Virginia resident should know that they do not have to be American citizens or even permanent residents to file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The law says that anyone who lives in the United States can file for a bankruptcy. Even a person who is not documented can file for bankruptcy. However, the person will have to present valid identification.
As a word of caution, immigrants who do file for bankruptcy should be careful to follow all of the rules for filing bankruptcy. They should also make absolutely certain to provide truthful and complete information. Not doing so can affect a person’s immigration status and can also hurt the person’s chances of getting approved for citizenship or a green card.
Admittedly, immigration authorities are concerned that those applying for citizenship or permanent residency will not be a financial burden. However, filing for bankruptcy or having other financial trouble is not an automatic disqualifier, especially if the person can show that they can pay their taxes.
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can give financial relief to struggling families
It might not be the best move in every case, but a non-citizen should keep an open mind to filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy if they are having financial problems.
Anyone can wind up facing overwhelming debt, and sometimes suddenly. A job loss or an unexpected medical problem can quickly put a family behind in their bills.
At the end of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a debtor should get a discharge from their debts, meaning they no longer have to worry about paying them.
It is important to understand all of the consequences of bankruptcy and equally important to make sure the bankruptcy gets filed and taken care of correctly. An experienced Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney can help people understand how the process works.