How do I obtain certified copies of my arrest record and the total amount of days I was incarcerated, for immigration purposes?

You should be able to obtain copies of your arrest record from the police authorities in the jurisdiction in which you were arrested in most cases. You may or may not be able to have the arrest record certified. In our experience, USCIS officers generally do not insist upon having an arrest record certified if there is a certified disposition by a court. On the matter of the total amount of days that you were incarcerated, most individuals remember the exact number of days – otherwise, they can give their best guess. The point at which the number of days becomes important may be where there is question as to whether a crime is a felony as opposed to a misdemeanor or whether the crime should be considered an aggravated felony or if an offense can be considered a crime involving moral turpitude with issues of inadmissibility or deportability. In those situations, the exact number of days incarcerated may prove important. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.