A DUI conviction in California carries with it penalties and consequences.  For aliens, a conviction, or even just an arrest, has additional consequences.

One of the eligibility requirements for naturalization is that a person must be of "good moral character" for five years prior to submitting an application.  Generally this means that an alien must show that he or she has not violated any laws or pursued conduct that was inappropriate.

This, of course, includes a DUI conviction.  It may also include a DUI arrest which resulted a plea to a lesser included offense.  An alien can not be on probation at the time a naturalization aplication is filed. 

If an alien has the DUI conviction expunged, or erased, from his or her record, the conviction is still relevant for purposes of immigration.  In other words, it must be revealed to the immigration agency.

A qualified DUI attorney competent in immigration can advise an alien as to the effect of a DUI conviction on a naturalization application, and the options that are available to the alien.