Credit card fraud in past, adoption issues

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Question

Country: United States of America State: All States Provinces I am Canadian and was arrested and charged with attempted credit card fraud 14 years ago when I was 19. I received a full pardon from the Canadian government when I was 24. I am now 33 and am married to an American. We would like to adopt a child from China through an US based international adoption agency. On the form it asks, "Have you ever been arrested?" I am leaning toward putting NO as I am afraid putting YES would jeopardize our chances. Secondly, is there anyway they would find out that I had been arrested since I have received a pardon in Canada? I really don't want to be dishonest but at the same time I am worried that a silly mistake 14 years ago may hinder our chances of adopting a child.

Answer

Ask the court or agency that pardoned you how you have to answer--each expunction or pardon etc. has rules and most allow you to act as if it never happened and to legally answer no--or you could just assume that that is the case for you and answer no--