Traffic Violations, N-400 instructions.

[NickD 202]

Sure a lot of questions whether traffic violations should be listed in the N-400, in trying to retrace my steps with the passport photos, ran across this:

"Step 2. General Requirements

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

All applicants must send certain documents with their application.

For example, if you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license."

Feel that should answer all questions about listing traffic violations.

[jtee 0]

Ha, just touched a sore nerve. As an LPR think you can tout a sports coupe and are allowed, even entitled to a couple of speeding tickets? Wrong!! Big brother is watching you all the time. Shrugged off speeding tickets by paying online, not saving the receipts? Wrong again!! Think question about arrests, detentions and citations exclude traffic tickets? You'll learn the hard way, as I did.

Answered 'No' to the Q and mailed my N400. Lurking on the forums, noticed a debate on the Q and started reading more. Checked calendars for past 10 years to figure out dates of tickets. Called the courts, was asked to send letters with 10 bucks apiece. Got the dispositions already. Now worried about getiing pulled over for driving too slow. Wish I'd bought a hybrid - no hassels with tickets and lots more bucks in the pocket.

Yes, you need to disclose all traffic violations, tiny and huge, on N400. No need to attach disposition reports for non-DUI or under 500 bucks. I did not list them, so I got the disp reports which I'll hand over to IO at interview, whenever that happens.

[NickD 202]

Ha, just touched a sore nerve. As an LPR think you can tout a sports coupe and are allowed, even entitled to a couple of speeding tickets? Wrong!! Big brother is watching you all the time. Shrugged off speeding tickets by paying online, not saving the receipts? Wrong again!! Think question about arrests, detentions and citations exclude traffic tickets? You'll learn the hard way, as I did.

Answered 'No' to the Q and mailed my N400. Lurking on the forums, noticed a debate on the Q and started reading more. Checked calendars for past 10 years to figure out dates of tickets. Called the courts, was asked to send letters with 10 bucks apiece. Got the dispositions already. Now worried about getiing pulled over for driving too slow. Wish I'd bought a hybrid - no hassels with tickets and lots more bucks in the pocket.

Yes, you need to disclose all traffic violations, tiny and huge, on N400. No need to attach disposition reports for non-DUI or under 500 bucks. I did not list them, so I got the disp reports which I'll hand over to IO at interview, whenever that happens.

Ha, was thinking after I posted that, after that question list see Exhibit A, then take that page that lists that "Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license." highlight this phrase and call it Exhibit A.

But the bottom line is, if you want your citizenship, better comply with what your officer demands, whether it's specified or not, the officer is never wrong.

[jtee 0]

I agree unconditionally. One tends to misread the Q since it combines arrests and citations. The guideline is indeed a little confusing at first glance. When I read the guideline carefully I realize my mistake. USCIS is every bit correct in requiring disclosure of every brush with the law. After all they have the huge responsibility of protecting the country.

Only wish they have a separate Q for citations, separate from arrests atleast. May be one Q for arrests and one for detentions and citations. Better still 3 separate Qs.

As for not disclosing speeding tickets in N400, I am not alone. Some of my friends did not. Most were never asked, and some disclosed in the interview. Also see many in the forums. Good that we have an opportunity to disclose in the interview.

[moonhunt 1]

In my case, I answered as "Yes" for Page 8 Question 16 since it stated "citation".

But also, I attached additional sheet into N400 paperwork with my A# written on the right top position, and stated that I answered "Yes" because of speed tickets, and nothing related to DUI or other serious issues.

For pre-caution, I will bring driving record from DMV to interview, and DMV driving record copy should tell whether it is speed ticket or DUI.

I think it is really up to you.

Question itself mentioned citiation, which includes speed ticket or parking ticket.

But when you look at instructions, it doesn't consider speed ticket or parking ticket as issue.

But when Interview officer ask you for citation, if you say "NO", and you have speed ticket, technically you are not telling him true, and violate the oath you take before interview.

So it's really up to you.

Sure a lot of questions whether traffic violations should be listed in the N-400, in trying to retrace my steps with the passport photos, ran across this:

"Step 2. General Requirements

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

All applicants must send certain documents with their application.

For example, if you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license."

Feel that should answer all questions about listing traffic violations.

[jtee 0]

In my case, I answered as "Yes" for Page 8 Question 16 since it stated "citation".

But also, I attached additional sheet into N400 paperwork with my A# written on the right top position, and stated that I answered "Yes" because of speed tickets, and nothing related to DUI or other serious issues.

For pre-caution, I will bring driving record from DMV to interview, and DMV driving record copy should tell whether it is speed ticket or DUI.

I think it is really up to you.

Question itself mentioned citiation, which includes speed ticket or parking ticket.

But when you look at instructions, it doesn't consider speed ticket or parking ticket as issue.

But when Interview officer ask you for citation, if you say "NO", and you have speed ticket, technically you are not telling him true, and violate the oath you take before interview.

So it's really up to you.

Sure a lot of questions whether traffic violations should be listed in the N-400, in trying to retrace my steps with the passport photos, ran across this:

"Step 2. General Requirements

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

All applicants must send certain documents with their application.

For example, if you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license."

Feel that should answer all questions about listing traffic violations.

I think I have been misunderstood by the forum.

I realized a while ago that I had a mistake in N400 by answering 'No' to the question regarding citations. So I collected certified court disposition reports for all the 3 tickets I have got so far. All the 3 are non-DUI with fines around 100 bucks. I plan to disclose them to the IO in the interview and provide the disposition reports that clearly state that I have paid them off. I have also ordered my driving record form DMV, which I will submit at the interview.

Now, I made the mistake in my N400 because I misinterpreted the instruction 'non-DUI and less than $500 does not require documentation' to mean 'non-DUI and less than $500 does not require disclosure'. Many applicants have made this mistake. But it is a mistake nevertheless. This mistake can be corrected in the interview by making a full disclosure.

[NickD 202]

In my case, I answered as "Yes" for Page 8 Question 16 since it stated "citation".

But also, I attached additional sheet into N400 paperwork with my A# written on the right top position, and stated that I answered "Yes" because of speed tickets, and nothing related to DUI or other serious issues.

For pre-caution, I will bring driving record from DMV to interview, and DMV driving record copy should tell whether it is speed ticket or DUI.

I think it is really up to you.

Question itself mentioned citiation, which includes speed ticket or parking ticket.

But when you look at instructions, it doesn't consider speed ticket or parking ticket as issue.

But when Interview officer ask you for citation, if you say "NO", and you have speed ticket, technically you are not telling him true, and violate the oath you take before interview.

So it's really up to you.

Sure a lot of questions whether traffic violations should be listed in the N-400, in trying to retrace my steps with the passport photos, ran across this:

"Step 2. General Requirements

Translations. Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

All applicants must send certain documents with their application.

For example, if you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license."

Feel that should answer all questions about listing traffic violations.

I think I have been misunderstood by the forum.

I realized a while ago that I had a mistake in N400 by answering 'No' to the question regarding citations. So I collected certified court disposition reports for all the 3 tickets I have got so far. All the 3 are non-DUI with fines around 100 bucks. I plan to disclose them to the IO in the interview and provide the disposition reports that clearly state that I have paid them off. I have also ordered my driving record form DMV, which I will submit at the interview.

Now, I made the mistake in my N400 because I misinterpreted the instruction 'non-DUI and less than $500 does not require documentation' to mean 'non-DUI and less than $500 does not require disclosure'. Many applicants have made this mistake. But it is a mistake nevertheless. This mistake can be corrected in the interview by making a full disclosure.

One thing I hear from many foreign visitors to America is our extreme wide open spaces and great distances between our cities, our great interstate system, but why do we have practically standing still speed limits? My wife is from a country that just doesn't have speed limits, really had to warn her about the consequences, even driving 26 mph in a 25 mph zone.

Now we have the idiots coming back with high fuel cost and demand is to lower the speed limits on the main highways, when in fact that 90% of the driving is done in cities! I can average better than 35 mpg on the interstates, but once I get into Chicago creeping along at 2-3 mph, lucky to get 5-6 mpg, so much for the idiots running this country. The DOT has added thousands of traffic lights all over the country that is increasing the time to travel by over 30% in the cities, but it's for safety without any figures to back that up.

And how many people say, goody goody there is a cop car ahead, praise be to the Lord, there is a law enforcer ahead to protect me! Quite the contrary, that ####### is there to nail me.

Since 9/11 the DHS has doubled the size of the police force in practically all the towns, in our tiny town we have three undercover cops hiding behind the bushes, town had to hire a judge to handle all these new tickets that are issued. Wonder where all that fine money is going to, sure are not lowering our property taxes.

Then this stupid idea where everybody has to go to work and school at the same exact time, and they call that a rush hour? Very much a part of our day in and day out lives, but never hear a politician bring this up. And if you are one minute late can either get fired or a detention.

[moonhunt 1]

I think it goes to local government and policy department budget. ^^

That's why they offer to lower de-merit point, not for fines.

Since federal government cut the funding for local/state government, and puring the money to Iraq,

local/state government is trying to pull out dimes from our pocket.

Convenient way to do that is speed tickets.

Since 9/11 the DHS has doubled the size of the police force in practically all the towns, in our tiny town we have three undercover cops hiding behind the bushes, town had to hire a judge to handle all these new tickets that are issued. Wonder where all that fine money is going to, sure are not lowering our property taxes.

Then this stupid idea where everybody has to go to work and school at the same exact time, and they call that a rush hour? Very much a part of our day in and day out lives, but never hear a politician bring this up. And if you are one minute late can either get fired or a detention.

[convert-arb 0]

As many of you, my wife answered “yes” to question 16 on N-400 that asked

about arrested/cited/detained. She had a traffic ticket and she clearly stated

so in the explanation grid for question 16, because we interpreted “cited”

as “ticketed”, which is correct.

Recently we received a yellow sheet of paper called Case File Review,

which stated that upon careful review of documents we submitted,

it appears that my wife has been arrested. I was like – this is madness.

Can’t they read – we distinctly stated TICKET. What a bummer.

The letter did say not to send any support information now, but to bring

such support to the interview. But I don’t think we need to bring

any support for a ticket that was under $500 and not DUI related.

Anyhow, as I said, this is frustrating.

Did anyone else have this? Now we are going to try and contact an

immigration officer through that 1800-misinformation line. Hopefully,

we’ll be able to explain that they misread what we stated.

[jtee 0]

As many of you, my wife answered “yes” to question 16 on N-400 that asked

about arrested/cited/detained. She had a traffic ticket and she clearly stated

so in the explanation grid for question 16, because we interpreted “cited”

as “ticketed”, which is correct.

Recently we received a yellow sheet of paper called Case File Review,

which stated that upon careful review of documents we submitted,

it appears that my wife has been arrested. I was like – this is madness.

Can’t they read – we distinctly stated TICKET. What a bummer.

The letter did say not to send any support information now, but to bring

such support to the interview. But I don’t think we need to bring

any support for a ticket that was under $500 and not DUI related.

Anyhow, as I said, this is frustrating.

Did anyone else have this? Now we are going to try and contact an

immigration officer through that 1800-misinformation line. Hopefully,

we’ll be able to explain that they misread what we stated.

This is why I wish they had separate N400 questions for arrests and citations. I would suggest you provide certified court disposition reports for the traffic violations - even non-DUI minor violations. I have read in the forums that some IOs ask for disposition reports for minor tarffic violations as well.

[convert-arb 0]

The silly thing is - when we tried to pull up her driving record through the website of our county - it was blank. They didn't record this ticket it appears. So there is nothing to certify.

[NickD 202]

The silly thing is - when we tried to pull up her driving record through the website of our county - it was blank. They didn't record this ticket it appears. So there is nothing to certify.

I just warned my wife to watch her speed between now and when she takes her oath, I gather they ask those questions again. Best way to deal with a traffic violation is not to get one.