Will a speeding ticket stop me from becoming a US citizen?

[steve100100 0]

Hello all!

I will be applying for citizenship next year. I got a speeding ticket 2 years ago which I paid on time. Will this affect my application for naturalization? Part 10, Section D of form N-400 asks "have you committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?"

Do I need to declare my speeding ticket? Or should I just check the "no" box? Anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks for you help.

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

Hello all!

I will be applying for citizenship next year. I got a speeding ticket 2 years ago which I paid on time. Will this affect my application for naturalization? Part 10, Section D of form N-400 asks "have you committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?"

Do I need to declare my speeding ticket? Or should I just check the "no" box? Anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks for you help.

Traffic violations don't count. You can check the "no" box.

[NickD 203]

Hello all!

I will be applying for citizenship next year. I got a speeding ticket 2 years ago which I paid on time. Will this affect my application for naturalization? Part 10, Section D of form N-400 asks "have you committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?"

Do I need to declare my speeding ticket? Or should I just check the "no" box? Anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks for you help.

Traffic violations don't count. You can check the "no" box.

Read the instruction for the I-400 and the entire M-476 manual you can download off the web, will answer many questions, but you will still have a lot more. Regarding traffic violations, they state explicitly which ones you have to report and which ones you don't.

[jtee 0]

Hello all!

I will be applying for citizenship next year. I got a speeding ticket 2 years ago which I paid on time. Will this affect my application for naturalization? Part 10, Section D of form N-400 asks "have you committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?"

Do I need to declare my speeding ticket? Or should I just check the "no" box? Anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks for you help.

Traffic violations don't count. You can check the "no" box.

Read the instruction for the I-400 and the entire M-476 manual you can download off the web, will answer many questions, but you will still have a lot more. Regarding traffic violations, they state explicitly which ones you have to report and which ones you don't.

Traffic violations need to be reported on N400. However you need not provide associated documents if the fine was less that $500 and it was non-DUI/DWI. Please read instruction for the I-400 and the entire M-476 manual carefully and follow the instructions.

[moonhunt 1]

Traffic violations need to be reported on N400. However you need not provide associated documents if the fine was less that $500 and it was non-DUI/DWI. Please read instruction for the I-400 and the entire M-476 manual carefully and follow the instructions.

When you have interview, don't forget to bring DMV driving record just in case.

Technically you have to answer "Yes" for citation question, then attach separate paper with explanation that it was because of speed ticket, and nothing else.

Then you should show DMV driving record as proof.

Instruction said that traffic ticket with less than $500 and non-DUI related one will not be issue, but it doesn't say you don't have to report it.

[*JG* 2]

Answer truthfully after carefully reading all questions.

On this one, I would not worry about the effects. You will be fine.

[kmineo 0]

Agree with the rest as it shouldn't have any affect on your citizenship approval. But we answered with a yes and wrote a short explanation of the ticket. I don't imagine we will have any problems, but will let you know if and when she has the interview. We were wavering on including it or not but decided to include it, reading that those sorts of tickets don't have any affect on the process and don't require all the court records.

[elainelena 0]

My husband had his interview today for naturalization, (HE PASSED ) and he had 3 speeding tickets in his time in US and told about them on the application, attached a abstract of his DMV record and all they did was ask him about them at the interview. Mostly joking about is that all? Speeding? So I advocate being honest with all the questions.

[NickD 203]

My husband had his interview today for naturalization, (HE PASSED ) and he had 3 speeding tickets in his time in US and told about them on the application, attached a abstract of his DMV record and all they did was ask him about them at the interview. Mostly joking about is that all? Speeding? So I advocate being honest with all the questions.

The real joke is if you are late for your USCIS appointment even by a couple of minutes they will cancel you or at least say they will, even though they kept us waiting for over two hours one time. So if you base your average traveling time at a conservative 50 mph, but some idiot blocks the road, like a private contractor for twenty minutes, you have to drive at 75 mph to make that 50 miles in the alloted time period and risk getting a speeding ticket. Or risk having your appointment canceled. Or allow an additional two hours for instances like this, but if all goes smooth, you have a four hour wait instead of a two hour wait. That added to the long trip puts you in a bad frame of mind, but have to be super happy when finally called in.

Bad weather is also no excuse for being late, only had two organizations in my life that had no mercy, the military and the USCIS. Done with the military and one more trip with the USCIS.

Wonder why Dallas and Newark let you say that 30 second oath after the interview, St. Paul must be a different USCIS. Ha, screw the ceremony, citizenship is only important to my wife and me, and we are the only two people that have to live a restricted life in our small circle for lack of it. It's our personal fight for freedom. Has been over five years of this stuff, time to move on.

[warlord 73]

This topic has been beat to death on another website immigration forum. From the INS that was contacted by many (including myself), you do not have to report any speeding/parking tickets on the N-400 that do not exceed $500 (I think that's the sum) or ones that did not involve a DUI.

I had several speeding tickets and I too was confused. I called up the USCIS and asked them on the phone and was told they are not looking for speeding tickets unless they are excessive or DUI related. This then was backed up by my IO during my interview.

Now if you have other issues on your application then you may want to document you paid these tickets on time if the other issues might be an issue with your moral character (like arrests etc)...

Posted from the USCIS on the issue:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedoc...%207.28.08.doc

Edited July 30, 2008 by warlord

[warlord 73]

Hmmm won't let me re-edit that previous message, but here's the section in that USCIS document about tickets:

10. Question: What documentation is USCIS looking for on N-400 applications for clients who have traffic citations only (no arrests), such as speeding tickets? This is in reference to the Good Moral Character section, question 16, that asks if you have ever been arrested, cited, ...etc. Also, what is expected at the N-400 interview regarding these traffic tickets?

Response: Typically if an individual only has minor traffic citations with no arrests resulting (i.e. speeding tickets), they will not be required to submit any additional information with the N-400. However, if, during the course of the interview, an adjudications officer determines that there are circumstances that warrant further investigation, (e.g. there is an indication that the applicant has failed to pay fines associated with the citations), the officer may request additional documentation. (e.g. payment, certified police/court documents indicating such).

Now the term additional can be up to debate if you need to even mention that on the N-400 or you do not need to bring in other materials to support you paid them. From the people that have asked the INS, the answer was no, do not mention it on the N-400. However, take it as you want, if you feel you need to do this and are concerned, then by all means mention them. The most they will do is delay the decision and ask for court records to show they were paid which could take some time depending on the nature and date of the tickets...

Edited July 30, 2008 by warlord