Speeding ticket not mention on n400! Interview soon

[KiaraY 0]

 

Hi All- 

Happy Friday! I applied my N400 in Nov 2019 and was scheduled an interview next month! Very excited. 

However, I completely forgot to mention a speeding ticket I received in 2017 and it was about $450 dollars. Speeding only not related to drugs or alcohol. It was an infraction. Back then, i had an attorney went to court to fight it but it was still ruled guilty. I had to pay the ticket but no points will be on my record.
I paid in full. Have certified court document showing that I paid and also clean dmv record. But I'm pretty worried! Anyone has experience with this when you go to your interview? Is this going to hinder my case?

Thanks in advance for whoever can help!

[Loren Y 2,756]

Most minor misdemeanor like a traffic ticket if under 500 dollars is not required to be mentioned in the N400 citizenship application. You can check the Instructions to verify, but I'm 99% sure it says so in the instructions. You should be fine. Take the documents to the interview just in case, but sounds like no worry's.

 

Here's what I found on the topic...

 

What Do You Do About Traffic Tickets?

Let me read to you what USCIS has to say on this topic. It’s straight from a community relations guide and says, “Typically, if an individual only has minor citations with no arrests resulting from, for example, a speeding ticket, they will not be required to submit any additional documentation or information with the N-400.”

“However, during the course of the interview, an adjudications officer may determine that there are circumstances that warrant further investigation. For example, the applicant may have failed to pay fines associated with the citations. In that case, the officers may request additional documentation, such as proof of payment or certified police or court records indicating payment.”

Two Ways To Handle Traffic Tickets

There’s a question on the N-400 that says, “Have you ever been arrested or cited or charged?” And if there were just minor traffic offenses, you’re well within your rights to say, “No,” and leave it at that.

On the other hand, if you want to be really diligent and make sure you’ve covered all your bases, you could say, “Yes.” You could disclose all of your traffic citations and would provide proof that you’ve paid all the fines and resolved everything in your favor.

The Gray Area

The problem is, if you just say, “No, I don’t have any arrests,” because they were just traffic citations, there might be some cases that fall into a gray area. A parking ticket is clearly a minor traffic citation that wouldn’t have to be disclosed.

However, what about driving without a license? That’s a motor vehicle issue. And in some states, it’s also a criminal offense, so you would have to disclose that.

Here’s What You Should Do

I think you can go either way on this, but my guidance would be to collect the paperwork to have proof that you’ve paid the fines or resolved everything. Then you can let the officer decide whether he or she thinks it’s relevant and wants to see the additional information.

You can’t go wrong by documenting things. But if it’s really a very minor traffic offense, you’d be okay documenting it, and you’d probably also be okay excluding it.

Edited November 20, 2020 by Loren Y

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

But the follow up questions, if you say yes, don't pertain to something minor.

 

Just bring in the documentation, and explain you weren't sure about entering it.

 

They understand

 

[KiaraY 0]

Thank you both! I put no on my n400 cuz i forgot and i wasn't sure this should be mentioned. 

[BBlueB 35]

Bring documents. Mention it in the interview

[Scandi 4,186]

We have seen several cases in N-400 groups on Facebook lately where the applicant was grilled by the IO at the interview about a traffic ticket (less than $500) that was not mentioned on the form. So if I were you I would definitely bring it up at the interview and bring the receipt that you paid it. 

[H.Angy 51]

I also have a speeding ticket ( 250USD). I will put YES for the citation question and then add to my package copies of the ticket, my DMV record and the payment. This way you don't leave room for interpretation.

[KiaraY 0]

@Scandi Thanks for your respond. but did they end up passing the interview? I have the ticket, certified court docket saying I paid and all other doc saying I paid and with clean record. Like is this going to be bad for the case? 

[Imani 105]

23 hours ago, KiaraY said:

 

Hi All- 

Happy Friday! I applied my N400 in Nov 2019 and was scheduled an interview next month! Very excited. 

However, I completely forgot to mention a speeding ticket I received in 2017 and it was about $450 dollars. Speeding only not related to drugs or alcohol. It was an infraction. Back then, i had an attorney went to court to fight it but it was still ruled guilty. I had to pay the ticket but no points will be on my record.
I paid in full. Have certified court document showing that I paid and also clean dmv record. But I'm pretty worried! Anyone has experience with this when you go to your interview? Is this going to hinder my case?

Thanks in advance for whoever can help!

thats required? I went through very swiftly though, i do not think that is required to be mentioned.  You should be fine. Wish you well on your interview.

[Scandi 4,186]

4 hours ago, KiaraY said:

@Scandi Thanks for your respond. but did they end up passing the interview? I have the ticket, certified court docket saying I paid and all other doc saying I paid and with clean record. Like is this going to be bad for the case? 

They passed after sending in evidence that the ticket was taken care of and paid. So you have everything you need in case they ever ask for it, just bring that and you won't risk an RFE for it after the interview and therefore no delay. You'll be perfectly fine.

[Fr8dog 312]

So........................

 

When you get to the interview and get sworn in, they will go over the whole form again verify every answer you have given and correct where needed. When they ask about past offenses, you that mention that you have gotten a ticket in the past and forgot to disclose it on the application. They may ask for additional documents that you can than hand over.

When you initially signed the form you stated that you answered the questions truthfully and to the best of your knowledge. Forgetting something is ok.

 

On my interview I mentioned a ticket I had gotten after filing the form, so that is not the same as your situation. However when we got to the question about "weapons training" I had checked "no" online and again answered "no" during the interview. My interviewer kept asking questions about that and I kept answering "no" eventually she asked me about shooting lessons and that's when I realized  she was looking for an answer regarding my concealed carry license. Virginia requires you to shoot 10 rounds during the class and that is considered "weapons training". I told her I have a CCL, but did not think that would be considered training. She smiled said it did and we moved on. So don't worry too much about what you have filled out in the past. Listen carefully to the questions and answer them as accurately as you can.

[bashray 24]

Hi I am in in the process of filing my N400. Wondering if you got your interview and what happened when they asked about traffic violations.

 

Thank you

[JrGoldMiner 63]

I mentioned all of my minor traffic violations while filing n400 but unlike you, I didn't have the receipts as these were over decades ago. I didn't submit any evidence online just mentioned I got the ticket and paid for it. I'm taking my clean driving record in lieu of the paid receipts. Hopefully that doesn't pose an issue. Lets see! My interview is next month  

 

In your case, it's perfectly fine to say you forgot about it and present the certified receipts.  It's Ok to say you forgot about stuff (we're humans after all) and the thing you forgot doesn't disqualify you. For this reason they go through the whole application with you anyway, so don't worry about it. 

Edited December 21, 2020 by JrGoldMiner

[leonidas_alexan 45]

While in my case I mentioned about my speeding ticket, I forgot to mention about an improper driving charge that actually later got removed from my driving record on the N400. I am taking my latest driving record with me which only has information about my speeding ticket.

 

I intend to tell the IO about the improper driving charge at the time of the interview. 

 

I believe as long as your are honest and take the evidence with you - I am guessing you should be fine. I will find out next month how the IO is going to respond in my own case.

 

Good luck.

[MaleAlpha 314]

Similar issue on my end. In my case, I got the traffic ticket right AFTER I applied. Still wasn’t an issue at all. In the interview, he went through the yes/no questions and I informed him I got a speeding ticket after my application. He only inquired if I had paid for it and once I replied I did, he moved on.

Overall, don’t worry your head one bit. Just disclose it in the interview and have any supporting paperwork to show you paid for it and you will be fine.