Application N400 - "Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained"

[Nathan45 5]

Hey guys,

 

I'm applying for the N400 online today and I find the section asking about your criminal history to be incredibly vague.

 

The only interaction I have had with the Police since immigrating has been one non-moving traffic citation for not having an up to date vehicle inspection. But I'm not entirely sure how I am meant to answer yes/no on each question regarding this. I have listed the questions below and I have only answered yes to the one asking if I have been cited. The citation was resolved by paying the fine and I still have the court documentation showing that so sending in the evidence isn't a problem, I'm just not sure if my answers to all of the questions are correct. Could anyone help?

 

"Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?"

NO

 

"Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason?"

YES

 

"Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?"

NO

 

"Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?"

NO

 

"Have you EVER been placed in an alternative sentencing or a rehabilitative program (for example, diversion, deferred prosecution, withheld adjudication, deferred adjudication)?"

NO

 

"Have you EVER received a suspended sentence, been placed on probation, or been paroled?"

NO

 

"Have you EVER been in jail or prison?"

NO

[arken 4,197]

Your answers seem correct to me.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

21 hours ago, Nathan45 said:

Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?"

NO

Were you behind the wheel? Did you get a ticket? I ticket means you were charged.

 

21 hours ago, Nathan45 said:

Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?"

NO

If you paid a fine, weren’t you convicted (found guilty of inspection violation).

 

I would include the evidence. I was in a similar position when I applied for naturalisation with a speeding ticket which I thought did not need to be included. At my interview when the officer was going through the entire application, I stopped him at that arrested/cited/detained part and said  I was confused by the wording and instructions. (The instructions at that time said traffic violations under a $500 fine did not need reporting.) I said I got a traffic ticket and did not include it. Should I have reported it? I had the ticket and receipt of paying a fine. He took that from me and typed into his computer. Not sure if it was making notes or changing my answers on the application but he was interested in including the ticket.

Edited May 26, 2021 by Wuozopo

[StuTor 51]

On 5/25/2021 at 10:10 AM, Nathan45 said:

"Have you EVER been charged with committing, attempting to commit, or assisting in committing a crime or offense?"

Yes, you committed an offense. You received a citation for an offense

 

On 5/25/2021 at 10:10 AM, Nathan45 said:

Have you EVER been convicted of a crime or offense?

Yes, you were convicted of the offense. By paying the fine, you were convicted.

 

All in all, this should not even affect your application, and you don't even need to provide evidence as long as the fine was <$500.