N400 Part 9 Question 16. Is it mandatory to answer?

[dave2 4]

I had previously gotten a helpful reply from one user but thought I post it here as a separate topic just to see if anybody else had any opinion on this. On the N400 (paper form) I answered No to both questions 15a and 15b in Part 9.

 

For question 16:

"If you received a suspended sentence, were placed on probation, or were paroled, have you completed your suspended sentence, probation, or parole?"

 

None of those things ever happened to me so I feel like I should not answer this question. So is it okay to not mark either checkbox (yes or no)? Just want to make sure USCIS doesn't think that I skipped the question. But if I mark yes or no it implies one of those things happened to me. Please advise. Thanks!

[Dashinka 24,492]

Yes, reading questions 15 (both parts), and 16, you are right, question 16 appears not applicable if the answer is No to both parts of 15.  I would leave 16 blank.  The IO at the interview will review the entire form with you, and if there are any questions at that point you can clarify.  It would be interesting to see if doing this online if question 16 even comes up if the answers to 15 is No.

 

Good Luck!

Edited May 7 by Dashinka

[dave2 4]

@Dashinka Thanks. I agree with what you are saying and that's what the other user had stated as well. In fact that user did the N400 form online and said question 16 did not even come up as they had answered No to both 15a and 15b. Link to thread below: