N400: Admitted to Weed during Green Card (was it a crime I was not arrested for?)

[Left Over 0]

To start, marijuana is illegal in my country of origin.

 

When I was applying for my green card I admitted to trying marijuana when I was in my 20's (I'm 49 now).

 

I got my green card and have lived in the US for 5 years. I'm in the process of applying for citizenship.

 

What answer should I give to the question: "Have you EVER committed, agreed to commit, asked someone else to commit, helped commit, or tried to commit a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested? Yes or No" given that I admitted to past marijuana use during the GC process?

[SalishSea 18,159]

50 minutes ago, Left Over said:

To start, marijuana is illegal in my country of origin.

 

When I was applying for my green card I admitted to trying marijuana when I was in my 20's (I'm 49 now).

 

I got my green card and have lived in the US for 5 years. I'm in the process of applying for citizenship.

 

What answer should I give to the question: "Have you EVER committed, agreed to commit, asked someone else to commit, helped commit, or tried to commit a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested? Yes or No" given that I admitted to past marijuana use during the GC process?

Interesting question, as even in jurisdictions where marijuana is illegal, "using" it, or having used it in the past isn't necessarily a crime.

[OldUser 7,647]

1 hour ago, Left Over said:

To start, marijuana is illegal in my country of origin.

 

When I was applying for my green card I admitted to trying marijuana when I was in my 20's (I'm 49 now).

 

I got my green card and have lived in the US for 5 years. I'm in the process of applying for citizenship.

 

What answer should I give to the question: "Have you EVER committed, agreed to commit, asked someone else to commit, helped commit, or tried to commit a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested? Yes or No" given that I admitted to past marijuana use during the GC process?

May need to consult with a lawyer. But you may not be eligible for citizenship. Marijuana isn't legal on federal level.

[Left Over 0]

I have not used marijuana while living in the US. I did it in my country of origin. I admitted to this during my medical exam but still got my green card.

Edited 22 hours ago by Left Over

[C1322 6]

14 minutes ago, Left Over said:

I have not used marijuana while living in the US. I did it in my country of origin. I admitted to this during my medical exam but still got my green card.

If the sole source to this information can only be linked to a medical lab technician during a general exam that seeks for medical data that can only be proven through lab tests, I would say you’re fine and you should check for No the questionnaire. 

[OldUser 7,647]

10 minutes ago, C1322 said:

If the sole source to this information can only be linked to a medical lab technician during a general exam that seeks for medical data that can only be proven through lab tests, I would say you’re fine and you should check for No the questionnaire. 

Under no circumstances one should lie to USCIS. If OP disclosed it in the medical for AOS, it's pretty clear USCIS knows about it.

[W199 370]

1 hour ago, Left Over said:

To start, marijuana is illegal in my country of origin.

 

When I was applying for my green card I admitted to trying marijuana when I was in my 20's (I'm 49 now).

 

I got my green card and have lived in the US for 5 years. I'm in the process of applying for citizenship.

 

What answer should I give to the question: "Have you EVER committed, agreed to commit, asked someone else to commit, helped commit, or tried to commit a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested? Yes or No" given that I admitted to past marijuana use during the GC process?

Why should the answer be based upon "since you admitted in the past"? Its as if you are asking if you should lie but are afraid that you might get caught since you already admitted it? 

 

Shouldn't you be asking if you legally must answer "yes", regardless if whether you had admitted it in the past or not?

 

Whether or not it will be a problem or not on your N-400 is a totally different question. 

 

The question is very clear. It says "have you EVER" .... And you have clearly stated that you illegally used in your home country which is a crime, not to mention confessed in your GC interview. 

As other have stated, its probably not an issue, but lieing is.   But you really have no choice but to answer yes, and explain the story. Don't ask people here how to commit fraud.   

 

Edited 21 hours ago by W199

[Left Over 0]

I wasn't intending to commit fraud. I'm not trying to hide it. I just wasn't sure if taking a few puffs of marijuana 20 years ago is considered a crime.

[OldUser 7,647]

6 minutes ago, Left Over said:

I wasn't intending to commit fraud. I'm not trying to hide it. I just wasn't sure if taking a few puffs of marijuana 20 years ago is considered a crime.

If unsure, answer yes and explain.

Misdemeanor is a crime, even though a small one. Don't try to hide / minimize it.

 

Here's info: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-f-chapter-5

Good luck!

 

[Left Over 0]

Ok. Thanks guys for the replies.

 

I answered NO when I submitted my application. I just recently realized I may have made a mistake it's why I came here for clarification.

 

Can I still change my answer during the interview?

[OldUser 7,647]

7 minutes ago, Left Over said:

Ok. Thanks guys for the replies.

 

I answered NO when I submitted my application. I just recently realized I may have made a mistake it's why I came here for clarification.

 

Can I still change my answer during the interview?

Yes, bring an errata sheet and hand over to officer before interview begins.

[W199 370]

1 hour ago, Left Over said:

I wasn't intending to commit fraud. I'm not trying to hide it. I just wasn't sure if taking a few puffs of marijuana 20 years ago is considered a crime.

You did explain already that it is a crime in your Country. And for sure,  especially in your Country. there is no law that says "2-3 puffs is legal, but more is not". Can you just imagine what would happen if they did?

 

That being said, USCIS is the one that will make the decision whether or not that would disqualify you, its not your decision to make at this point.  

 

As everyone already said, its highly unlikely it will be a problem. I wouldn't worry about it especially if you are honest and do not lie. It is honesty that they are looking for.  

[Left Over 0]

21 minutes ago, W199 said:

You did explain already that it is a crime in your Country. And for sure,  especially in your Country. there is no law that says "2-3 puffs is legal, but more is not". Can you just imagine what would happen if they did?

 

That being said, USCIS is the one that will make the decision whether or not that would disqualify you, its not your decision to make at this point.  

 

As everyone already said, its highly unlikely it will be a problem. I wouldn't worry about it especially if you are honest and do not lie. It is honesty that they are looking for.  

 

Thank you. I'm worried because I answered NO when I submitted my application not thinking of these things. I didn't take the word EVER into consideration and thought it was only for my time in the US. I hope I can still fix this mistake.

[C1322 6]

8 hours ago, OldUser said:

Under no circumstances one should lie to USCIS. If OP disclosed it in the medical for AOS, it's pretty clear USCIS knows about it.

No promoting lies whatsoever. When reading through OP’s explanation, it sounds to me like he openly disclosed the information, rather than waiting to be asked about it. Either way, there’s sort of a gray area here because he was subsequently granted a GC after admitting to have committed an illegal act. Why didn’t the officer brought it during the AOS interview? 
 

Now, if he wishes open that pandora box yet again, he’ll have a chance to rectify over the N400 interview. 
 

 

[garebear397 74]

4 hours ago, C1322 said:

No promoting lies whatsoever. When reading through OP’s explanation, it sounds to me like he openly disclosed the information, rather than waiting to be asked about it. Either way, there’s sort of a gray area here because he was subsequently granted a GC after admitting to have committed an illegal act. Why didn’t the officer brought it during the AOS interview? 
 

Now, if he wishes open that pandora box yet again, he’ll have a chance to rectify over the N400 interview. 
 

 

Admitting to it once, even if granted a green card or extension or whatever afterwards, doesn't some how make it not relevant or mean that you can omit it in the future. My wife overstated a tourist visa by two weeks when she was a teen, she has admitted it about a half dozen times now in different interviews and border crossing and it has never been much of an issue -- but that doesn't mean she can now omit it in future green card renewals or citizenship.