traffic citations

[JohannaP 0]

I had a couple of traffic citations 5 or 6 years ago, for speeding and red lights. I do not have the citations any more and do not recall the exact dates. They were all below $500 and not involving DIU's.

Will this cause any issues on my N-400 forms? I assume I'll have to anser yes to question D16 for Moral Character.

How accurate do I really have to be on the explanations? I have moved out of the state where the citations occurred and that state's driver's license was taken by the DMV when I applied for my license here. THis complicates getting any records from the old state's DMV office.

Any advice?

Thanks

[jsnearline 2]

I don't think you will get a definitive answer on here. Some will argue that you do not need to disclose them because the fines were under $500. Others will say that you should disclose them on the application, but don't need to submit court or DMV documentation for them.

[lucyrich 20]

Not this again...

You may want to read this thread, one of the more recent ones on the subject:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=195030

Summary: The M-476 has two paragraphs on the subject. One describes what citations you need to list in answer to the questions on the forms:

The “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) asks several questions about crimes. You should report all offenses that you have committed including any that have been expunged (removed from your record) and any that happened before your 18th birthday. If you do not tell USCIS about these offenses and we find out about them, you may be denied naturalization (even if the original offense was not a crime for which your case would have been denied).

And the next paragraph describes what court documentation you must attach:

If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver’s license.

There are others who read those words differently than I do, and you can read their opinions in the thread linked. But to me, it looks like you don't need to provide any court documentation of traffic incidents that were not alcohol or drug related, and involved a fine of less than $500.00. But you do need to report all offenses, even those minor traffic ones. Reporting them won't hurt your chances for naturalization.

[jasminelily 1]

Not this again...

You may want to read this thread, one of the more recent ones on the subject:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=195030

Summary: The M-476 has two paragraphs on the subject. One describes what citations you need to list in answer to the questions on the forms:

The “Application for Naturalization” (Form N-400) asks several questions about crimes. You should report all offenses that you have committed including any that have been expunged (removed from your record) and any that happened before your 18th birthday. If you do not tell USCIS about these offenses and we find out about them, you may be denied naturalization (even if the original offense was not a crime for which your case would have been denied).

And the next paragraph describes what court documentation you must attach:

If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver’s license.

There are others who read those words differently than I do, and you can read their opinions in the thread linked. But to me, it looks like you don't need to provide any court documentation of traffic incidents that were not alcohol or drug related, and involved a fine of less than $500.00. But you do need to report all offenses, even those minor traffic ones. Reporting them won't hurt your chances for naturalization.

Here we go again! Good job for Lucyrich citing the link!

[warlord 73]

Unfortunatly this is probably one of the most common asked questions about the N-400 on all the immigration forums. Too bad they can't just put a sticky thing for it up. But yeah read the previous link...

[motu 6]

Generally - the interviewer just writes "TRAFFIC" when you report these on your N-400. I would assume since you do not know the dates or citations - you could mention these on a separate piece of paper that - You had a few tickets for speeding etc. but do not recall the dates and offenses, but were all under $500 or some such wording- Or just disregard them and do not report anything. Good Luck

[KyngSilva 0]

love this topic ..lol

[jsnearline 2]

You'll notice I chose not to take sides this time.