Impact on citizenship application

**jasonb** · 24th August 2007, 02:32 PM

All,
I am new to this forum and I have these questions. I am a GC holder (ex asylee). In about two years, I'll be eligible to apply for US citizenship. My questions are these:

1. I have been cited with Petty Theft. I'll have to go to court in about one week or so. If I get convicted, how will this impact the application? Will this be ground for rejection? Any suggestions about this issue?

2. I have been cited with traffic violation (stop sign). I went to traffic school for this. Do I have to disclose this? Will this also negatively impact the application?

Thank you!

**LolaLi** · 26th August 2007, 10:16 AM

Hello jasonb -

I know this isn't the answer you would like to hear, but I seriously recommend you get legal advice on the petty theft citation. This will have an impact on your citizenship application in the area of 'good moral character'. Regardless of whether you get convicted, you will have to mention the incident in your application --> there is a question in the N400 that specifically asks if one has EVER been detained, arrested, or cited regardless of outcome.

Because the fees are so high now, it would make no sense for you to apply if you will ultimately get denied. So, I think you should talk to someone about this. The worst thing that can happen is that they ask you to wait several years so the incident is past the 5 years USCIS scrutinizes on the N400 application.

Hope this helps.

**thankful** · 26th August 2007, 02:21 PM

Yes talk to an attorney whenever you have a criminal issue.

**comolaflor** · 26th August 2007, 02:39 PM

what did u steal

**jasonb** · 27th August 2007, 04:25 PM

In moments of weakness, I did a silly thing by stealing some shirts. It was totally not worth it. Of course, I was not thinking straight at the time.

Now, what about traffic citation? I got one for rolling a stop sign and I already did go to traffic school and paid the fine for that. Will that have any negative impact on N-400?

Thanks!

**LolaLi** · 27th August 2007, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by jasonb

In moments of weakness, I did a silly thing by stealing some shirts. It was totally not worth it. Of course, I was not thinking straight at the time.

Now, what about traffic citation? I got one for rolling a stop sign and I already did go to traffic school and paid the fine for that. Will that have any negative impact on N-400?

Thanks!

I'm sorry to hear that jasonb. I won't preach, but I am surprised by the number of people that don't seem to realize that having a Permanent Resident status is a privilege not a right. Such a stupid thing may now cost you years of waiting...

There is a debate on whether or not to include traffic violations that have not resulted in an arrest. The form requires applicants to mention and submit proof for any traffic violation for which there was detention, citation, or arrest and/or that resulted in a fine greater than $500. So I have seen many folks that have not included speeding tickets as well as the same type of infraction you got and they got their citizenship.

In your case however, since you will be mentioning the shoplifting arrest, you might have to disclose everything. Again, this is a question for an immigration attorney.

Good luck.

**comolaflor** · 27th August 2007, 06:01 PM

what is the total price of the things u took and where the incident happened and in which state,u need an attorney.try ur best to get and infraction to keep the incident out of ur records if it is the same time

**GrassRoot** · 1st September 2007, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by LolaLi

I'm sorry to hear that jasonb. I won't preach, but I am surprised by the number of people that don't seem to realize that having a Permanent Resident status is a privilege not a right. Such a stupid thing may now cost you years of waiting...

There is a debate on whether or not to include traffic violations that have not resulted in an arrest. The form requires applicants to mention and submit proof for any traffic violation for which there was detention, citation, or arrest and/or that resulted in a fine greater than $500. So I have seen many folks that have not included speeding tickets as well as the same type of infraction you got and they got their citizenship.

In your case however, since you will be mentioning the shoplifting arrest, you might have to disclose everything. Again, this is a question for an immigration attorney.

Good luck.

LoLaLi:

Thank you for your useful information. However after carefully reading the N-400 Instruction and the form itself, I found there is NO mentioning of disclosure of the traffic violation, nor for "....greater than $500" cited in your posting. Can you enlight us on this by giving specific source, CIS operational manual, CIS practice, or personal experience, etc ?

**LolaLi** · 4th September 2007, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by GrassRoot

LoLaLi:

Thank you for your useful information. However after carefully reading the N-400 Instruction and the form itself, I found there is NO mentioning of disclosure of the traffic violation, nor for "....greater than $500" cited in your posting. Can you enlight us on this by giving specific source, CIS operational manual, CIS practice, or personal experience, etc ?

Hi GrassRoot -

I got this information as an active participant in the 'US Citizenship' forum. Please go to that forum and search it with the following tag: "traffic tickets". You will be surprised with the wealth of information that comes up. There are also documents that point out the "greater than $500" rule.

Let me know what you come up with.