What counts as being detained?

[calzon chino]

For the interview, they say: "If you nave ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, you must bring the following to your interview:"

My question is, do tickets written for simple misdemeanors count as being 'detained'?

[jimothy]

My guess would be no. I would think you only count as being detained if you are actually detained. However, if you have any paperwork pertaining to the tickets, for example to show that they just traffic tickets, I would take it to the interview. You can never take too much stuff to the interview!

Jim

[Addie_Goodvibes]

Being detained can apply to being detained at the border or being arrested,
usually only felony offenses are of USCIS concern,

I suggest not to mention being arressted for minor Traffic offenses However IF ASKED DO be honest and ready to provide evidence of taking care of any outstanding warrants or legal obligations.

[dr_lha]

I believe the rule is that USCIS is only interested in traffic offenses if they involved either drink or drugs. So no need to tell them about getting a speeding ticket.

Although one would assume if you went on a murderous "Carmaggedon" or Grand Theft Auto style rampage, they might be interested in that.

[pianoplayer]

Originally Posted by calzon chino

For the interview, they say: "If you nave ever been arrested or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, you must bring the following to your interview:"

My question is, do tickets written for simple misdemeanors count as being 'detained'?

Since you do not mention the misdemeanor, I shall decline to give a definitive answer. However, being stopped for a speeding ticket does not fall within the scope of the definition of detainment here.

[Al Southner]

Hi,

You can only be detained, if you were handcuffed for peeing on the side walk, except in NY, this is allowed only once, without a citation... If a police officer stops you for a routine traffic stop, such as listening loudly to Bill O'reilly, this doesn't qualify as a detainment.

However, should you be cuffed and taken to a local precint for processing like perverts on NBC dateline, "sexual predator", you have to declare this on the application form....

If you happen to butt cheek a police officer, but never get arrested, except to be greeted by a police officer with a baton... it is not a detainment.

Oh...lastly, eating a McDonald 5 out of 7 days in a week qualifies as a detainment... so, you should report it, report it to the proper authority, which happens to be.... PETA

good luck....

[calzon chino]

Okay, I guess specifics might help.

I'm wondering if I need to bring paper work related to tickets for possesion of alcohol below the legal age limit. I got a few of them back in Iowa growing up. It's a simple misdemeanor and they do not arrest you for it, just write you a ticket.