Urgetn, hep please.

[subnvan]

My oath ceremony is tomorrow afternoon, and I just got a traffic ticket today. I'm gonna have to say yes on the for form N-445. Is it going to delay or disqualify me? My interview was on August 9th. Sorry if the question has been asked before, but I searched and couldn't find it. Im gonna try paying the ticket tomorrow morning, but not sure if it's in their system yes, and how i can get a receipt for it as it's not from our state.

 

[cpzinga]

My oath ceremony is tomorrow afternoon, and I just got a traffic ticket today. I'm gonna have to say yes on the for form N-445. Is it going to delay or disqualify me? My interview was on August 9th. Sorry if the question has been asked before, but I searched and couldn't find it. Im gonna try paying the ticket tomorrow morning, but not sure if it's in their system yes, and how i can get a receipt for it as it's not from our state.

If you can pay the fee and take the receipt, it would be good. They don't verify against any system. How will you be paying the fine? If it is by check, take a copy of it. If possible, pay online and take the online receipt printout.

 

[spiderman03]

I guess the best thing you could do in such a situation is get a money order (if allowed), make a copy of the ticket and also the money order, then mail the signed ticket with MO by certified post (also return receipt) and take this as proof of payment to the oath. Tell them that you mailed the ticket with MO and show the post office receipt. If they are convinced, then you should be fine. If not, may be they will ask you to come back with further instructions. That is the best thing you can expect in a situation like that. If you are allowed online payment, do it right now and get a printout.

 

[Bobsmyth]

There's a very small chance they will request proof of payment of the citation before the oath. Most likely your statement of telling them how you plan to take care of it will be sufficient.

 

[Bobsmyth]

I guess the best thing you could do in such a situation is get a money order (if allowed), make a copy of the ticket and also the money order, then mail the signed ticket with MO by certified post (also return receipt) and take this as proof of payment to the oath. Tell them that you mailed the ticket with MO and show the post office receipt. If they are convinced, then you should be fine. If not, may be they will ask you to come back with further instructions. That is the best thing you can expect in a situation like that. If you are allowed online payment, do it right now and get a printout.

This suggestion falsely assumes that a naturalization applicant cannot contest a traffic citation after their oath date, and must assume guilt and pay the fine before the oath.

 

[spiderman03]

This suggestion falsely assumes that a naturalization applicant cannot contest a traffic citation after their oath date, and must assume guilt and pay the fine before the oath.

He already indicated his desire to pay the fine. His concern was, how to show proof that he intends to pay the fine so that his oath doesn't get delayed. Based on that, I gave him the advice. It has got nothing to do with his ability to contest the fine. Please read the first posting carefully.

 

[johntlc]

Well a lot had been said already and I dont think there is any reason to panic. I am yet to go to oath ceremony but from what I am reading, the chances that you would be asked about a citation is slim to none. From whats been said, about citation, its no big deal. If it makes you feel alright, you can go ahead and pay the ticket either by going to the munical court as shown on your ticket or pay it online if the option is available (you may need to call the court clerk to find out). Remember if its not a criminal offense, you dont have problem with the government.

Best wishes and please accept my congratulations for your oath ceremony tomorrow. Take care.

 

[Bobsmyth]

He already indicated his desire to pay the fine. His concern was, how to show proof that he intends to pay the fine so that his oath doesn't get delayed. Based on that, I gave him the advice. It has got nothing to do with his ability to contest the fine. Please read the first posting carefully.

The OP indicated his oath is today and he just got a traffic ticket yesterday. His statement that he would try to pay the ticket today (before oath) most likely stems from the fear that he won't be able to take oath before he actually settles the traffic ticket .
Your suggestion that he obtain MO, send in ticket by certified mail, obtain copies of both and present them before oath only justifies that fear rather than provide a less complicated alternate solution. Why complicate something to such an extend that most likely is not even an issue? More often than not, posters have reported that IOs are not interested in minor traffic tickets at oath. Add to the fact that there's no requirement that traffic tickets obtained between the interview and oath must be settled before oath, the OP stands a good chance of taking the oath by simply telling the IO at oath that he just received ticket yesterday and intends to either pay the fine or contest it after the oath.
It always amazes me how paranoid people get for such non-issues.

 

[johntlc]

The OP indicated his oath is today and he just got a traffic ticket yesterday. His statement that he would try to pay the ticket today (before oath) most likely stems from the fear that he won't be able to take oath before he actually settles the traffic ticket .
Your suggestion that he obtain MO, send in ticket by certified mail, obtain copies of both and present them before oath only justifies that fear rather than provide a less complicated alternate solution. Why complicate something to such an extend that most likely is not even an issue? More often than not, posters have reported that IOs are not interested in minor traffic tickets at oath. Add to the fact that there's no requirement that traffic tickets obtained between the interview and oath must be settled before oath, the OP stands a good chance of taking the oath by simply telling the IO at oath that he just received ticket yesterday and intends to either pay the fine or contest it after the oath.
It always amazes me how paranoid people get for such non-issues.

Oh well, I really will not consider asking questions about "non-issues" as being paranoid. Its better one get as much information from people who has experience in related matter so as to ensure they are well prepared and there are no surprises. Sometime, people are also looking for some kind of reassurance that all is well or all will be well. All we can do is try and offer help as much as we can. I can honestly say you all are doing great. Its just that we all have different insight about matters and related matters.

 

[richmondva]

Oh well, I really will not consider asking questions about "non-issues" as being paranoid. Its better one get as much information from people who has experience in related matter so as to ensure they are well prepared and there are no surprises. Sometime, people are also looking for some kind of reassurance that all is well or all will be well. All we can do is try and offer help as much as we can. I can honestly say you all are doing great. Its just that we all have different insight about matters and related matters.

Hey John:

I believe Bob was not referring to the OP and OP's original query in this regard was quite legit. When he referred to "Paranoia" he was probably referring to one of the responses to it.

Bob: I too was under the impression based on a recent thread that any tickets received between the interview and oath had to be settled before the oath can proceed. Is that not true then? So can it be assumed that it is possible to proceed with the oath even with a pending traffic citation (a minor one of course)?

 

[johntlc]

Hey Richmondva:

From your timeline, I can tell that you got same day oath ceremony as your interview date. Can you please shate the circumstances surrounding your same day interview and oath ceremony? I learnt some office dont offer and some offers it based on some special reasons. I have read about pregnancy and the distance. So you tell what the differnce between your home and the USCIS location where you were interviewed. Did you ask for it or did they offer it?

Thanks,

John

 

[Bobsmyth]

Bob: I too was under the impression based on a recent thread that any tickets received between the interview and oath had to be settled before the oath can proceed. Is that not true then? So can it be assumed that it is possible to proceed with the oath even with a pending traffic citation (a minor one of course)?

Considering the OP received the ticket yesterday it would be an unrealistic expectation that he take care of it before today's oath. You have a right to contest a traffic ticket at a later date. The IO at oath will be more interested in knowing how you intend to take care of the ticket rather than if you already took care of it. It wouldn't make any sense for USCIS to delay an oath just because an applicant chooses to contest a ticket at a later date rather than pay it before the oath. I've come across only 1 or 2 reports of applicants being pulled from the oath due to an unpaid traffic ticket..even then it wasn't clear what all the circumstances were that led the IO to pull the applicant from the oath. There will always be some who instill fears based on the outcome of 1 or 2 cases, rather than provide a balanced picture based on past reports.

 

[cpzinga]

OP clearly said that he was going to pay the ticket. He didn't have any intention to fight the ticket. That's why he was given suggestions in that direction. It would have been a different story if he wanted to know how to proceed if he was going to fight the ticket!

 

[richmondva]

Hey Richmondva:

From your timeline, I can tell that you got same day oath ceremony as your interview date. Can you please shate the circumstances surrounding your same day interview and oath ceremony? I learnt some office dont offer and some offers it based on some special reasons. I have read about pregnancy and the distance. So you tell what the differnce between your home and the USCIS location where you were interviewed. Did you ask for it or did they offer it?

Thanks,

John

John:
I have more than a comprehensive description (marathon ) on this thread about my interview and oath process:

http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=303857&highlight=norfolk

You can read it as far as your patience allows.

Bob: Thanks for clarifying that. This should help dispel concerns some had in their minds because I distinctly remember reading otherwise a couple of weeks ago on a thread. So I had been driving somewhat over cautiously for my interview and also for the few hours that I had between the interview and oath. I am pretty sure a few souls following behind me would have really got irritated and cursed me since I was just not willing to go over the limit until I had completed my oath .

 

[Bobsmyth]

OP clearly said that he was going to pay the ticket. He didn't have any intention to fight the ticket. That's why he was given suggestions in that direction. It would have been a different story if he wanted to know how to proceed if he was going to fight the ticket!

And I'm saying that the suggestion provided is overly complicated and unnecessary. Why go through the hassle of getting a MO, and sending off ticket by registered mail all before the oath for a ticket received the day before. Like I said, the IO will likely be more interested in knowing how the OP you will take care of ticket, rather than making it an absolute requirement to pay if before oath.

 

[WBH]

Like I said, the IO will likely be more interested in knowing how the OP you will take care of ticket, rather than making it an absolute requirement to pay if before oath.

I guess people are scared of the scenario that some inexperienced oath ceremony manager (I don't know what is teh official job title for such duty) do not know what to do with an applicant with a traffic ticket and simply pull him off.

My suggestion: the applicant come to the oath with the wife. Before everythings starts, Let the wife go to the oath manager what he will do with such traffic ticket situation. If the oatyh manager say "It does not matter". The wife come down back to the husband. The husband checked the Yes and wait for his name to be called.

If the wife get an answer "We have to cancel teh ceremony", then the
wife make a pre-decided signal to the husband and just leave the building.
The husband decide not to disclose it and move on. The later the oath manager may feel weird "How come now no one checked Yes to the traffic ticket question" and he think someone must have lied and look
for such a person. But the wife is gone. He can not stop teh whole ceremony in roder to locate one such a person.

 

[sunks]

If the wife get an answer "We have to cancel teh ceremony", then the wife make a pre-decided signal to the husband and just leave the building.

That is interesting - pre-decided signal May be before oath we have to have a joint learning session for these signals, making sure signals are not too many and too complicated

 

[Bobsmyth]

I guess people are scared of the scenario that some inexperienced oath ceremony manager (I don't know what is teh official job title for such duty) do not know what to do with an applicant with a traffic ticket and simply pull him off.

Or that people are just too scared to speak up and request to escalate an issue based on an inconsistent process.

My suggestion: the applicant come to the oath with the wife. Before everythings starts, Let the wife go to the oath manager what he will do with such traffic ticket situation. If the oatyh manager say "It does not matter". The wife come down back to the husband. The husband checked the Yes and wait for his name to be called.

The problem there is that the oath manager may provide a biased answer if your wife is hot.

 

[sunks]

The problem there is that the oath manager may provide a biased answer if your wife is hot.

Reading your earlier posts did not give impression that you have a dirty mind. But looks like having bit of fun with Al today has forced you to go to this extent.

 

[subnvan]

Thanks a lot guys. I just had the ceremony and it's done. She just asked if it was a speeding ticket and I said yes, and that was it. I did pay the ticket online and had it ready but she didn't ask. Thanks and good luck to you all.