Good Moral Character Questions before applying

J

Jchicago

Registered Users (C)
Hi all
I have my GC since March 2005 and I was about to apply for citizenship. However, when I got to Part 10 - Good character questions, I got nervous about the whole thing. I am not sure how I should handle it and if I need a legal advise from a lawyer.
I have been 13 years in this country (came with F-1, then H1-B), and had two "situations":
1. In 1996 I got a ticket (TBA summons) at the subway station in NYC for doubling up. It was a fine for $60 dollars (for rule violation). At that time I did not have State ID (I was student) and the officer used my Country's ID to write the ticket. I sent the payment.
2. In 1999 when I was in college in Ohio, I organized a party and police came and gave me a ticket for "loud noise". It was a $77 dollars ticket to waive it. I didn't know I could go to court and have chance to drop it, so I just sent the money.
Since that, I have had only one speeding ticket in IL where I've live in the last 9 years. My question is how much in trouble I am, and how I should answer questions 15-18 if I am still have a chance!
Please advice. Thanks so much in advance
 
Jchicago said:
Hi all
I have my GC since March 2005 and I was about to apply for citizenship. However, when I got to Part 10 - Good character questions, I got nervous about the whole thing. I am not sure how I should handle it and if I need a legal advise from a lawyer.
I have been 13 years in this country (came with F-1, then H1-B), and had two "situations":
1. In 1996 I got a ticket (TBA summons) at the subway station in NYC for doubling up. It was a fine for $60 dollars (for rule violation). At that time I did not have State ID (I was student) and the officer used my Country's ID to write the ticket. I sent the payment.
2. In 1999 when I was in college in Ohio, I organized a party and police came and gave me a ticket for "loud noise". It was a $77 dollars ticket to waive it. I didn't know I could go to court and have chance to drop it, so I just sent the money.
Since that, I have had only one speeding ticket in IL where I've live in the last 9 years. My question is how much in trouble I am, and how I should answer questions 15-18 if I am still have a chance!
Please advice. Thanks so much in advance
Click to expand...

You have tickets which are not worth CIS's time to investigate, although people here have different opinions. The first 2 tickets are so old and so small (in USD) that I would not mention them if it were me.

The speeding ticket - depends on when you got it, what was your speed vs posted speed, how much was the fine etc. Then, do you have records and / or can you get records?

You definitely have a very high chance - of naturalization.
 
Although small, those citations should be mentioned on the N-400, because if you don't mention them and USCIS knows about them you'll probably be denied. The ones you got before 2000 are too minor and too old to affect your naturalization, so disclose them and don't worry about it.

For the speeding ticket, try to bring proof that it was paid, if available.
 
Jchicago said:
Hi all
I have my GC since March 2005 and I was about to apply for citizenship. However, when I got to Part 10 - Good character questions, I got nervous about the whole thing. I am not sure how I should handle it and if I need a legal advise from a lawyer.
I have been 13 years in this country (came with F-1, then H1-B), and had two "situations":
1. In 1996 I got a ticket (TBA summons) at the subway station in NYC for doubling up. It was a fine for $60 dollars (for rule violation). At that time I did not have State ID (I was student) and the officer used my Country's ID to write the ticket. I sent the payment.
2. In 1999 when I was in college in Ohio, I organized a party and police came and gave me a ticket for "loud noise". It was a $77 dollars ticket to waive it. I didn't know I could go to court and have chance to drop it, so I just sent the money.
Since that, I have had only one speeding ticket in IL where I've live in the last 9 years. My question is how much in trouble I am, and how I should answer questions 15-18 if I am still have a chance!
Please advice. Thanks so much in advance
Click to expand...



Good luck with your N400. You have nothing to worry about, just enjoy the process as you have no moral issues that will affect your application.:D
 
Re

I am assuming that you fall under Chicago DO for your N400 processing. I had 3 speeding tickets in past 3 years and did not mention them on N400. The officer who interviewed me did not ask them or mention them during the interview process. My opinion is that some offices or may be even officers try to dig everything about you and in some instances just look for serious offenders like people who had court judgements and cases like DUI. You will be fine, if you have recepiet for the speeding ticket, have it or just mention it if you are only asked, don't try to be too honest :).
By the way I finished my N400 process in chicago office.
 
Jchicago said:
Hi all
I have my GC since March 2005 and I was about to apply for citizenship. However, when I got to Part 10 - Good character questions, I got nervous about the whole thing. I am not sure how I should handle it and if I need a legal advise from a lawyer.
I have been 13 years in this country (came with F-1, then H1-B), and had two "situations":
1. In 1996 I got a ticket (TBA summons) at the subway station in NYC for doubling up. It was a fine for $60 dollars (for rule violation). At that time I did not have State ID (I was student) and the officer used my Country's ID to write the ticket. I sent the payment.
2. In 1999 when I was in college in Ohio, I organized a party and police came and gave me a ticket for "loud noise". It was a $77 dollars ticket to waive it. I didn't know I could go to court and have chance to drop it, so I just sent the money.
Since that, I have had only one speeding ticket in IL where I've live in the last 9 years. My question is how much in trouble I am, and how I should answer questions 15-18 if I am still have a chance!
Please advice. Thanks so much in advance
Click to expand...
If these are the only incidences, don't worry you're fine.
 
Thanks to all. Feel much better now

Thanks so much. :D To answer some of your questions:
1. My speeding ticket was last year in IL. I was driving 5 miles over the limit. Had to pay the minimum. I took the defense driving class and paid $115.00 including the class. I can get records (I have the record that check was cashed but I can go to the court and get whatever else is needed)
2. Srinikandi: Yes, I'm at the DO Chicago office.

So, in case I would like to disclose those tickets I have couple questions:
1. How I should answer questions 15-18?
2. I was thinking just to fill little info in the table; but should I send additional information with my application, or just disclosethe tickets and bring documentation to the interview?

Again, thanks to all. This is very helpful. I will let you know in few months how things go.
 
Re

Jchicago
Just save some trouble for yourself. If you have the recepiet and cource completion certificate, take them with you to the interview and if the officer asks for citations you can disclose them. It is up to you to disclose the details in N400 application. The next thing is you will get a letter from USCIS asking to bring details of your arrest. This is the generic language that they use. If you are ok with that go ahead and indicate that you had ticket on the application. In fact i got a ticket a month before my interview,took the class and took the certificate with me to the interview and I was never asked about citations.
 
Jchicago said:
Hi all
I have my GC since March 2005 and I was about to apply for citizenship. However, when I got to Part 10 - Good character questions, I got nervous about the whole thing. I am not sure how I should handle it and if I need a legal advise from a lawyer.
I have been 13 years in this country (came with F-1, then H1-B), and had two "situations":
1. In 1996 I got a ticket (TBA summons) at the subway station in NYC for doubling up. It was a fine for $60 dollars (for rule violation). At that time I did not have State ID (I was student) and the officer used my Country's ID to write the ticket. I sent the payment.
2. In 1999 when I was in college in Ohio, I organized a party and police came and gave me a ticket for "loud noise". It was a $77 dollars ticket to waive it. I didn't know I could go to court and have chance to drop it, so I just sent the money.
Since that, I have had only one speeding ticket in IL where I've live in the last 9 years. My question is how much in trouble I am, and how I should answer questions 15-18 if I am still have a chance!
Please advice. Thanks so much in advance
Click to expand...

Get a good immigration attorney, not only for your own peace of mind but also to ensure that your naturalization process was completed in full compliance with the law. Immigration is one of the most technical areas of US law; anytime that you need to give explanation to an IO, it is better that you leave the process in the hands of an experienced attorney (if you care about the immigration benefit you are searching, in this case citizenship). Even if you were successful in getting your citizenship by hiding information, you expose yourself to a future denaturalization proceeding since there is no statue of limitations for getting naturalization through fraud.
 
immigrant25 said:
Get a good immigration attorney, not only for your own peace of mind but also to ensure that your naturalization process was completed in full compliance with the law. Immigration is one of the most technical areas of US law; anytime that you need to give explanation to an IO, it is better that you leave the process in the hands of an experienced attorney (if you care about the immigration benefit you are searching, in this case citizenship). Even if you were successful in getting your citizenship by hiding information, you expose yourself to a future denaturalization proceeding since there is no statue of limitations for getting naturalization through fraud.
Click to expand...

In the majority of cases a lawyer is not needed to file for naturalization and is an easy process that be be done by oneself.
 
How should I answer question 15-17 based on my case

Thanks to all for your replies. Sorry to keep asking, but if I decide to diclose my speeding tickets and the Noise infraction and Rule violation at subway station in NYC, how I should answer question 15-17.
I was thinking to say NO to question 15, and YES to 16-17.

Any comments or concerns?
 
Jchicago said:
Thanks to all for your replies. Sorry to keep asking, but if I decide to diclose my speeding tickets and the Noise infraction and Rule violation at subway station in NYC, how I should answer question 15-17.
I was thinking to say NO to question 15, and YES to 16-17.

Any comments or concerns?
Click to expand...

15-No
16-Yes
17-Yes
18-Yes
19-No
20-No
21-No
 
immigrant25 said:
Get a good immigration attorney, not only for your own peace of mind but also to ensure that your naturalization process was completed in full compliance with the law. Immigration is one of the most technical areas of US law; anytime that you need to give explanation to an IO, it is better that you leave the process in the hands of an experienced attorney (if you care about the immigration benefit you are searching, in this case citizenship). Even if you were successful in getting your citizenship by hiding information, you expose yourself to a future denaturalization proceeding since there is no statue of limitations for getting naturalization through fraud.
Click to expand...

I guess you are an immigration attorney :) Using an attorney to file a N-400 application is like hiring one for filling out a credit card application, especially when the case is straightforward like this.

JChicago, none of your issues are serious. Most of the applicants will have some form of traffic tickets and most don’t mention these unless there is a DUI or a fine over $500. It doesn’t hurt to mention the other citations. It’s not going to impact your application since these offenses are so minor that they don’t really care for these.
 
bhatsk said:
I guess you are an immigration attorney :) Using an attorney to file a N-400 application is like hiring one for filling out a credit card application, especially when the case is straightforward like this.
Click to expand...

immigrant25 pm'd me and blasted me saying I provided bad advice to the OP. Apparently he's seem too many of his immigrant friends paying the price for bad advice and feels one needs a lawyer for all immigration issues (including filing).
 
Bobsmyth said:
immigrant25 pm'd me and blasted me saying I provided bad advice to the OP. Apparently he's seem too many of his immigrant friends paying the price for bad advice and feels one needs a lawyer for all immigration issues (including filing).
Click to expand...

Thats why he is still immigrant NUMBER 25 ;)
 
Jchicago said:
Thanks so much. :D To answer some of your questions:
1. My speeding ticket was last year in IL. I was driving 5 miles over the limit. Had to pay the minimum. I took the defense driving class and paid $115.00 including the class. .
Click to expand...

Whoever gave you a ticket for going over 5mph was really having a slow day. I wouldn't even mention this ticket, routine ticket which unlike you, people do get them for going 10-50mph over the speed limit. No need for a lawyer, I like what someone said, it like hiring a lawyer to fill a credit card application...:D
 
Thanks once again

I will follow your advice, and will answer questions 15-18 as WBH indicated, makes sense.
 
Bobsmyth said:
immigrant25 pm'd me and blasted me saying I provided bad advice to the OP. Apparently he's seem too many of his immigrant friends paying the price for bad advice and feels one needs a lawyer for all immigration issues (including filing).
Click to expand...

And that was his first post on the forums...
 
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