Jeez, my appointment day is getting closer and i am very nervous. while i was reviewing the application i found question 16 and 20 Part 10. Have you ever being arrested or detained even by INS? have you ever been paroled? Here's my story i arrived in US on F1 visa but couldn't study and left for Canada after 1 day and filed for refugee status which was denied and was ordered exclusion order. I voluntrily arrived in Niagra Falls canadian immigration post and escorted by their immigration to US INS at US Niagra Falls station. I was questioned for couple of hours and released pending deportation hearing. Judge later on gave me voluntary departure, i married US citizen I-130 was approved and judge has terminated deportation proceedings. Now is that considered detained and paroled because i answered no to both? My record is very clean never an arrest not even a traffic ticket. What concerns me is on I-130 application it says how you entered US and lawyer back then put paroled. Isnt paroled is if you've been arrested? i appreciate your views regarding that
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Is that considered detention?
- Thread starter ff1972
- Start date
This probably would have been something to consider before you sent in the N-400.
I'd recommend getting professional help. Many lawyers will let you have a half hour consultation for free or for a nominal fee (I talked to one for about a half hour for $95). Get someone who is in the immigration bar and deals with USCIS cases on a regular basis.
Failing that, what I would do (and, I'm not a lawyer) would be to be up-front with the immigration officer - very early in the interview say "I wasn't sure that this counted as detention..." and tell your story.
I'm pretty sure he/she will know about your situation before the interview starts (at her interview last year, my wife was startled to hear a question about something her father did on behalf of her family in about 1970 (they had considered emigrating to the US at the time)). You want to be sure that he doesn't think you are trying to hide it.
But, remember, I'm not a lawyer and I have no experience in this area.
I'd recommend getting professional help. Many lawyers will let you have a half hour consultation for free or for a nominal fee (I talked to one for about a half hour for $95). Get someone who is in the immigration bar and deals with USCIS cases on a regular basis.
Failing that, what I would do (and, I'm not a lawyer) would be to be up-front with the immigration officer - very early in the interview say "I wasn't sure that this counted as detention..." and tell your story.
I'm pretty sure he/she will know about your situation before the interview starts (at her interview last year, my wife was startled to hear a question about something her father did on behalf of her family in about 1970 (they had considered emigrating to the US at the time)). You want to be sure that he doesn't think you are trying to hide it.
But, remember, I'm not a lawyer and I have no experience in this area.
That's what i was thinking. My entry letter even says "arrived voluntarily in US". I was questioned for couple of hours because of what considered visa violations and released pending deportation hearing. I am willing to tell the officer what happened and if tahts considered detentiona and parole. I spoke to two lawyers regarding all details of N-400 and both of them told me there's nothing to worry about. In that case i don't want to be denied for a simple reason of what appears to be trying to hide fact that can be stated. I've never done anything wrong and i was cleared by the judge. But the paper that says taht proceedings terminated by judge in 1996 i couldn't find and lawyer doesnt have but he says don't worry they can verify that its all in the file