N400 with incident - please advice!

M

maverickr77

Registered Users (C)
Incident details - about 10 years ago I absent mindedly walked out of a pharmacy store with a 2 dollar camera film without paying for it. I tried convincing the owner that it was a honest mistake but he called the cops on me. The cops came and asked for my legal status which was F1 that time. Then they asked to see my passport which I didnt have on me. So they drove me home and checked the passport and asked me to show up in court on a given date. I was NOT handcuffed. I contacted a criminal lawyer there after who accompanied me on the court date.
​

I remember I was fingerprinted and my case was dismissed and eventually sealed. I was also required to do some community service which I completed. Other than this incident I do not have any thing in my record including no traffic violations.

I have obtained the certificate of disposition from the city court for this incident which has the following information:-

Name and Date of Birth
Docket #
Date of Arrest
Original Offense - Petit Larceny
Final Offense - Blank
Date of sent/final adjudication
Disposition - Dismissed sealed

Questions for N400

1. How do I answer question 15 thru 21 on good moral character. Here's what I was thinking

15. Have you ever comminted a crime or offense for which you were not arrested? - NO
16. Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason? - Yes
17. Have you ever been charged with commiting any crime or offense? - Yes
18. Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offense? - No
19. Have you ever been placed in an alternative sentencing or a rehabilitative program? - Yes? (not sure if community service falls under this?)
20. Have you received a suspended sentence, been placed on probation or parole? - NO
21. Have you ever been in jail or prison? - NO

Please let know if this would be correct? Any corrections?

2. Should I attach the original certificate of disposition or notarized copy would be enough? Do you guys think that I should go thru a lawyer for N400 given this incident?

I would truly appreciate if someone can answer these questions.

Thanks,
Meera
 
I would get a lawyer to help me woth N400 if I were you. You really don't want to get stuck in this process while they "check out" the mistakes on the application. I think it woold be money well spent.
 
I think you are good and have all the proofs. Moreover, this is 10 years old, per their procedures you should be good to go
 
maverickr77 said:
Incident details - about 10 years ago I absent mindedly walked out of a pharmacy store with a 2 dollar camera film without paying for it. I tried convincing the owner that it was a honest mistake but he called the cops on me. The cops came and asked for my legal status which was F1 that time. Then they asked to see my passport which I didnt have on me. So they drove me home and checked the passport and asked me to show up in court on a given date. I was NOT handcuffed. I contacted a criminal lawyer there after who accompanied me on the court date.
​

I remember I was fingerprinted and my case was dismissed and eventually sealed. I was also required to do some community service which I completed. Other than this incident I do not have any thing in my record including no traffic violations.

I have obtained the certificate of disposition from the city court for this incident which has the following information:-

Name and Date of Birth
Docket #
Date of Arrest
Original Offense - Petit Larceny
Final Offense - Blank
Date of sent/final adjudication
Disposition - Dismissed sealed

Questions for N400

1. How do I answer question 15 thru 21 on good moral character. Here's what I was thinking

15. Have you ever comminted a crime or offense for which you were not arrested? - NO
16. Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason? - Yes
17. Have you ever been charged with commiting any crime or offense? - Yes
18. Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offense? - No
19. Have you ever been placed in an alternative sentencing or a rehabilitative program? - Yes? (not sure if community service falls under this?)
20. Have you received a suspended sentence, been placed on probation or parole? - NO
21. Have you ever been in jail or prison? - NO

Please let know if this would be correct? Any corrections?

2. Should I attach the original certificate of disposition or notarized copy would be enough? Do you guys think that I should go thru a lawyer for N400 given this incident?

I would truly appreciate if someone can answer these questions.

Thanks,
Meera
Click to expand...

dont give them the originals,just give them a copy and take the originals to the interview...there is no way ur case is going to be rejected,only thing is it might get delayed.
 
Your answers look correct. You should not have any problem what so ever. send only the copies with the application. Carry the originals with you during the interview. You should be able to sail thru comfortably. Good luck.
 
thanks and one more question

Thanks everyone for taking the time and providing useful information.

So, I am thinking I will prepare the N400 my self and have it reviewed by a lawyer as part of a consulation. Unless you guys think its worth spending the money to have the lawyer file the application?
 
maverickr77 said:
Thanks everyone for taking the time and providing useful information.

So, I am thinking I will prepare the N400 my self and have it reviewed by a lawyer as part of a consulation. Unless you guys think its worth spending the money to have the lawyer file the application?
Click to expand...



like i said eariler...u r good to go.......2$ dude....i dont think its going to be a deal at all...just make sure u explain it to her though...take ur time and have lots of patience...
best of luck
 
for query11

query11,

so do you agree with the way I answered questions 15 thru 21? especially,
17 and 19? Sorry for asking the same thing again and again but as you can imagine I want to extra careful.

thanks.
 
maverickr77 said:
query11,

so do you agree with the way I answered questions 15 thru 21? especially,
17 and 19? Sorry for asking the same thing again and again but as you can imagine I want to extra careful.

thanks.
Click to expand...
meera,yenamma nimma kathe... :D :D :D ....

You answered just right....be confident prepare for the interview and just pray u get a good io...btw are u in dallas?

Go through Ron's portal there was a similar posting like last december..the guy is naturalized now...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
maverickr77

I have a similar situation and posted a thread sometime back. One question, any chance you declared this incident for your 485 (GC) application ? As you say this happened 10 years back, I am assuming this must be before your GC process.
 
topgun123 said:
maverickr77

I have a similar situation and posted a thread sometime back. One question, any chance you declared this incident for your 485 (GC) application ? As you say this happened 10 years back, I am assuming this must be before your GC process.
Click to expand...
she said tht she was on f1...
 
did not declare in 485

Yes, this incident happened before I filed GC. I did not declare this incident beacuse 485 application doesnt asks for sealed cases whereas N400 clearly states that all sealed & dismiised cases have to be declared. I was told that unless asked specifically I can deny that I have anything on my record. Besides, my company lawyers filed my GC application and I did not want to tell them about this incident unless necessary.

I hope that won't cause a problem.

How about you? can you point me to your thread?

thanks
Meera
 
sealed?

topgun - was your case sealed?

I noticed the that query11 answered to your thread emphasizing hiring a lawyer.

query11, I know you said before that I dont really need to hire a lawyer but given that i did not mention this in 485 as well, should I? I was told very clearly that sealed cases need not be talked about so I didnt :(
 
i am extremely sorry,i am in between something...else would have looked it up for u.........
but if u go to rons portal and look for posts between nov/05-jan/06>>>there was a guy in similar situation and he infact wsa naturalized....please look for it....
thanks in advance...
 
Does one need to report a traffic accident on the N-400 Application even though one did not get a traffic ticket? If yes, in which section of N-400 (Good Moral Character section ??) does it need to be reported?

Thanks
 
coolguy446 said:
Does one need to report a traffic accident on the N-400 Application even though one did not get a traffic ticket? If yes, in which section of N-400 (Good Moral Character section ??) does it need to be reported?

Thanks
Click to expand...
what do u mean?
 
I wonder when this confusion about mentioning traffic tickets and/or violations on N400 is going to be clear to every single applicant?! :p

I guess... NEVER...

God... there are zillion threads, postings, questions, answers, opinions, arguements, fights etc., about this topic in this forum.

There were people like JoeF who got thrown out of this forum partly because of this topic (I think) :rolleyes:

My one zillion and 99999999th comment/opinion is...

Please read the instructions carefully and fill-up the application with what you think is right. REMEMBER: Just tell the TRUTH.

If you still have questions, please refer to FAQ section/thread or browse through the forum before postiing your question. I think everybody will appreciate it.


Thanks,
Newbie001
 
back to my case

query11- can you please let me know how to get to ron's portal? I googled it and nothing came up. Is it a different forum or a thread in this forum. I appreciate you taking the time even though you are busy.

Also, I have a humble request that this thread be kept for incidents like mine. Petty criminal issues with no mention in 485. Please do not add the traffic ticket discussion here! Sorry for sounding selfish but like someone mentioned there are already a gazillion threads for that. Kindly use those.

thanks.
Meera
 
maverickr77 said:
query11- can you please let me know how to get to ron's portal? I googled it and nothing came up. Is it a different forum or a thread in this forum. I appreciate you taking the time even though you are busy.

Also, I have a humble request that this thread be kept for incidents like mine. Petty criminal issues with no mention in 485. Please do not add the traffic ticket discussion here! Sorry for sounding selfish but like someone mentioned there are already a gazillion threads for that. Kindly use those.

thanks.
Meera
Click to expand...

just google for ron gotcher or u can go to immigration-information.com
and go to the forums from there...


also dont worry about traffic tickets all the guys arguing about tickets are gone
 
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