Guys,
I found this in USCIS.gov website.
After reading this I don't think I should be worried. These are clear instructions form USCIS regarding traffic tickets.
Go to USCIS . gov website
Expand "Electronic Reading Room" on Left
Click on "Customer Service Resource Guide"
Click "Benefits for Permanent Residents"*
Go to Page 60
I got this from thread showthread.php?81187-Traffic-tickets-and-naturalization-(threads-merged)/page87
Thanks a lot to
khelifarami2. You made my day.
ChicagoMan, first of all congratulations ! I hope you don't waste time here, go out and do some partying , come back later and tell us how the interview went.
To all others: having traffic violations does not preclude finding of good moral character. Even DUI (single violation) is not enough to definitively bar naturalization.
The adjudicating officer is given discretionary power and instructed to focus primarily in statutory period (within 5 year period before the date of application), then look throughout the entire life of petitioner to see if there are specifically barring naturalization violations and convictions.
If the officer is in good mood he may even approve without asking too much beyond court disposition records and verifying accuracy via IBIS.
As long as applicant doesn't lie and doesn't give false testimony under oath, some past violations can be forgiven if the totality of the record shows that the individual had rehabilitated and lived within the standards of his community in past 5 years.
I would caution though against giving too much weight to some undated link on uscis.gov webpage that has instructions to fill out an outdated N-400 form.
Even the online Adjudicators Field Manual has not been updated (it claims to have been updated in 2011, however, closer look will show that at least in chapter 74 they are discussing the N-400 of the 1991 version, and it is 2011 out there. Hello!)
READ CAREFULLY all disclaimers and webpage policies, you will see that USCIS explicitly disclaims any liability, warranty or claim for the accuracy of the information provided throughout its' website and nothing contained in those outdated instructions give you any right or enforceability in court of law.
For example, the page introducing the Adjudicators Field Manual ( a lot more reliable than the linked , undated instruction on page 60 that people often post) EXPLICITLY states the following:
Important Notice: Nothing in the AFM shall be construed to create any substantive or procedural right or benefit that is legally enforceable by any party against the United States or its agencies or officers or any other person. Also, see the USCIS general web site policies on the USCIS web home page for additional disclaimers.
See here:
http://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/AFM/HTML/AFM/0-0-0-1.html
The uscis.gov webpage, separately and additionally, has two pages of disclaimers:
1. Website policies:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=fe5489eef3d4b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
2. Privacy and legal disclaimers:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=da3489eef3d4b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
It is possible (and very likely) that the development of the uscis.gov is contracted out to some third party private company who may not be expert in law and may not even think it necessary to follow each change and edition of regulation; they may not think it worthy of their effort to timely update revisions.
What you see on linked USCIS guidelines is not necessarily a current law, C.F.R. or case-precedence references.
Many of you who called 800 customer service know how perilous it could be to take the over the phone "suggestions" seriously.
It could well be that websites are maintained by the site developers who are not much different from 800 customer service employees , as far as knowledge of law is concerned.
That page 60 of some undated naturalization guideline could easily be some totally outdated and never proof-read text, uploaded there by an intern or someone in Bangladesh or India who never in his entire life had any idea what the INA is.
Your best bet is to fill out N-400 to the best of your knowledge and ability and, if there are any questions that are too vague or difficult for you to decipher, don't gamble your future life, find a professional practicing attorney in good standing and get a half an hour consultation.
If you can't afford to pay here is the one who will discuss your case with you for free:
http://www.thesolomonlawfirm.com/CM...-articles/USCIS-adjudicators-field-manual.asp
Good luck to all and once again : congratulations , ChicagoMan !
