Dangers of applying for citizenship.
I would never have thought, but according to the application form (N400) and some stories, the followings WILL affect your adjudication:
1. how you got your GC,
2. all your tax filings (not just past x years),
3. all citations (not even mentioning misdemeanor or fellony).
So consider this hypothetically:
1. you may have used AC21 which you need not report to INS (unless on RFE), but they decide to hold it against you,
2. you may have once mispayed some (e.g.) local tax that you corrected, but they decide to hold it against you,
3. x years ago you got a couple of speeding tickets or expired emission/registration, or other minor stuff only, but they decide to hold it against you.
KICKER: DENIAL OF CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION MEANS DEPORTATION. Immigration courts are flooded with citizenship applicants on deportation listings.
Considering that everyone forgets minor things over the years but any background-check business/agency can dig it up regardless of how many years ago it happened, INS can supprise you with things about you you never even knew! And if it is not on your application form, then, according to the form, it is a proof of insufficient moral character, so not naturalizable.
Of course, you can go to those immigration courts with your lawyers, but do you need the agro and uncertainty again?
Does anybody know a better picture of it than the one I have got to describe above?
GSAS