3 questions....

[Sunshine25 17]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting ready to file for citizenship but had 3 questions:

 

1) The form asks if you have ever been arrested, cited or detained. I looked up the definition for a citation and it says it's an official summons. I had a speeding ticket 2 years ago, which I paid by mail, this wouldn't count as a citation as I was not summoned to court???

 

2) I will be applying as I've been a lawful permanent resident for 5 years (I'm also still married to my husband) so I'll only have to send in a photocopy of my green card, 2 photos and checks for the fees? not the rest of the info??

 

3) My 11 year old son came over with me and has a green card. After I become a citizen, can I apply for a passport for him? What is the process?

 

Thanks for the help!

[Crazy Cat 39,213]

A traffic ticket IS a citation.

"No, there is not really any difference between a citation and a ticket. A citation by definition is an official summons, especially one calling for appearance in court. A ticket has a definition of a legal summons, especially for a violation. The two words are interchangeable when discussing being written up by law enforcement for a moving violation."

Edited February 18, 2019 by missileman

[dilip 187]

10 minutes ago, Sunshine25 said:

Hi everyone,

I'm getting ready to file for citizenship but had 3 questions:

 

1) The form asks if you have ever been arrested, cited or detained. I looked up the definition for a citation and it says it's an official summons. I had a speeding ticket 2 years ago, which I paid by mail, this wouldn't count as a citation as I was not summoned to court???

 

2) I will be applying as I've been a lawful permanent resident for 5 years (I'm also still married to my husband) so I'll only have to send in a photocopy of my green card, 2 photos and checks for the fees? not the rest of the info??

 

3) My 11 year old son came over with me and has a green card. After I become a citizen, can I apply for a passport for him? What is the process?

 

Thanks for the help!

[1] Yes, you need to report the speeding tickets and your answer will be yes

[2] Fill on line, then they will ask only those documents needed for your case and no photo needed and it is very simple process

[3] Yes, once you will get your naturalization certificate, you can apply passport for your son. 

 

[jkstark 97]

For the citations, make sure you have a full court disposition paperwork for them...  If the amounts are less than (I believe) $600, they won't ask for anything else, but it is a good idea to have the disposition notice for those on hand in case they are asked for...

 

As to the 5 year rule - it is the simpler approach to go with, and you don't need nearly as much paperwork on hand to complete.  Essentially, while you will be asked about your marriage, it is for the most part meaningless, since you are not applying on the basis of being married, but rather on the basis of having been a LPR for 5 years.

 

As mentioned, your 11 year old becomes a citizen at the same time as you do, and you simply need to apply for a passport for them.

[Sunshine25 17]

What is full court disposition paperwork?  I got a speeding ticket, I think it was $98, I mailed in the ticket and check. Would I just need a copy of the receipt?

[Wuozopo 4,285]

1 hour ago, Sunshine25 said:

What is full court disposition paperwork?  I got a speeding ticket, I think it was $98, I mailed in the ticket and check. Would I just need a copy of the receipt?

My experience. I said no on my application because I wasn't sure. I had no paperwork. In the meantime I was able to track down which court the state troopers would use (since it wasn't city cops or the county sheriff). Luckily they had recently digitized the records from back then and easily gave me a receipt showing I had paid. At the interview, they go over the entire application. When it got to that part, I said I had a speeding ticket but I didn't know whether to declare it or not. He made notes on the application and asked if I had a record with me. I gave him the receipt and he carried on. 

[LukeU 413]

13 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

My experience. I said no on my application because I wasn't sure. I had no paperwork. In the meantime I was able to track down which court the state troopers would use (since it wasn't city cops or the county sheriff). Luckily they had recently digitized the records from back then and easily gave me a receipt showing I had paid. At the interview, they go over the entire application. When it got to that part, I said I had a speeding ticket but I didn't know whether to declare it or not. He made notes on the application and asked if I had a record with me. I gave him the receipt and he carried on. 

Does that include tickets in the UK then? 

 

Like going forward, I got a ticket in the UK paid on the spot fine and that was it? Just a SAR shows this (not ACRO) so I'm stumped now. 

 

Long, long way away for me to be thinking about this but I'm just browsing all different stages of this whole process  

[Sunshine25 17]

I just spoke to the DMV, the lady said she couldn't get a receipt for me, but I could show my bank statement with the check that I used to pay and also I could get a certified copy of my driving record for $15 and that would also show I had paid the ticket.

 

Luke U, I have no idea about English tickets, sorry.

[LukeU 413]

17 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

My experience. I said no on my application because I wasn't sure. I had no paperwork. In the meantime I was able to track down which court the state troopers would use (since it wasn't city cops or the county sheriff). Luckily they had recently digitized the records from back then and easily gave me a receipt showing I had paid. At the interview, they go over the entire application. When it got to that part, I said I had a speeding ticket but I didn't know whether to declare it or not. He made notes on the application and asked if I had a record with me. I gave him the receipt and he carried on. 

Does that include tickets in the UK or just ones received during your time in the USA?

 

Long, long way away for me to be thinking about this but I'm just browsing all different stages of this whole process  

[Wuozopo 4,285]

39 minutes ago, LukeU said:

Does that include tickets in the UK or just ones received during your time in the USA?

 

Long, long way away for me to be thinking about this but I'm just browsing all different stages of this whole process  

While you're waiting on visa delivery, you ought to browse through the whole application as a preview of what will be expected of you, especially since you're already thinking ahead. It was a bit less specific when I did it. https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/n-400.pdf?download=1

 

 

The question says EVER so that means anytime in your life. Also, the instructions for the form include:

If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world, by any law enforcement officer, for any reason...........

 

If any of Item Numbers 22. - 28. apply to you, you must answer "Yes" even if your records have been sealed, expunged, or otherwise cleared. You must disclose this information even if someone, including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney, told you that it no longer constitutes a record or told you that you do not have to disclose the information. 

22. Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason? 

[gc@gc 184]

23 hours ago, Sunshine25 said:

Hi everyone,

I'm getting ready to file for citizenship but had 3 questions:

 

1) The form asks if you have ever been arrested, cited or detained. I looked up the definition for a citation and it says it's an official summons. I had a speeding ticket 2 years ago, which I paid by mail, this wouldn't count as a citation as I was not summoned to court???

 

 

 

i had a speeding ticket 10 years before i filed N-400, so I said no in my application.  At the interview, I asked the officer about this, she said it was okay since the fine was much less than $500

 

[gc@gc 184]

23 hours ago, Sunshine25 said:

 

3) My 11 year old son came over with me and has a green card. After I become a citizen, can I apply for a passport for him? What is the process?

 

Thanks for the help!

 

your child will automatically become US citizen. At the Oath Ceremony,  they will provide info about this. 

 

[LukeU 413]

17 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

While you're waiting on visa delivery, you ought to browse through the whole application as a preview of what will be expected of you, especially since you're already thinking ahead. It was a bit less specific when I did it. https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/n-400.pdf?download=1

 

 

The question says EVER so that means anytime in your life. Also, the instructions for the form include:

If you have ever been arrested or detained anywhere in the world, by any law enforcement officer, for any reason...........

 

If any of Item Numbers 22. - 28. apply to you, you must answer "Yes" even if your records have been sealed, expunged, or otherwise cleared. You must disclose this information even if someone, including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney, told you that it no longer constitutes a record or told you that you do not have to disclose the information. 

22. Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason? 

As always thanks Wuozopo! 

 

I just don't want people to think I'm asking just for the sake of it, it's all good I think to get a rough idea for the future  and I'm a stickler for knowing what's what  

 

Thankfully this didn't show up and even on the SAR (Subject Access Request) it shows it as a "Non-conviction" on this offence. So I'll just declare it and go from there, £80 or £100 I think it was. Many more years to prove it was a one off and hopefully nothing else in front.