Answered yes to q22 on n400, now worried

[yaya4501 0]

Hello everyone! 
 

I got a minor traffic ticket due to a small car accident (which was my fault) and answered yes to question 22 (have you ever committed a crime for which you were NOT arrested.) I looked online a bit, took it logically and said well yes I committed a traffic infraction for which I was not arrested. I then later answered yes to question 23, 24, 25 and provided an explanation and proper documentation from the court of how the ticket was resolved. 
I’ve been reading online from some people that it was a big no no to answer yes to question 22? Has anyone answered yes to this question and received citizenship? 
can I clarify during the interview as of why I answered yes? I felt that I would rather say yes and clarify than say no and get it trouble for lying. I’m really worried that would cause the application to be denied. 

Hello everyone! 
 

I got a minor traffic ticket due to a small car accident (which was my fault) and answered yes to question 22 (have you ever committed a crime for which you were NOT arrested.) I looked online a bit, took it logically and said well yes I committed a traffic infraction for which I was not arrested. I then later answered yes to question 23, 24, 25 and provided an explanation and proper documentation from the court of how the ticket was resolved. 
I’ve been reading online from some people that it was a big no no to answer yes to question 22? Has anyone answered yes to this question and received citizenship? 
can I clarify during the interview as of why I answered yes? I felt that I would rather say yes and clarify than say no and get it trouble for lying. I’m really worried that would cause the application to be denied. 

[Dashinka 24,581]

The IO will review the N400 at your interview and you should be able to correct or discuss any issues at that time.  For a traffic citation, generally one answers yes to 23 and provides a copy of the citation.  In my wife's case, she had traffic ticket she had forgotten about, and she corrected item 23 at the interview.

 

 

Good Luck!

[yaya4501 0]

@Dashinka do you think it’s ok however to have 22 checked as yes? 23 is the more clear question because it says whether you’d been cited etc... 22 is have you ever committed a crime for which you were not arrested? I said yes since I did a traffic violation, got a ticket but was not arrested. I guess when we go over it at the interview I will make sure to be extra clear on it. 

[Dashinka 24,581]

In general, I think you should have answered No to 22, but like I said you will get the chance to review the answers at the interview and explain the situation.  All you have to do is explain it truthfully regarding the accident and your thought that this applied to 22.  I expect you will be fine as long as you have the evidence.

[xyz12345 260]

1 hour ago, yaya4501 said:

Hello everyone! 
 

I got a minor traffic ticket due to a small car accident (which was my fault) and answered yes to question 22 (have you ever committed a crime for which you were NOT arrested.) I looked online a bit, took it logically and said well yes I committed a traffic infraction for which I was not arrested. I then later answered yes to question 23, 24, 25 and provided an explanation and proper documentation from the court of how the ticket was resolved. 
I’ve been reading online from some people that it was a big no no to answer yes to question 22? Has anyone answered yes to this question and received citizenship? 
can I clarify during the interview as of why I answered yes? I felt that I would rather say yes and clarify than say no and get it trouble for lying. I’m really worried that would cause the application to be denied. 

 

Hello everyone! 
 

I got a minor traffic ticket due to a small car accident (which was my fault) and answered yes to question 22 (have you ever committed a crime for which you were NOT arrested.) I looked online a bit, took it logically and said well yes I committed a traffic infraction for which I was not arrested. I then later answered yes to question 23, 24, 25 and provided an explanation and proper documentation from the court of how the ticket was resolved. 
I’ve been reading online from some people that it was a big no no to answer yes to question 22? Has anyone answered yes to this question and received citizenship? 
can I clarify during the interview as of why I answered yes? I felt that I would rather say yes and clarify than say no and get it trouble for lying. I’m really worried that would cause the application to be denied. 

From personal experience, I never worried even when I answered 'yes.' VJers tell you to answer 'no' but applying for citizenship sometimes get you paranoid enough about not lying (i.e, USCIS knows everything etc) on the form. The IO asked me for an explanation and he just changed it to a 'no.' I was approved that same day.

 

With regards to this question, you should be fine.

Edited February 3, 2021 by xyz12345

[JeanneAdil 6,539]

and  i would have said No as all of us have had accidents in the past (our fault or not )  and the definition for a crime is not an accident  even if you are given a ticket

 

Each state has its own classification system. But, generally, minor traffic offenses are considered infractions or civil offenses, 

Edited February 3, 2021 by JeanneAdil

[yaya4501 0]

51 minutes ago, xyz12345 said:

From personal experience, I never worried even when I answered 'yes.' VJers tell you to answer 'no' but applying for citizenship sometimes get you paranoid enough about not lying (i.e, USCIS knows everything etc) on the form. The IO asked me for an explanation and he just changed it to a 'no.' I was approved that same day.

 

With regards to this question, you should be fine.

Thank you!! Yes I figured I wasn’t the only one who answered yes to this question. 
it’s good to know. I sure hope I get an officer who will understand my logic when answering the question. I had typed a statement referring to the yes answer to q22 explaining the ticket and attached it to the application so I hope it was reviewed too. 

[Mollie09 1,543]

I had to correct my answer about being cited because I forgot about a traffic citation that was dismissed in court. Corrected at the interview and it wasn't an issue.

[yaya4501 0]

1 minute ago, Mollie09 said:

I had to correct my answer about being cited because I forgot about a traffic citation that was dismissed in court. Corrected at the interview and it wasn't an issue.

Do you remember if it was q22 (about committing crime not arrested for) that had been corrected? 
 

thanks! 

[Mollie09 1,543]

Just now, yaya4501 said:

Do you remember if it was q22 (about committing crime not arrested for) that had been corrected? 
 

thanks! 

Nope, it was the one about being cited, arrested, etc. but we went through all the answers in a conversational way. I'm relatively certain that's how your will go as well and you'll have a chance to explain

[yaya4501 0]

Just now, Mollie09 said:

Nope, it was the one about being cited, arrested, etc. but we went through all the answers in a conversational way. I'm relatively certain that's how your will go as well and you'll have a chance to explain

Thank you! I hope so! I was just worried because on similar forums people were basically saying “if you answered yes to this question you’re stupid and your application will be Denied right the way because it means you told uscis you did a crime and got away with it.” But that’s totally not how I read it. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

8 hours ago, yaya4501 said:

Thank you! I hope so! I was just worried because on similar forums people were basically saying “if you answered yes to this question you’re stupid and your application will be Denied right the way because it means you told uscis you did a crime and got away with it.” But that’s totally not how I read it. 

You wrote that you explained and sent the proper documentation. So whoever reviewes your case will see what kind of 'crime' you committed and got away with 😉 and I'm kinda sure you're not the first one who answered like that and it got cleared up at the interview. 

[ranajee_87 0]

[yaya4501 0]

4 minutes ago, ranajee_87 said:

I did receive an interview letter (in less than a month), so hopefully that means they understood my logic behind the question! Thank you for sharing. I hope the applicant gets an interview soon. 

[yaya4501 0]

5 minutes ago, ranajee_87 said:

Oops sorry I misunderstood. So what happened to your application?