Citations/warnings/clubs on the form questions

[eckoin 211]

I have a few months before I can submit N-400, but I reviewed the form to see what I need to prepare for.  I've read various topics on the "associations and clubs" and "have you ever been detained but not charged", and my understanding is that it's as much of a write-up on what you've done, as it is for showing that you're a real honest person. 

 

I am quite certain I have not been part of any associations or clubs that USCIS/DHS may be worried about, nor have I had any citations, including any speeding tickets.  I have received two warnings for speeding.  Have I been detained by virtue of receiving the warnings, and is it better to disclose that therefore?  I have no idea when they happened, but I can probably find a general timeline (and well, they're probably not in any system to check for accuracy).  Should I be disclosing university clubs and AAA as part of the clubs/associations question, just to show that I'm being super thorough?

 

Or am I totally overthinking it, and should just answer no like the upstanding citizen (resident) with no citations or communist party affiliations? 

Edited May 27, 2021 by eckoin

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

12 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Should I be disclosing university clubs and AAA as part of the clubs/associations question, just to show that I'm being super thorough

I don’t know about AAA but I thought all they wanted was, you know, “important” clubs do I didn’t list anything, but when I mentioned to my interviewer the stuff that I had (a professional society membership, a little local volunteer club etc) she wrote it all down... 

[eckoin 211]

Just now, SusieQQQ said:

I don’t know about AAA but I thought all they wanted was, you know, “important” clubs do I didn’t list anything, but when I mentioned to my interviewer the stuff that I had (a professional society membership, a little local volunteer club etc) she wrote it all down... 

Huh, OK, so that's a +1 for mentioning my Structured Finance Association membership to make it seem thorough.  AAA was a semi-joke but we all know what this question is trying to get at, so it just seems both prudent and stupid to jot down random professional memberships. 

 

Any thoughts on traffic warnings?  Is it better to disclose that I was warned--both under my Canadian license and totally verbal--or am I just creating confusion?  I've seen quotes such as, "Everyone had a ticket at some point, so it's also to check that you're being honest," and I literally, thankfully, hadn't received any tickets. 

[eckoin 211]

And just to clarify, it's this question: 

 

"Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?"

 

I think I've committed the offense of speeding, and I was not arrested nor cited for it.  There is no record of this interaction.  Do I pick the closest date, somewhere about 5-6 years ago before I became a permanent resident (but in the US on a valid status), and disclose it for total thoroughness, or just leave it off because I can't possibly remember when it happened, and the only reason I do remember is because the police officer followed me to my house to "confirm I lived here" and it freaked me out?  Another incident was when I was in the US on tourist status.  They both seem unrelated but I don't want to make it seem like I'm hiding something by answering No to every question. 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Bizarrely enough i’ve never had a ticket here but there is plenty of discussion elsewhere in the forum on that subject.

[eckoin 211]

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

Bizarrely enough i’ve never had a ticket here but there is plenty of discussion elsewhere in the forum on that subject.

So you answered No to every question?  Is that why they picked on clubs/associations?

 

I do have a legitimate Yes to one, because I did work at a penitentiary.  It was a federal government internship program sort of thing, and I disclosed it on the AOS form and was asked to elaborate during the interview, so they seemed to want the info.  I think I will write down all of the bigger clubs/associations (professionally, and the one I founded during college), and I guess I will answer YES to 

"Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?"

and blab about committing the offense of speeding (though the second one was because of not using a turn signal and he had "speeding" pre-filled!!!)

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

1 hour ago, eckoin said:

So you answered No to every question?  Is that why they picked on clubs/associations?

 

I do have a legitimate Yes to one, because I did work at a penitentiary.  It was a federal government internship program sort of thing, and I disclosed it on the AOS form and was asked to elaborate during the interview, so they seemed to want the info.  I think I will write down all of the bigger clubs/associations (professionally, and the one I founded during college), and I guess I will answer YES to 

"Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?"

and blab about committing the offense of speeding (though the second one was because of not using a turn signal and he had "speeding" pre-filled!!!)

I”d hardly say they “picked” on it, when we got to the question I said “well I belonged to x and y but didn’t know if it was supposed to go in” and she said “yes, we’ll list them”. And did and moved on. Of course plenty people answer no to all questions legitimately. Seems to me you’re overthinking this.

[eckoin 211]

3 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I”d hardly say they “picked” on it, when we got to the question I said “well I belonged to x and y but didn’t know if it was supposed to go in” and she said “yes, we’ll list them”. And did and moved on. Of course plenty people answer no to all questions legitimately. Seems to me you’re overthinking this.

Probably am. Never have been the type for not overthinking this stuff, and it's certainly proving true so far, to at least my spouse's chagrin. I think I have a plan now. Thanks! 

[Coco8 1,039]

My partner had a "impeding traffic" thing and he disclosed it. It was unimportant though in one of the interview questions, they asked him something if he had any issues with the police and he was supposed to say yes, because of ticket.

 

I'd do some research on it and also, states vary in how harsh they are about certain violations. They are not going to deny you the citizenship for a traffic violation (unless it's like, a big problematic one), but they could get you for not disclosing information. 

[eckoin 211]

2 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

My partner had a "impeding traffic" thing and he disclosed it. It was unimportant though in one of the interview questions, they asked him something if he had any issues with the police and he was supposed to say yes, because of ticket.

 

I'd do some research on it and also, states vary in how harsh they are about certain violations. They are not going to deny you the citizenship for a traffic violation (unless it's like, a big problematic one), but they could get you for not disclosing information. 

That's the thing, I've never been cited, meaning, I've never received a ticket, just verbal warnings. There's no way that this can be pulled up because verbal warnings don't go on record (at least because they were on a non-US driver's license), but I wonder what I would say if they ask, "have you had any issues with the police?" Uh, yeah I got a warning once or twice? Now that I write it out, that actually seems totally reasonable. 

[Coco8 1,039]

4 minutes ago, eckoin said:

That's the thing, I've never been cited, meaning, I've never received a ticket, just verbal warnings. There's no way that this can be pulled up because verbal warnings don't go on record (at least because they were on a non-US driver's license), but I wonder what I would say if they ask, "have you had any issues with the police?" Uh, yeah I got a warning once or twice? Now that I write it out, that actually seems totally reasonable. 

 

If you want to say you got a verbal warning if they ask you in the interview, then that's totally reasonable, I think. Just don't say speeding. Say what you said in another comment, not using a signal to turn. 

Edited May 27, 2021 by Coco8

[eckoin 211]

3 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

 

If you want to say you got a verbal warning, then that's totally reasonable, I think. Just don't say speeding. Say what you said in another comment, not using a signal to turn. 

Oh, why? The first warning I got was in the US as a tourist for speeding. Guess it wasn't bad enough to cite me for it, because I'm pretty sure I'd have to pay the fine on the spot so it would have been great for the county income. 

 

I don't know, I'm definitely leaning toward saying No to cited/arrested/detained questions because I genuinely have zero record for any violations, you know?

Edited May 27, 2021 by eckoin

[Coco8 1,039]

51 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Oh, why? The first warning I got was in the US as a tourist for speeding. Guess it wasn't bad enough to cite me for it, because I'm pretty sure I'd have to pay the fine on the spot so it would have been great for the county income. 

 

I don't know, I'm definitely leaning toward saying No to cited/arrested/detained questions because I genuinely have zero record for any violations, you know?

(1) I agree saying no on the form

(2) Speeding is worse. It's something of how violations are categorized. 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

For clubs/associations my husband  my husband answered yes and listed the honor society he belonged to in college. At the interview the officer brought this up and asked him what it was. No big deal; just asked, wrote it down and moved on. 

[JeanneAdil 6,210]

overthinking?   yes

speeding tickets are not what they are looking for

but other offenses like no driving license,  no insurance (except state of Lousiana),   car not registered / those are major as they show lack of respect for the laws of the state 

 

the following site is the one we found when Adil applied 

it explained that clubs such as Knights of Columbus, etc needed to be listed but book clubs -no

 

https://expatriates.stackexchange.com/questions/3178/what-groups-should-you-must-you-disclose