Hello all. I am a LPR holder for 5 years (DV Lottery winner) and I am thinking of applying for naturalization based on 5 years of residency NOT marriage ( In 2019 I got married and this past September we had our first baby), but I have some concerns and I am not sure how to address them on the application. I want to be truthful obviously, I just would like to know if there is any risk of denial for some reason. I will list my concerns below in case anyone has a similar experience. This website and the posters have been very helpful all these years and I appreciate all the help.
1. Tax return
I got my green card on 11/13/2015 and landed in NYC on the following day. In 2016, I asked the accountant which I was referred to by the community if I should file taxes for the period of 2015 and he specifically told me that I do not need to file because I was an LPR only for two months in 2015 (Nov-Dec) and I didn't have any job or bank account. But lately I have been reading that you are required to file taxes even if you are an LPR for one day or so. Is there a legitimate reason I should be concerned about this? Can I file a tax return for 2015 just to be safe if that is an option at all?
2. Multiple travels outside of US in the past 5 years ( I am listing below detailed dates and sum of days outside of the US)
ARRIVAL IN US as LPR on 11/14/2015
DEPARTED 01/22/2016 ARRIVAL 03/05/2016 44 DAYS
DEPARTED 06/11/2016 ARRIVAL 06/21/2016 11 DAYS
DEPARTED 04/12/2016 ARRIVAL 12/21/2016 18 DAYS
DEPARTED 07/26/2019 ARRIVAL 07/30/2019 5 DAYS
On two of those trips visiting my home country, I also did two trips to Europe to attend a conference.
TOTAL DAYS OUTSIDE OF THE US: 88
3. Traffic tickets and 5 points on my driver's record.
- I got my first traffic ticket on Dec 2018 for cellphone use and I hired an attorney that told me that the ticket was dismissed.
- Next year, I got one more for cell phone which I was found guilty and paid the fine.
- Disobeying traffic device. Hearing is scheduled for 2021.
I also got two more tickets for red light and no standing bust stop but I wasn't driving my car so the tickets were issued to the owner of the car but I paid them of course. Should I mention those at all since I didn't provide my driver's license but I was driving the vehicle.
Thanks for taking the time to read my case and I will look forward to hear opinions.