QUESTION
Can my driving ticket prevent me from getting my citizenship?
Asked on Mar 17th, 2016 on Immigration - Georgia
More details to this question:
Looking to apply for citizenship. I got pulled over two years ago and got arrested because I was on a suspended license for a 35 dollar ticket I forgot to pay. I got the case dismissed after paying a 600 dollar fee. Can that prevent me from getting my citizenship?
2 ANSWERS
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You did not say why you were pulled over. If it was a DWI / DUI or reckless driving, you might have problems with naturalization. Otherwise, the arrest should not matter. Remember, you have to disclose the arrest in any case, so it would speed up the process if you get a certificate of disposition from the court and attach it with your N-400 paperwork.
Answered on Apr 18th, 2016 at 6:56 AM
Generally, law violations can impact naturalization eligibility in two ways: (1) certain types of offenses can render a person ineligible, and (2) other offenses which by themselves would not create ineligibility, can interfere with an applicant's obligation to show that he/she does not lack good moral character and to show that he/she is attached to the laws and form of government in the United States. Ordinarily, minor traffic offenses do not trigger (1), but under certain circumstances, and especially if an applicant failed to pay a fine that a court ordered to be paid, it could trigger (2). There really is no substitute for having an immigration attorney review the disposition documents relating to the original citation and to the later arrest, in order to assess eligibility for naturalization. Additionally, note that an applicant should have court-certified copies of all the disposition documents for both matters, since the USCIS may be expected to require them.
Answered on Apr 15th, 2016 at 4:32 AM