QUESTION
Should I answer yes or no for "Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime... on DS160 form?
Asked on Apr 28th, 2014 on Immigration - Arkansas
More details to this question:
I'm a student on f1 visa. I had a car accident it was my fault. I got a ticket for careless driving and paid $190. I didn't go to court because I paid my ticket in full before the court date. I'm going to my country for summer break and need to renew my visa. I know it was not an arrest but on my ticket it says number of offenses 1. Also I checked my driving record on Arkansas.gov website and there it says Offense date and shows a date when the ticket was issued and Conviction date- shows the date my court was supposed to be. Also it says Offense/Action - careless driving. I paid everything before the court date so I didn't have to go there. What should I answer in ds 160 for that question?
1 ANSWER
Immigration and Nationality Law Attorney serving New York, NY
Partner at
Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Attorneys at Law
3 Awards
I do not believe that your payment of a fine constitutes a conviction. A conviction is a pronouncement of guilt by a judge or jury. The informal setting of paying a ticket would not seem to qualify. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.
Answered on May 17th, 2014 at 5:01 PM