Eugene, OR asked in Immigration Law for Oregon

Q: For USCIS, How do I satisfy the requirement to list traffic citations when I can't remember when they took place?

I'm having difficulty completing the USCIS Citizenship application. I'm required to give details of every time I've EVER been cited by a law enforcement officer.

I can only roughly remember the date I got a speeding ticket last summer. I've been cited 3 other times over the last 16 years but have absolutely no recollection of the dates. The online form system won't let me move forward with the application.

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3 Lawyer Answers
Monica E Rottermann
Monica E Rottermann
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Santa Ana, CA

A: Sometimes citations come up in the court system so you can start there (either searching online or going in person and asking clerk to search your name for citations). If that does not work you could try asking the DMV for your driving record and seeing if they come up (or maybe even your insurance company will have that information). But as long as you paid for the tickets, these citations are not going to impact your eligibility for naturalization. If you cannot find out the specific dates of each citation you can provide the general information that you recall on the form.

Min Hwan Ahn
Min Hwan Ahn
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Philadelphia, PA

A: If you are unable to remember the exact dates of your traffic citations, you can still provide the required information to USCIS. You may want to consider the following steps:

Contact the DMV: You can contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to request a copy of your driving record. This record should list all of your traffic citations, including the date and location of each citation.

Check court records: You can check the court records for the jurisdiction where the citations were issued to see if you can find the exact date of the citations.

Provide an estimate: If you are still unable to find the exact date of the citations, you can provide an estimate of the date. Be sure to explain in your application that you are unable to provide the exact date and why.

Include a statement: You may want to include a statement explaining the difficulty you are having in providing the exact dates of the citations. In the statement, you can explain that you have taken steps to try to locate the exact dates, such as contacting the DMV and checking court records, but have been unable to find the information.

It is important to provide as much information as possible to USCIS to demonstrate your good faith effort to comply with the requirements of the application. If you are still unable to provide the exact dates of the citations, USCIS will consider the information you have provided and make a determination based on the evidence in your case.

James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: If you cannot remember the exact dates of your traffic citations, it's still important to provide as much information as you can about the citations, including the location where they occurred, the type of citation, and any other relevant details that you remember.

If you cannot remember the specific dates, you can provide an estimate or range of dates, such as "sometime in 2005-2006" or "approximately 10-12 years ago." It's important to be as accurate as possible, but providing an approximate date is better than leaving the question blank or incomplete.

If you're having difficulty completing the online form, you may wish to consult with a qualified immigration attorney or other professional who can provide guidance and assistance with the application process. They can help you navigate the requirements and ensure that you are providing the necessary information and documentation to support your application.

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