CalgaryAMC

I thought I would provide an update on my experience having declared my
speeding tickets (3 - two in the UK, one in Canada), since thus far
these have been the only items of interest regarding my consular
interview (Vancouver) or my US entry (Calgary).

Question 38 on DS-156
requires that all arrests and/or convictions be declared. I answered
"YES" to question 38, and provided the appropriate documentation
(notices of conviction) for the three tickets in question.

Consulate:
"what is the conviction"
Me: "speeding, see the attached documents"

Consulate: crosses out my "YES" and writes "Minor traffic"

Calgary POE
(looking at the DS-156 from brown envelope): "what is this conviction"

Me: "speeding, see the attached documents"
Calgary POE: "speeding is
not a conviction," then, turning to supervisor, "do we have his FBI
file?"
Then nothing.
Then Calgary POE again: "speeding is not a
conviction"
Me: "it is"
Calgary POE supervisor steps in: "it is"
I am on
my way.

I was right to declare them, but it does seem as though the
officers aren't all entirely sure what to do with them.

WretchedMidget

Excellent. I was wondering whether or not to mention my US speeding
ticket from early this year. I figured I'd tell them at the interview,
but I know that when I got to that question on the form I wouldn't know
what to put.

Thanks for the heads up :)

Inquisitive40

Originally posted by WretchedMidget
    > Excellent. I was
wondering whether or not to mention my US speeding ticket from early
this year. I figured I'd tell them at the interview, but I know that
when I got to that question on the form I wouldn't know what to put.

    > Thanks for the heads up :)


Hum,,, now that asks the
question whether being fined for having no seat belt (which I was
wearing) and no tax displayed are considered convictions??
They were
just fines, nothing other than $80 in total, there was no arrest or
anything, just pay the ticket.
Should this be declared?
EDIT:
I did a
search on this subject and the original replies were that traffic
offenses are exempt and do not need to be declared?
I-485 read:

"b.
been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, fined or imprisoned for
breaking or violating any law or ordinance, excluding
traffic
violations."


Patrick

CalgaryAMC

Originally posted by inquisitive40
    > Hum,,, now that asks
the question whether being fined for having no seat belt (which I was
wearing) and no tax displayed are considered convictions??
    > They were
just fines, nothing other than $80 in total, there was no arrest or
anything, just pay the ticket.
    > Should this be declared?
    > EDIT:
    > I
did a search on this subject and the original replies were that traffic
offenses are exempt and do not need to be declared?
    > I-485 read:
    >
"b. been arrested, cited, charged, indicted, fined or imprisoned for
breaking or violating any law or ordinance, excluding
    > traffic
violations."
    >
    >
    > Patrick

That question says that traffic
violations are excluded. The DS-156 form does not exclude them.

On the
question of what is a conviction - in the UK and Canada, traffic
violations result in conviction. One of my fines was just £20, but it
was still technically a conviction.

Inquisitive40

Originally posted by CalgaryAMC
    > That question says that
traffic violations are excluded. The DS-156 form does not exclude them.

    >
    > On the question of what is a conviction - in the UK and Canada,
traffic violations result in conviction. One of my fines was just £20,
but it was still technically a conviction.

Ok, well that
explains that then, is the DS- 156 the only form that needs those
listed?
I am not 100% sure if Irish law is the same but most likely it
is due to inheriting a lot of it's law from Britain.
TIA
Patrick

Sphyrapicus

If you decide to apply for citizenship down the line, you'll need to
include speeding tickets and the like on the N-400.


Originally posted by inquisitive40
    > Ok, well that
explains that then, is the DS- 156 the only form that needs those
listed?
    > I am not 100% sure if Irish law is the same but most
likely it is due to inheriting a lot of it's law from Britain.
    > TIA

Patrick

Inquisitive40

Originally posted by sphyrapicus
    > If you decide to apply
for citizenship down the line, you'll need to include speeding tickets
and the like on the N-400.

My recollection of the Visa Waiver
form was that minor traffic offences were also exempt?
Patrick

CalgaryAMC

Originally posted by inquisitive40
    > My recollection of
the Visa Waiver form was that minor traffic offences were also exempt?
Patrick

That is correct.

Inquisitive40

Originally posted by CalgaryAMC
    > That is correct.


Cool... was beginning to worry :) AGAIN!!! will die of a
heart attack from stress on these forums.. LOL
Patrick

Runescape_hater

Hey i just wanted to say hi to everyone.