Interview summary

Name
rein021d
Country
United States

Had my interview yesterday, Honolulu DO. It mostly consists of going over your entire application question by question, and checking that the answers you give under oath match what is on your application. I was asked some more detailed information which hadn't been mentioned on the application.

The interview ended with the tests of reading, writing and civics, which were quick and painless. (One sentence to read, one sentence to write, and six questions straight from the study booklet. The interviewer stopped at six, since I answered everything correctly)

The part I was mostly worried about was the mention of an expunged conviction on my record. My fears were confirmed as she (the interviewer) told me that the online record I had submitted was not sufficient. I needed to provide an official court disposition record. This is for a traffic accident that happened almost ten years ago in another state, for which I was neither under influence nor speeding, just an honest mistake which unfortunately ended up in the loss of life of a motorcycle rider with no helmet. (not that it makes it any less justifiable, but the driver was not licensed to drive the motorcycle, which wasn't even his to begin with) Charges of vehicular manslaughter were filed, then reduced to a plea of no contest to a charge of reckless driving with a three year summary probation, and the conviction was finally expunged three years ago. It cost me thousands of dollars at the time to have an attorney handle it on my behalf, along with court fees.
I had included a signed affidavit in my application, and I would not have minded including an official court record, however I never had one to begin with and the court system seems to make it as obscure as possible to make a request for one. I told myself that if USCIS really needs that document, I'll receive a letter for "more information required", and I'll handle it then. Except they never did. I received my interview letter and therefore made the mistake of assuming that I had made it past that hurdle...

Today, I mailed (certified) a request to the court for a certified copy of my disposition along with a blank check and a return envelope, not sure how long it will take, or if they even will. USCIS gives me 30 days to send in the additional document. Who knows... Here I am waisting my time for something I could have done long ago.

I know perfectly well it says to submit certified copy of court dispositions, etc.. I should not have chanced it. And yet, when showed an online record from the court system (for which one has to pay $5 per search) listing the charges along with their disposition, and date, case number and my name, the interviewer tells me: "This is online. Anyone can get that" I fail to see the logic in that statement. They want something only I can get?

I am left with the feeling that my "good moral character" must have not been sufficiently tested as it is, and that my eligibility for citizenship now rests in the ability of the Los Angeles superior court to mail me a certified copy of my record within 30 days.

Good luck to everyone out there. And always request official copies of everything as it happens.

Citizenship and Naturalization

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