[Snglusa]

I am 40 year old living in Maryland for last 14 years and just about 6 months back I had applied for us citizenship. In 2000 I was convicted of Shoplifting offense, Here is what happened, I was arrested for shoplifting and taken for finger print after that I hired a lawyer and got community service, the charges were misdemeanor. After I finished the community service my records of arrest and everything else were expunged in 2001.After that I have travelled many times to my home country and never had problem to re-enter united states. After the Maryland state authourity expunged all the records they had send me a letter to confirm that, Now when I was applying for the us citizenship I could not locate that letter, I tried to contact the Maryland state for any records they have of my arrest or conviction but they said after they have expunged the records they could not find any thing on my name, either at the police station or in the courts. For last 2 years I am working for a reputated bank and they had done my background check on state and county level and I was cleared. I have not done any mistakes after that incident in 2000 ( not even a traffic ticket )
My question.
How will this effect my us citizenship application or if I am going to get the citizenship at all.
I really appriciate any suggestions, also my wife got her citizenship about a year back without any problem and both my sons were born here.

[lawanwadee]

This should not be a problem but you must disclose this info to USCIS even it's expunged. Follow instructions on the form... you'll be fine.