Naturalization Interview Scheduled!

[Octa 0]

congrats!

Is your interview scheduled or your oath. My oath was on a separate date, months away from the interview. I did not get the passport the same day I took the oath but I WISH, I traveled the day after the oath with a foreign passport - oh imagine what trouble I was in when I returned to US.

[meauxna 15]

congrats!

Is your interview scheduled or your oath. My oath was on a separate date, months away from the interview. I did not get the passport the same day I took the oath but I WISH, I traveled the day after the oath with a foreign passport - oh imagine what trouble I was in when I returned to US.

Thanks for your post!

This appointment is for the interview. However, in our office, they do offer same-day oath ceremonies. Because of our appointment time, it's still not clear to me if he will make the same-day, or if he can get a next-day. I will find out ahead of time by visiting the office, because we will have out of town guests attending the oath ceremony.

But! I'm interested to hear your travel story--you traveled after the oath, but without a US passport? I'm guessing that you went to Europe? What *did* happen when you returned??? I will be very interested in your reply.

In our case, we are traveling to Mexico and USCs may return to the US from Mexico without a passport. Other parts of the world specifically require a US passport.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/v...mentary_req.xml

Documentary Requirements for Entry To The United States

Travel from within the Western Hemisphere (North, Central or South America)

U.S. citizens:

Are exempt from passport requirements. However, it is highly recommended that a U.S. Citizen be prepared to present documentation such as valid or expired U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or Naturalization certificate to avoid delays.

So, in the worst case scenario, he may travel on photo ID and his natz certificate. Considering the expense and wait for getting a naturalization certificate replaced (a year or more), you can imagine that I'm reluctant to go backpacking around Mexico (heck, anywhere) with it. So, we'll see about getting an emergency appointment at the passport office in Seattle and taking a day trip up there to get his US passport before the trip (one week later!).

Well, I'm very interested in hearing back from you on your story!

[zyggy 9]

congrats!

Is your interview scheduled or your oath. My oath was on a separate date, months away from the interview. I did not get the passport the same day I took the oath but I WISH, I traveled the day after the oath with a foreign passport - oh imagine what trouble I was in when I returned to US.

Thanks for your post!

This appointment is for the interview. However, in our office, they do offer same-day oath ceremonies. Because of our appointment time, it's still not clear to me if he will make the same-day, or if he can get a next-day. I will find out ahead of time by visiting the office, because we will have out of town guests attending the oath ceremony.

But! I'm interested to hear your travel story--you traveled after the oath, but without a US passport? I'm guessing that you went to Europe? What *did* happen when you returned??? I will be very interested in your reply.

In our case, we are traveling to Mexico and USCs may return to the US from Mexico without a passport. Other parts of the world specifically require a US passport.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/v...mentary_req.xml

Documentary Requirements for Entry To The United States

Travel from within the Western Hemisphere (North, Central or South America)

U.S. citizens:

Are exempt from passport requirements. However, it is highly recommended that a U.S. Citizen be prepared to present documentation such as valid or expired U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or Naturalization certificate to avoid delays.

So, in the worst case scenario, he may travel on photo ID and his natz certificate. Considering the expense and wait for getting a naturalization certificate replaced (a year or more), you can imagine that I'm reluctant to go backpacking around Mexico (heck, anywhere) with it. So, we'll see about getting an emergency appointment at the passport office in Seattle and taking a day trip up there to get his US passport before the trip (one week later!).

Well, I'm very interested in hearing back from you on your story!

Congrats to you and the DAH and soon to be DUSCH! (doesn't have quite the same ring does it?)

Agree on not taking your Natz Certificate backpacking around Mexico... I would make the appointment in Seattle and get the passport.

I would make the appointment a few days before your natz interview... but hell, you've probably already thought of that...

[pax 0]

I'm sure he'll rock it, Meauxna! Woo!

[TracyTN 237]

YAY good news, m! You guys must be so excited!

[meauxna 15]

Congrats to you and the DAH and soon to be DUSCH! (doesn't have quite the same ring does it?)

Agree on not taking your Natz Certificate backpacking around Mexico... I would make the appointment in Seattle and get the passport.

I would make the appointment a few days before your natz interview... but hell, you've probably already thought of that...

heheh.. I reckon he can still be the DAH, only now it will be for Darling American Husband!

Baastaad security guard wouldn't let me into the building at USCIS yesterday--I was going to pop in to ask about the oath times. I wasn't up to fighting with him and the info room was closed for the day anyway, so I'll drop by next week sometime. I'll just have to roll the dice with Seattle.. looking for anyone with a recent personal experience of going up there for an in-person, but it's not the kind of story you find on line. Word is that they'll give you an appt if your trip is w/in 2 weeks--I know I'll be able to tell 'em a good story about a new citizen and all that, so I'm sure we'll get it worked out.

Worst comes to very worst, I suppose we could put off the oath til after we come back. Photos will look better with a tan anyway.

mmmm diving.. getting excited already!

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Congrats to you and the DAH and soon to be DUSCH! (doesn't have quite the same ring does it?)

Agree on not taking your Natz Certificate backpacking around Mexico... I would make the appointment in Seattle and get the passport.

I would make the appointment a few days before your natz interview... but hell, you've probably already thought of that...

heheh.. I reckon he can still be the DAH, only now it will be for Darling American Husband!

Baastaad security guard wouldn't let me into the building at USCIS yesterday--I was going to pop in to ask about the oath times. I wasn't up to fighting with him and the info room was closed for the day anyway, so I'll drop by next week sometime. I'll just have to roll the dice with Seattle.. looking for anyone with a recent personal experience of going up there for an in-person, but it's not the kind of story you find on line. Word is that they'll give you an appt if your trip is w/in 2 weeks--I know I'll be able to tell 'em a good story about a new citizen and all that, so I'm sure we'll get it worked out.

Worst comes to very worst, I suppose we could put off the oath til after we come back. Photos will look better with a tan anyway.

mmmm diving.. getting excited already!

Wow! Mo, I have my hands full for a week, and all heck breaks loose on here while I'm gone. Congrats on the Naturalisation interview.... I hear the test has changed a bit lately. Not to worry, I snitched a copy of the correct answers. Tell the DAH to memorise them!

George Washington had wooden teeth and syphillis

Tallest US President was Abe Lincoln at 6'4".

The shortest was James Madison at 5' 4".

Vermont is the only US state capital without a McDonalds restaurant

Benjamin Franklin's address was 141 Market Street, Philadelphia

Presidents on Mount Rushmore are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt

The oldest city in the US is St. Augustine in Florida

All US Presidents have worn glasses.

The US national anthem actually has three verses.

The average American consumes 1.2 pounds of spider eggs a year and eat 2.5 pounds of insect parts a year

Abe Lincoln bought 50 cents worth of cocaine in 1860

Los Angeles, California, was originally named "El Pueblo la Nuestra Senora de Reina de los Angeles de la Porciuncula"

Maine is the toothpick capital of the world

The parking meter was invented in North Dakota

There are seven points on the Statue of Liberty's crown

Ohio is listed as the 17th state in the U.S., but technically it is Number 47. Until August 7, 1953, Congress forgot to vote on a resolution to admit Ohio to the Union

America once issued a 5-cent bill

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. The last signature wasn't added until 5 years later

Diving? Now you're moving into my territory! I have a lovely purple one-piece with flippers I can lend you though

[zyggy 9]

Congrats to you and the DAH and soon to be DUSCH! (doesn't have quite the same ring does it?)

Agree on not taking your Natz Certificate backpacking around Mexico... I would make the appointment in Seattle and get the passport.

I would make the appointment a few days before your natz interview... but hell, you've probably already thought of that...

heheh.. I reckon he can still be the DAH, only now it will be for Darling American Husband!

Baastaad security guard wouldn't let me into the building at USCIS yesterday--I was going to pop in to ask about the oath times. I wasn't up to fighting with him and the info room was closed for the day anyway, so I'll drop by next week sometime. I'll just have to roll the dice with Seattle.. looking for anyone with a recent personal experience of going up there for an in-person, but it's not the kind of story you find on line. Word is that they'll give you an appt if your trip is w/in 2 weeks--I know I'll be able to tell 'em a good story about a new citizen and all that, so I'm sure we'll get it worked out.

Worst comes to very worst, I suppose we could put off the oath til after we come back. Photos will look better with a tan anyway.

mmmm diving.. getting excited already!

My dad has done it... he had to travel to Chicago to get it (However, they're opening a passport office in Detroit by 2007 because of the new passport requirements for Canada). Just called and made an appointment. Had to have proof that he had to travel within 2 weeks (plane tickets). The appointment was in the morning and he picked up the passport later in the afternoon. He needed a new passport due to Chinese visa requirements. Wouldn't place a visa in his passport for some reason even through it was valid. Something to do with Taiwan I think... After he got his passport, he walked it over to the Chinese consulate to get the visa.

Edited May 22, 2006 by zyggy

[maya62 7]

Congratulations Meauxna and DAH!

(I'm jealous... hiking and diving in Mexico. Y'all have fun!)

Maya

Edited to add: PS. Maybe I should know this already, but I have to ask: what does the "A" in DAH stand for now? Alien? A country name? I know, I know, curiosity killed the cat, but I'm nosey too!

Edited May 22, 2006 by maya62

[zyggy 9]

Congratulations Meauxna and DAH!

(I'm jealous... hiking and diving in Mexico. Y'all have fun!)

Maya

Edited to add: PS. Maybe I should know this already, but I have to ask: what does the "A" in DAH stand for now? Alien? A country name? I know, I know, curiosity killed the cat, but I'm nosey too!

The A in DAH is indeed Alien... soon to be American...

Edited May 22, 2006 by zyggy

[pri 0]

congrats and am happy for you

Al

[meauxna 15]

Thanks all!

DM, PMSL about your list--I will fwd them to the DAH for study ASAP. He'll prolly have a cow and think they're for real (he's a bit sarcasm impared.. not a typical Brit!).

I found the info regarding Seattle passport office and it looks to be fairly straightforward, so we'll be road tripping up the I-5 for an adventure soon.

And oh yes, maya, I owe you one. The 'A' is indeed for Alien, but as zyg notes, soon to be American!

[Octa 0]

congrats!

Is your interview scheduled or your oath. My oath was on a separate date, months away from the interview. I did not get the passport the same day I took the oath but I WISH, I traveled the day after the oath with a foreign passport - oh imagine what trouble I was in when I returned to US.

Thanks for your post!

This appointment is for the interview. However, in our office, they do offer same-day oath ceremonies. Because of our appointment time, it's still not clear to me if he will make the same-day, or if he can get a next-day. I will find out ahead of time by visiting the office, because we will have out of town guests attending the oath ceremony.

But! I'm interested to hear your travel story--you traveled after the oath, but without a US passport? I'm guessing that you went to Europe? What *did* happen when you returned??? I will be very interested in your reply.

In our case, we are traveling to Mexico and USCs may return to the US from Mexico without a passport. Other parts of the world specifically require a US passport.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/v...mentary_req.xml

Documentary Requirements for Entry To The United States

Travel from within the Western Hemisphere (North, Central or South America)

U.S. citizens:

Are exempt from passport requirements. However, it is highly recommended that a U.S. Citizen be prepared to present documentation such as valid or expired U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or Naturalization certificate to avoid delays.

So, in the worst case scenario, he may travel on photo ID and his natz certificate. Considering the expense and wait for getting a naturalization certificate replaced (a year or more), you can imagine that I'm reluctant to go backpacking around Mexico (heck, anywhere) with it. So, we'll see about getting an emergency appointment at the passport office in Seattle and taking a day trip up there to get his US passport before the trip (one week later!).

Well, I'm very interested in hearing back from you on your story!

So I had my oath and I decided to not get a new passport, even though I was traveling the day after the oath ceremony ! SMART - or for sure NOT. I left US using a Romanian passport, but now I was a US citizen and no, nobody said nothing to me. I did not realize the gravity of what I had done until I came back to US. ..I get back to US, they ask for my passport. I gave them the Romanian passport. The lady asked for my greencard. I HAD NO GREENCARD! I told her that I naturalized and showed the Certificate showing so. She then took my papers and started yelling at me. She basically said, YOU HAVE TAKEN A OATH, YOU HAVE GIVEN UP ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP TO BE A US CITIZEN. AND HERE YOU ARE TRAVELLING WITH A ROMANIAN PASSPORT! THIS IS ILLEGAL! THIS PASSPORT IS NOT VALID ANYMORE! Well it was valid in other countries, like Romania because they allow double citizenship but not valid in US. I felt so embarassed, people were watching me but I guess I deserved it. A guy came and took me into a back room, they refused to stamp my entry in US because the passport was not valid. I waited there for awhile then I was called to an office where a guy asked me all kinds of questions (where were you, what did you do there, where do you live, where do you go to school, where do you work, who do you live with, what are your parents names, what do they do,...etc.) He let me go after telling me that I should go get a passport and never try to do anything like that again; that passport is invalid and I should not use it again because I would not be let go that easily again.. Offcourse that they did not stamp my entry, I think he had his computer turned on and he might have filled some papers but I have nothing showing my entry back....They let me go but my family was waiting for me for more than 2 hours....Anyways I would not recommend it, I was 20 then and did not want to spend the money on a new passport. My father was really mad because he had his oath ceremony with me and kept telling me that we should go get a passport...this was only 3 years ago yeah I've grown up and ..Well, I don't know if anybody was or is as "smart" as me , heh once a US citizen the foreign passport is invalid. duh

Edited May 23, 2006 by 1 lady in red

[meauxna 15]

Wow, lady---what an interesting experience to have under your belt! I'm glad they let you in with only a bit of embarassment--I guess it could've been much worse! Thanks for writing that out for us.

For anyone still following, or interested, the CPB page I linked above also shows the document requirements for US citizens returning from other parts of the world. A US passport is specifically cited as required. Weasely for us in this case, since we are returning from Mexico, entry on the certificate and photo ID would be allowed.

I don't think we'll be letting it get that dire.

The rule here is: Get your US passport ASAP!

[hearsay 1]

Great news. It's fun to make it this far in the looong process.