Travel immediately after oath ceremony question

[Jelly 0]

Hi all

I am currently waiting for my date for oath ceremony and just have a hypothetical question.

We are looking to go back to England at Christmas time and might stay there for a while, maybe permanently.

I checked out the oath ceremony dates and there is one on 19th December. If by chance my oath ceremony is on this day and I travel to England on lets say 21st December,

1) Is it possible to leave the country without the greencard/ US passport ( I have my UK passport).

2) Can I apply for my US passport in the UK? or would it be better to just apply for the passport before I leave and then get someone to send it to me.

thanks

Jelly

[lucyrich 20]

The law says that a US citizen is not allowed to leave the US or enter the US without being in possession of a US passport (limited exceptions for Canada/Mexico/Caribbean travel are being phased out).

Except as otherwise provided by the President and subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may authorize and prescribe, it shall be unlawful for any citizen of the United States to depart from or enter, or attempt to depart from or enter, the United States unless he bears a valid United States passport.

Currently, enforcement seems to be a bit sparse. But at best, you'll have some explaining to do if you show up at a US Consulate abroad asking for a US passport. They'll know you left the US without getting your US passport.

[Jelly 0]

Thanks Lucyrich

In that case is there such a thing as getting passport on same day as long as I have evidence of travel plans?

thanks

Jelly

[moonhunt 1]

Thanks Lucyrich

In that case is there such a thing as getting passport on same day as long as I have evidence of travel plans?

thanks

Jelly

Yes, you can.

But the location is limited and you should expect that you can spend whole day from there.

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/p...ssing_1740.html

[NickD 202]

Thanks Lucyrich

In that case is there such a thing as getting passport on same day as long as I have evidence of travel plans?

thanks

Jelly

Yes, you can.

But the location is limited and you should expect that you can spend whole day from there.

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/p...ssing_1740.html

It's kind of like, hooray, hooray, I finally got my US citizenship, finally done with the USCIS, then to realize you can't go anywhere. Then you worry about the DOS losing your certificate that took so long to get and about errors on your passport, kind of a let down. And another couple of hundred bucks out the door.

[Boiler 45,404]

You do not need a US Passport to leave, you need one to come back in.

[Completely 3]

Hi all

I am currently waiting for my date for oath ceremony and just have a hypothetical question.

We are looking to go back to England at Christmas time and might stay there for a while, maybe permanently.

I checked out the oath ceremony dates and there is one on 19th December. If by chance my oath ceremony is on this day and I travel to England on lets say 21st December,

1) Is it possible to leave the country without the greencard/ US passport ( I have my UK passport).

2) Can I apply for my US passport in the UK? or would it be better to just apply for the passport before I leave and then get someone to send it to me.

thanks

Jelly

Hi Jelly,

After the oath I did leave the US without applying a passport.. I did apply the passport in the US Embassy in the Middle East.. I did not have any problem leaving the US, but I did get a hard time with the officer.. I have been educated by him, that I cant just leave the US without my US passport, he did a lot of talking and I got scared that they may not release my passport.. But he did release my passport later on..

It will be better if you have time to apply for the passport in person, this is to make sure that will not lost your naturalization certificate.. and then ask someone in your family to pick it up for you or have them sent you overseas.

I had post a question in VJ before as to what consequences if I go back and the immigration find out that I left US using a Foreign Passport. Some said it is not a big deal as some military does the same thing, but I am still concern..

Do not forget to update your SSN information as well before you leave the US.

[kmineo 0]

Disagree with Boiler. Technically you cannot leave the US without a passport as Completely got told. Airlines usually ask for your green card, visa or passport when you leave. If you have a UK passport they will be looking for your visa or GC. If you don't have that could get you in a bit of a bind. Depending on who you are dealing with. But the good news is that you can get your passport in a day. But you do have to go to one of the service centers. Anyway good luck.

[NickD 202]

Hi all

I am currently waiting for my date for oath ceremony and just have a hypothetical question.

We are looking to go back to England at Christmas time and might stay there for a while, maybe permanently.

I checked out the oath ceremony dates and there is one on 19th December. If by chance my oath ceremony is on this day and I travel to England on lets say 21st December,

1) Is it possible to leave the country without the greencard/ US passport ( I have my UK passport).

2) Can I apply for my US passport in the UK? or would it be better to just apply for the passport before I leave and then get someone to send it to me.

thanks

Jelly

Is getting a US passport really necessary? Believe that Completey is working overseas and had to get back, thought you were just going for the Christmas holiday, but if you are not planning on coming back, why worry about it?

[Jelly 0]

Thanks Guys for all your answers.

My question was about the legality of leaving without a US passport, which has been thoroughly answered here thankyou so much.

I do remember leaving for holidays before obviously on my UK passport, but they have always asked for my greencard as well. Is it actually possible that they physically wouldnt let you leave without being able to show either greencard or US passport. ?

Nick D in answer to your last question, I do want to come back at some point, and as mentioned I was curious about the legality of it I suppose.

thanks for your responses

Jelly

[moonhunt 1]

Thanks Guys for all your answers.

My question was about the legality of leaving without a US passport, which has been thoroughly answered here thankyou so much.

I do remember leaving for holidays before obviously on my UK passport, but they have always asked for my greencard as well. Is it actually possible that they physically wouldnt let you leave without being able to show either greencard or US passport. ?

Nick D in answer to your last question, I do want to come back at some point, and as mentioned I was curious about the legality of it I suppose.

thanks for your responses

Jelly

By the law, you should use US passport as soon as you take the oath for naturalization.

If you leave without US passport, depending on whom you are dealing with, you may get penalty, or be o.k.

But if somebody is trying to give hard time, you have to swallow it because it is the law.

Leaving from U.S. with U.K. Passport without green card or VISA ?

Your mileage may vary.

But technically you will get hardtime by airline employee, and/or DHS ICE employee.

From DHS ICE viewpoint, you are potential illegal alien, who may sneak into this country without valid immigration document.

I hope you don't go that far.

[Boiler 45,404]

Thanks Guys for all your answers.

My question was about the legality of leaving without a US passport, which has been thoroughly answered here thankyou so much.

I do remember leaving for holidays before obviously on my UK passport, but they have always asked for my greencard as well. Is it actually possible that they physically wouldnt let you leave without being able to show either greencard or US passport. ?

Nick D in answer to your last question, I do want to come back at some point, and as mentioned I was curious about the legality of it I suppose.

thanks for your responses

Jelly

.

Odd

I have never heard of anybody been asked for a GC when leaving, I never have. They just need to make sure you are going to be let in where you are going.

Certainly have when coming back.

Edited November 4, 2008 by Boiler

[Completely 3]

Thanks Guys for all your answers.

My question was about the legality of leaving without a US passport, which has been thoroughly answered here thankyou so much.

I do remember leaving for holidays before obviously on my UK passport, but they have always asked for my greencard as well. Is it actually possible that they physically wouldnt let you leave without being able to show either greencard or US passport. ?

Nick D in answer to your last question, I do want to come back at some point, and as mentioned I was curious about the legality of it I suppose.

thanks for your responses

Jelly

Jelly, just apply the passport in the US Embassy in England.. just swallow your pride if the officer will give you a hard time. But as far as leaving they do not really check for greencard, you can just show your naturalization certificate and tell them that they already took your greencard.

One of the VJ member did the same thing, she left the US and applied passport overseas..

Maybe you can sacrifice celebrating the Holiday in the US to get everything squared away, instead of enjoy the holiday in England but worry about the consequences.. This will be up to you.

Edited November 4, 2008 by Completely