What happens to your passport

[*Robert* 2]

Bottom line:

Get a US Passport right after you get your certificate. It only costs $100.00 plus 2 passport photos.

[NickD 203]

They do take just your green card at the oath ceremony, so even with a valid foreign passport, you cannot travel, at least not come back until you get a US passport. You might be able to sneak back in if you have a current US visa, but can get into trouble if they catch you. I don't know what kind of trouble you would get into, wife got a US passport ASAP.

In theory, yes, you are right.

However, a colleague of mine who lives and works in London got her US citizenship while living in London (husband, who lives in London as well, was in US Army, but 4 years ago, that might have helped).

She flew back for interview, then she flew back to London same night.

Same thing with the oath, she flew back to Ohio, took the oath, got the certificate and then flew back to London using her brazilian passport.

She then flew back to the US and got in using her brazilian passport + certificate of naturalization.

The CBP agent let her in and she just told her to get a US passport asap.

In theory, they cannot deny entry to a US citizen.

Still, get a US passport asap!

It's nice to meet a friendly IO at the POE when coming back, big smile, Welcome back to the USA. But doesn't happen all the time, really can meet some b@stards for lack of a more descriptive word.

Agreed, but they can't deny entry to a US citizen anyways.

They can't deny entry, but they can detain, arrest, fine, or imprison a US Citizen, if the citizen has violated US laws. For example, if they catch a US Citizen smuggling drugs into the US, they won't deny entry, but that US Citizen will nevertheless be in a big heap of trouble.

If a US Citizen enters or leaves, or attempts to enter or leave, the US without holding a US passport, it's not as serious as drug smuggling, but he/she is in violation of INA 215(B).

INA 215 (B) 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.

Of course, they've got to go through the normal constitutionally mandated due process, and they can't just arbitrarily assign whatever penalty they desire on the spot. I'm not sure what, if any, penalty is assigned to INA 215(B). It's probably not a huge deal. Still, get that US passport.

Unfortunately, this now includes Canada if you can believe that.