Is your foreign passport taken away at oath ceremony?

[lissa04 3]

Hi,

I was wondering do you have to bring your passport from your birth country with you to the interview? Also are they taken away from you or can you keep it and apply for a US passport down the line?

[NickD 202]

For your interview, should walk out with everything you walked in with, with exception of your interview notice. If they want more evidence of your original documents, they should only make copies of it. You definitely should walk out with your green card and passports, you cannot travel without these, and may have an emergency at your home country.

For your oath ceremony, walk in with your green card and oath letter, walk out with your USC certificate, they keep your oath letter and green card. But you no longer need your green card or your oath letter. But this time, you need a US passport, can leave the country with your foreign passport, but cannot come back in with it, need a US passport for that.

[lissa04 3]

So you mean to tell me that once you become a US Citizen if you don't have a US passport you can't come back in the country with your foreign passport? What if you had a emergency and had to go back home before you got your US passport?

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

So you mean to tell me that once you become a US Citizen if you don't have a US passport you can't come back in the country with your foreign passport? What if you had a emergency and had to go back home before you got your US passport?

They can't deny entry to a US citizen, but you will have to explain. If the CBP agent doesn't buy it, then he/she could fine you.

[lissa04 3]

Well isn't that just lovely!!!!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Well isn't that just lovely!!!!

Not that any country on this planet would handle this differently, but after reading your outright strange initial post, I wonder if you really want to become a USC. After all as a Lawful Permanent Resident You don't have to inconvenience yourself with applying and waiting for a US passport to arrive.

[jsnearline 2]

Your foreign passport is no longer valid for re-entry to the US once you become a USC. You'll surrender your green card at your Oath Ceremony. However, it's not a bad a situation as you think. Just apply for your US passport as soon as you become a USC and pay for expedited processing. With expedited service, you would have your passport within 2 weeks of applying. If you have an emergency come up that requires you to travel before your US passport arrives, then contact the National Passport Information Center for assistance.

Edited October 11, 2009 by jsnearline

[NickD 202]

Never thought about this in this light before, reason why they don't take away your foreign passport is because it's worthless.

Can come in handy though if you live in a country that requires a US passport holder to get a visa as well to enter that country. If you have a passport for that country, won't need that visa. Many certificated USC keep their foreign passport as well.

[yogib37 3]

Never thought about this in this light before, reason why they don't take away your foreign passport is because it's worthless.

Can come in handy though if you live in a country that requires a US passport holder to get a visa as well to enter that country. If you have a passport for that country, won't need that visa. Many certificated USC keep their foreign passport as well.

the Foreign passport is not worthless... some country you can have dual passports. Like England, Philippines etc.. so it is not worthless

Yogi

[jsnearline 2]

the Foreign passport is not worthless... some country you can have dual passports. Like England, Philippines etc.. so it is not worthless

I can't speak for the UK, but the Philippines does not allow you to use a Philippine passport once you become a US Citizen. You have to apply to the consulate to retain dual citizenship. Once approved, you have to apply for a new Philippine passport.

[lissa04 3]

Well isn't that just lovely!!!!

Not that any country on this planet would handle this differently, but after reading your outright strange initial post, I wonder if you really want to become a USC. After all as a Lawful Permanent Resident You don't have to inconvenience yourself with applying and waiting for a US passport to arrive.

The reason for comment is because of the previous post and that I could possibly be fined. At the time I wrote the comment I didn't not know how long it would take to get a US passport since so many people are applying for them.

[JERIII 8]

Never thought about this in this light before, reason why they don't take away your foreign passport is because it's worthless.

No, the reason is that a passport is the property of the issuing country.

[NickD 202]

Never thought about this in this light before, reason why they don't take away your foreign passport is because it's worthless.

No, the reason is that a passport is the property of the issuing country.

Just jealous because my wife has two passports and I only have one, but that foreign passport is certainly worthless when coming back. It was so much nicer coming back with her with a US passport especially from Colombia, did a strip search on her with a foreign passport to make sure she wasn't carrying drugs. US passport does not identify your home country.

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

Never thought about this in this light before, reason why they don't take away your foreign passport is because it's worthless.

Can come in handy though if you live in a country that requires a US passport holder to get a visa as well to enter that country. If you have a passport for that country, won't need that visa. Many certificated USC keep their foreign passport as well.

I will keep my EU passport.

For traveling is just as good, if not even better, then a US passport.

And it's not worthless. Being a US citizen is merely a new immiration status, I'll always be an Italian.

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

Never thought about this in this light before, reason why they don't take away your foreign passport is because it's worthless.

No, the reason is that a passport is the property of the issuing country.

Just jealous because my wife has two passports and I only have one, but that foreign passport is certainly worthless when coming back. It was so much nicer coming back with her with a US passport especially from Colombia, did a strip search on her with a foreign passport to make sure she wasn't carrying drugs. US passport does not identify your home country.

I went to Colombia with my american wife (actually it was just my american girlfriend back then). They search for drugs regardless of your citizenship, and rightfully so.

Plus, on your US passport the country of birth is identified.