Traveling after they take your GC

[isleta521 5]

Hello Good people! My first post in years (sorry) and I am sure this has been answered a million times.

We recently filed for naturalization in mid May and my wife recently got her biometrics appointment which is in about two weeks from now. I am thinking worst case scenario and I am sure that she will get approved in time to apply and recieve for her passport as she will leave for Brazil in December 2011 (tickets already purchased). If she has to give up her GC, and we are still waiting for passport, is there anything that USCIS can do for her that she has proof when she returns on January 1st, 2012?

Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

[HeatDeath 430]

Her green card will be valid until her oath ceremony, and is only taken from her at her oath ceremony. Not that she'd be able to use her GC after the oath ceremony anyways - it becomes void when she becomes a US citizen, rather than an LPR.

So the worst case scenario is that her oath ceremony ends up being really close to her travel date. at that point she is in the same boat as any other US citizen who doesn't have a US passport: no passport, no international travel.

At that point USCIS won't be able to do anything for her, though it may be possible to get her passport application expedited. If you hunt around in this website [ http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html ] you should be able to find out what the options are for getting a first-time passport application processed in a hurry. There do seem to be some, involving visiting a passport center personally. There may be others.

[isleta521 5]

Her green card will be valid until her oath ceremony, and is only taken from her at her oath ceremony. Not that she'd be able to use her GC after the oath ceremony anyways - it becomes void when she becomes a US citizen, rather than an LPR.

So the worst case scenario is that her oath ceremony ends up being really close to her travel date. at that point she is in the same boat as any other US citizen who doesn't have a US passport: no passport, no international travel.

At that point USCIS won't be able to do anything for her, though it may be possible to get her passport application expedited. If you hunt around in this website [ http://travel.state....1/ds11_842.html ] you should be able to find out what the options are for getting a first-time passport application processed in a hurry. There do seem to be some, involving visiting a passport center personally. There may be others.

Thanks HeatDeath. We plan to use expedite service for sure. She will be in Brazil for a month and I will follow here there two weeks after she arrives. Worst case scenario is that I take it with me once it arrives in the post if it takes that long. Hopefully we can get it sooner as I can do without the nailbiting drama.

[HeatDeath 430]

Be aware, the airline may not let her board the outbound leg of a round trip flight unless they see the documentation that will allow her to return. [e.g. they may not let her board the flight to Brazil without seeing the US passport or valid GC that would allow her to reenter the US.]

This can be circumvented, if necessary, by changing her outbound flight to Brazil to a one-way flight, and her return trip to the US to a one-way flight. Note that this may leave her trapped in Brazil for some time if unforeseen circumstances occur involving her US passport. Also, splitting the flights into two separate tickets will significantly raise the total airfare.

[isleta521 5]

Be aware, the airline may not let her board the outbound leg of a round trip flight unless they see the documentation that will allow her to return. [e.g. they may not let her board the flight to Brazil without seeing the US passport or valid GC that would allow her to reenter the US.]

This can be circumvented, if necessary, by changing her outbound flight to Brazil to a one-way flight, and her return trip to the US to a one-way flight. Note that this may leave her trapped in Brazil for some time if unforeseen circumstances occur involving her US passport. Also, splitting the flights into two separate tickets will significantly raise the total airfare.

Wow, you bring up a very good point that I did not take into consideration. I will need to check with airlines. We should have enough time but you really never know with USCIS. Thank you.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

First,

your wife should be long a US citizen by December.

Second, she can use her Green Card until she becomes a US citizen. What that means is that she won't be longer than 1 day max without either a Green Card or a US passport, if needed.

Finally, she can get a passport within 3 hours of becoming a US citizen by making an "next day" appointment at one of the passport agencies.

[isleta521 5]

First,

your wife should be long a US citizen by December.

Second, she can use her Green Card until she becomes a US citizen. What that means is that she won't be longer than 1 day max without either a Green Card or a US passport, if needed.

Finally, she can get a passport within 3 hours of becoming a US citizen by making an "next day" appointment at one of the passport agencies.

Great info, thank you.

[NickD 202]

Surprised you got decent airline rates buying your tickets this far in advanced, we typically find the best rates three months in advance. And depending upon which carrier you use, can cancel those tickets without fees in the event you follow their time limit requirements.

Then why commit to the USCIS and buy plane tickets at the same time? We had two reasons for applying for citizenship, first was cutting ties with the USCIS, second was not having to deal with my wifes' foreign consulate, that sure didn't work out, still have to. And I believe Brazil still expects your wife to maintain her Brazilian passport.

Not sure how anyone can say you should be done in time, not dealing with a predicable agency, misplaced applications, unforeseen applicants, or a decision cannot be made at this time for a totally unspecified reason.

But assuming she does get her interview well before her trip, and the oath letter knowing the precise date, all will be fine. If her oath occurs within two weeks of her planned trip, you can make an appointment with one of the DOS service centers that may require an additional plane trip depending upon where you live. They do have a dozen now, but see they have plans for adding more service centers, you need to bring in your filled out passport application, your plane tickets, money, and of course her US citizen certificate.

If she does have her interview, but no notice of her oath ceremony, and leaves anyway, she will be fine, even if her oath ceremony is scheduled when she is gone. Fine in the respect of coming back, she is not a US citizen until she attends her oath ceremony. But what happens after that is a good question. At my stepdaughters' oath ceremony, overheard one of the officers state three people did not show up, what happens to those people, I don't have the slightest idea.

Too many variables with the field offices, at St. Paul a couple of years ago, oaths were taking 9-12 months, but was shocked to hear with the new office manager, doing same day oaths now! But if you office is doing same day oaths, that can change tomorrow with a new office manager.

Need a crystal ball.

[isleta521 5]

It has been two years since we have been in Brazil and my wife has laid down the law with me that WE ARE GOING THIS YEAR.

If we didn't buy our tickets now, they will only go up from now and soon be non-existent. The prices are just ridiculous. Yes, in hindsight, maybe we could have been better off if we waited until next year - or started sooner. I know all too well the unpredictability of USCIS and hope our nails are not to short by the time we get things resolved. Thanks for your reply.

[NickD 202]

Our last trip, I paid that 30 bucks or so for that flight/medical insurance. On our trip to the airport, accidentally got a deep cut in my hand. Had to go to emergency and missed our flight. That insurance paid not only for the emergency, but also for our full flight cancellation charges. Best 30 bucks I have ever spent, not only for me, but for my wife as well.

Don't believe they will cover it if you cancel for other reasons, like the USCIS for example, but you are more than welcome to borrow my knife.

[isleta521 5]

Our last trip, I paid that 30 bucks or so for that flight/medical insurance. On our trip to the airport, accidentally got a deep cut in my hand. Had to go to emergency and missed our flight. That insurance paid not only for the emergency, but also for our full flight cancellation charges. Best 30 bucks I have ever spent, not only for me, but for my wife as well.

Don't believe they will cover it if you cancel for other reasons, like the USCIS for example, but you are more than welcome to borrow my knife.

I may have to take you up on it.

[isleta521 5]

OK, Please do not jump on me too hard. I know I have not updated my timeline but I am so busy at work all the time. Today Val had her ceremony and it was really good. She received her letter which told her to be there at 9:00 am. The ceremony itself didnt start until 10:15 or so. But that was OK - she is now an American Citizen!

So let me back up. Val had her interview and test in late August which she didnt pass. They delayed her test by about an hour and she was getting very nervous. She gets nervous very easily unfortunately. She passed the written, and communication part but she did not pass the civics / US history . My wife was devastated but she studied hard even though she should have passed it the first time. She got rescheduled and retested in mid November by the same lady that tested her the first time. Note that she had tickets to leave for Brazil on December 5th. Well, this time she only had to answer 6 questions which of course were all correct. When they retest, they only retest what you had missed so you do not take the whole thing all over again. After her test, she told the adjudicator if they could delay her ceremony until she came back and she showed her her itinerary going to Brazil. The adjudicator agreedt and said that her ceremony would be rescheduled in January which leads us into today. Val left for Brazil two weeks before I went and then we came back together on January 1st. Not even one week after we got back, she got her notice of ceremony for the 13th. Everything turned out well and sorry for not keeping you all updated but life is so friken hectic.

I promise I will update my timeline as soon as I get all the dates together.

Thanks for listening.

[jojolicious 38]

Congrats to you both!

[isleta521 5]

Congrats to you both!

Thank you!

[VivaBaños 2]

Nice end to the story! Congrats!