Travel question

[designer 2]

My foreign passport has a former married name which matches my GC. I remarried and have provided that info to the USCIS so my Naturalization paperwork will bear my current name.

My worry is that before I began the Naturalization process, I purchased Airline tickets and of course booked in the name that is on my Passport and GC.

I'm a bit concerned that I may have my interview and Oath before my flight and my GC will be taken. This will create a few problems with travel as I am not sure that I could get a USA passport in time AND even if I did, it would be in a name other than what is on the ticket.

Is there any chance that if I Naturalize prior to travel that they will stamp my foreign Passport? Or can I just present the Naturalization document upon return to the USA?

I suppose also, I could just delay the Oath - looking at the time lines of others, I think I will have the interview prior to the travel date of Sept 23rd.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

My foreign passport has a former married name which matches my GC. I remarried and have provided that info to the USCIS so my Naturalization paperwork will bear my current name.

My worry is that before I began the Naturalization process, I purchased Airline tickets and of course booked in the name that is on my Passport and GC.

I'm a bit concerned that I may have my interview and Oath before my flight and my GC will be taken. This will create a few problems with travel as I am not sure that I could get a USA passport in time AND even if I did, it would be in a name other than what is on the ticket.

If the country of which you are presently a citizen allows dual citizenship, there is a 2-part solution to it.

1. get a 24-hours expedited US passport after the oath (assuming that oath is more than 24 hours pre-flight); expensive option, but works
2. then use your other-country passport to travel outside US, and present your US passport at re-entry

FYI, I was naturalised in 2005 about 3 weeks prior to having a trip to India, so I got an expedited (1-week) US passport. Since I didn't have time to get a new India visa (my citizenship prior to US naturalisation was Canadian), I used my expired Canadian passport (on which I had a 10-year India visa) and my then-current one to enter India--and presented the (totally-blank) US passport at JFK when I re-entered.

(presenting a blank US passport when returning from abroad will get you further screening by CBP)

Is there any chance that if I Naturalize prior to travel that they will stamp my foreign Passport? Or can I just present the Naturalization document upon return to the USA?

No and no

I suppose also, I could just delay the Oath - looking at the time lines of others, I think I will have the interview prior to the travel date of Sept 23rd.

That option may work. Edited July 21, 2011 by Saddle Bronc

[Casprd 167]

The expidited passport is your best option for re-entry to the US. You can use this for entry and exit for either country, but keep your old passport in your maiden name with you so if there are any issues you can show this for clearing security. You can also take the documents from your naturalization that show you were just made a US citizen to cover any confusion with the name change.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm a bit concerned that I may have my interview and Oath before my flight and my GC will be taken. This will create a few problems with travel as I am not sure that I could get a USA passport in time AND even if I did, it would be in a name other than what is on the ticket.

If you have your Oath before you travel, you will be an US citizen. As such you are required by law to leave the US with a US passport. You can get one within 3 hours if you make an appointment at the nearest passport agency beforehand.

Is there any chance that if I Naturalize prior to travel that they will stamp my foreign Passport? Or can I just present the Naturalization document upon return to the USA?

Stamp your foreign passport saying that you are a US citizen now? Are you serious? Do you understand that many people's foreign passports immediately become invalid upon naturalization in the US? It all depends on the foreigner's country of citizenship. But again, once you have become a US citizen, you will need a US passport if you want to travel internationally, plain and simple.

[ryna 132]

If you have your Oath before you travel, you will be an US citizen. As such you are required by law to leave the US with a US passport. You can get one within 3 hours if you make an appointment at the nearest passport agency beforehand.

Stamp your foreign passport saying that you are a US citizen now? Are you serious? Do you understand that many people's foreign passports immediately become invalid upon naturalization in the US? It all depends on the foreigner's country of citizenship. But again, once you have become a US citizen, you will need a US passport if you want to travel internationally, plain and simple.

Other than the airline wanting to see the passport to know you'll be able to enter the destination country, how would they know? The U.S. has no exit stamp requirement like some countries do. (Re-entering, of course, would be a problem.)

I'm just curious if this is really an exit requirement, not saying it's OK to hide it, if true.

OP - you will need a U.S. passport to travel. If you get same day service, I would imagine that the passport/marriage license combo would solve the married/previous name issue for the airline ticket.

Edited July 21, 2011 by ryna

[designer 2]

If you have your Oath before you travel, you will be an US citizen. As such you are required by law to leave the US with a US passport. You can get one within 3 hours if you make an appointment at the nearest passport agency beforehand.

Stamp your foreign passport saying that you are a US citizen now? Are you serious? Do you understand that many people's foreign passports immediately become invalid upon naturalization in the US? It all depends on the foreigner's country of citizenship. But again, once you have become a US citizen, you will need a US passport if you want to travel internationally, plain and simple.

I did not suggest that my foreign passport be stamped that I am a US citizen. I am Canadian, I do not think my Canadian Passport will become invalid.

I thought that if you did not have your GC and needed to travel there was a travel stamp that could be given with a short window of time allowing re-entry. That is what I was asking about.

I am aware that I will need a US Passport.

[designer 2]

I did not suggest that my foreign passport be stamped that I am a US citizen. I am Canadian, I do not think my Canadian Passport will become invalid.

I thought that if you did not have your GC and needed to travel there was a travel stamp that could be given with a short window of time allowing re-entry. That is what I was asking about.

I am aware that I will need a US Passport.

I think I will just delay the oath, should the interview be scheduled prior to the trip. Even if I were able to Naturalize AND get the USA passport, the airline ticket in in a former married last name to match my GC and foreign passport. I have just recently legally changed my name to my husband's name.

Thank you all for the input/advice.

[warlord 73]

Well to ease you a bit, most countries passports are NOT invalid after becoming a US citizen. Few are, but most are not. Canada is one of the majority that are not.

Also you will be entering Canada with your Canadian passport most likely (most people will say that's the best way), I've always done both countries with my US passport, but this next time I'll try everyone's advice and use my Canadian one because I'm getting too many stamps in my US one and don't want it to get filled up with too many stamps.

Coming back to the US you just use your US passport. The Greencard will be gone, they'll only worry about your passport. Canada will see your Canadian passport and the US will see your US passport. If you want, just take proof of your marriage cert that there was a legal name change.

Never EVER try and postpone your oath unless it's a life or death situation. You not only get put back into the system, but people have been known to wait a very long time until they get another oath. You could be waiting months to over a year or more (not uncommon).

As with getting a US passport in time, you can get one expedited to you since you have proof of a trip outside the US already. Use that and you can get a passport in a very short period of time...

[designer 2]

Well to ease you a bit, most countries passports are NOT invalid after becoming a US citizen. Few are, but most are not. Canada is one of the majority that are not.

Also you will be entering Canada with your Canadian passport most likely (most people will say that's the best way), I've always done both countries with my US passport, but this next time I'll try everyone's advice and use my Canadian one because I'm getting too many stamps in my US one and don't want it to get filled up with too many stamps.

Coming back to the US you just use your US passport. The Greencard will be gone, they'll only worry about your passport. Canada will see your Canadian passport and the US will see your US passport. If you want, just take proof of your marriage cert that there was a legal name change.

Never EVER try and postpone your oath unless it's a life or death situation. You not only get put back into the system, but people have been known to wait a very long time until they get another oath. You could be waiting months to over a year or more (not uncommon).

As with getting a US passport in time, you can get one expedited to you since you have proof of a trip outside the US already. Use that and you can get a passport in a very short period of time...

The trip is not to Canada, it is to the Caribbean. A major concern is that the US Passport will be issued in my married name. The airline ticket was purchased in the name that matches my Canadian Passport and GC. Maybe I should just call the airline and find out if I can change the name and passport info on the ticket.... IF Naturalization occurs prior to the trip.

Yesterday, at the nail salon I was talking about Naturalization/passport travel etc with the gal. She is from Vietnam, is now a USC and does not have a US Passport. She said she travels to Vietnam on her Vietnamese passport and that the INS in Philadelphia stamped her passport with a re-entry permit (not sure the exact document name) when she surrendered her GC.

So, I'm wondering if they can do that for me, so I don't have to deal with the airlines and that red-tape. Maybe I'm putting the cart before the horse, but I prefer to have a "plan" or know what I need to do ahead of time rather than figure it out in the 11th hour.