Travel abroad immediately after naturalisation interview

[Zarathustra 0]

All,

I have had a look and could not find an answer to my exact question, apologies as I'm sure the topic has come up before...

I am lucky enough to have been issued an appointment date for my naturalisation interview on February 8 at the Fairfax, VA offices. I am quite excited having received the date and hope that all goes well in the interview.

I was previously planning to travel outside of the US (to my native UK) on February 17. My concern is that I understand that if the interview is passed they will ask that I return the physical permanent resident card and would provide me with a naturalisation certificate. The expedited service for applying for a US passport takes 2-3 weeks, so clearly I could not count on receiving it in time to leave on February 17.

I realise that this is a nice problem to have, but is anyone aware of any temporary measure that can be taken so that I would be able to re-enter the US on my return? At this point all I would have is a UK passport and a US naturalisation certificate.

Of course this is not the end of the world if I were not able to leave the US for the time it takes to process a US passport application, but if there is a mechanism for handling this situation it would be great for me to attend a family function in the UK.

Thanks, and best of luck to all!

- Z

[Inky 1,111]

They don't provide you with a naturalization certificate at the interview unless you take the oath at the interview which isn't too common.

After you take the NAT test and you pass you then wait to get an Oath date to take the oath and become a naturalized citizen after the Oath you would then get your certificate. They take the green card at the time of the oath.

[Zarathustra 0]

Thanks very much Inky,

I take your point. I guess it makes a difference how busy each office is, certainly all the people that I know who have been lucky enough to pass the interview at the DC office did take part in the oath ceremony the same day with a number of others. But I see what you mean, it may or may not occur the same day.

Thanks,

- Z

[aleful 1,905]

All,

I have had a look and could not find an answer to my exact question, apologies as I'm sure the topic has come up before...

I am lucky enough to have been issued an appointment date for my naturalisation interview on February 8 at the Fairfax, VA offices. I am quite excited having received the date and hope that all goes well in the interview.

I was previously planning to travel outside of the US (to my native UK) on February 17. My concern is that I understand that if the interview is passed they will ask that I return the physical permanent resident card and would provide me with a naturalisation certificate. The expedited service for applying for a US passport takes 2-3 weeks, so clearly I could not count on receiving it in time to leave on February 17.

I realise that this is a nice problem to have, but is anyone aware of any temporary measure that can be taken so that I would be able to re-enter the US on my return? At this point all I would have is a UK passport and a US naturalisation certificate.

Of course this is not the end of the world if I were not able to leave the US for the time it takes to process a US passport application, but if there is a mechanism for handling this situation it would be great for me to attend a family function in the UK.

Thanks, and best of luck to all!

- Z

ditto, unless you are taking the Oath on the same day, which they do at a later time, not at the interview, they don't take away your GC at the interview. Even if you pass your interview, you still aren't a USC until you take the oath at the Oath Ceremony. you can travel with your passport and GC.

at the Oath ceremony you will hand in your GC and receive your Naturalization Certificate at the end of the ceremony.

[aleful 1,905]

All,

I have had a look and could not find an answer to my exact question, apologies as I'm sure the topic has come up before...

I am lucky enough to have been issued an appointment date for my naturalisation interview on February 8 at the Fairfax, VA offices. I am quite excited having received the date and hope that all goes well in the interview.

I was previously planning to travel outside of the US (to my native UK) on February 17. My concern is that I understand that if the interview is passed they will ask that I return the physical permanent resident card and would provide me with a naturalisation certificate. The expedited service for applying for a US passport takes 2-3 weeks, so clearly I could not count on receiving it in time to leave on February 17.

I realise that this is a nice problem to have, but is anyone aware of any temporary measure that can be taken so that I would be able to re-enter the US on my return? At this point all I would have is a UK passport and a US naturalisation certificate.

Of course this is not the end of the world if I were not able to leave the US for the time it takes to process a US passport application, but if there is a mechanism for handling this situation it would be great for me to attend a family function in the UK.

Thanks, and best of luck to all!

- Z

ditto, unless you are taking the Oath on the same day, which they do at a later time, not at the interview, they don't take away your GC at the interview. Even if you pass your interview, you still aren't a USC until you take the oath at the Oath Ceremony. you can travel with your passport and GC.

at the Oath ceremony you will hand in your GC and receive your Naturalization Certificate at the end of the ceremony.

[peacefulocean 0]

Hi! I hope that i can add some helpful tips based on my own experience recently. Firstly, most USCIS offices do not provide same day oaths and you keep your greencard until the actual oath ceremony day (you hand it in upon signing in at the ceremony). If your office does not offer you a same day oath, you can travel in between the time of the interview and the time of the ceremony as long as it doesn't affect your physical presence or continuous residence requirements. You would need to make a note of this absence on your Oath Letter which you will hand in at the Ceremony. I had to travel in between my interview and my oath, and it was not a problem.

Now, on to the other matter of passports- there is a possibility not mentioned yet. You can make an appointment with the Passport Agency nearest you ( the nearest one to you is in DC and i have posted info and links below) and if you show proof of travel, they can issue the passport the same day, or within one or two days. When i took my Oath, i took along ID photos, filled out the passport application form, and high tailed it down to the Passport Agency here in San Diego. As a special gift to we newly naturalized citizens, they allowed us in without an appointment- we just had to show our naturalization certificates. I applied for my passport at 11:30 am and picked it up 24 hours later. The man actually apologized that he couldn't give it to me the same day!(i would recommend making an appointment using the links below just to be sure). You'll have to pay the expedite fee, but you'll have your passport within at most 48 hours. The passport agency in DC is located at 1111 19th Street, N.W., First Floor, Sidewalk Level, Washington, DC 20036 and appointments are available from 8-3 or 9-3 on Wednesdays. Here's the link to information and procedures http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_902.html

I hope this is helpful for you

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you for the good information. Alla has her citizenship interview Feb 1 and I was concerned about her not havbing a green card for while if she has to wait for her oath. we live close to Canada so she goes there often, this was helpful.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Thank you for the good information. Alla has her citizenship interview Feb 1 and I was concerned about her not havbing a green card for while if she has to wait for her oath. we live close to Canada so she goes there often, this was helpful.

If you take the oath, and get your certificate, then need a travel document right away, the passport service centers can give you a passport card in a matter of hours:

Vermont Passport Agency

50 South Main Street,

Suite 101

St. Albans, VT 05478

This Agency issues the US Passport Card on-site!

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., local time, M-F, excluding Federal holidays

Schedule An Appointment 24/7: 1-877-487-2778

http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I interviewed at the Fairfax office last summer and also had a friend who just did in Nov - you 'more then likely' have an Oath the same day....what time is your appointment - morning or afternoon? If it's in the morning, they tend to schedule you that same day in the afternoon. You will only have a Citizenship cert after the OATH - your GC is entirely taken away (of course). Then your issue is getting a US passport before you leave....which you might be able to in theory if you go all the way into the DC passport issuing office...I think they do sameday or issue them very quickly if you want to come back to pick it up (Look it up).

You can also run into the situation that the afternoon OATH is already full so they scheduled me a week later.....you really cannot rely on anything. What if you're not approved right away? You may have something outstanding they require....there's always the off chance.

Anyhoo.....They make it very clear at OATH that you cannot travel using your citizenship certificate. May want to reorganize the travel plans for further out until you have the passport. Expedite it and you could ahve it with 10 days or less.

[Zarathustra 0]

Hi! I hope that i can add some helpful tips based on my own experience recently. Firstly, most USCIS offices do not provide same day oaths and you keep your greencard until the actual oath ceremony day (you hand it in upon signing in at the ceremony). If your office does not offer you a same day oath, you can travel in between the time of the interview and the time of the ceremony as long as it doesn't affect your physical presence or continuous residence requirements. You would need to make a note of this absence on your Oath Letter which you will hand in at the Ceremony. I had to travel in between my interview and my oath, and it was not a problem.

Now, on to the other matter of passports- there is a possibility not mentioned yet. You can make an appointment with the Passport Agency nearest you ( the nearest one to you is in DC and i have posted info and links below) and if you show proof of travel, they can issue the passport the same day, or within one or two days. When i took my Oath, i took along ID photos, filled out the passport application form, and high tailed it down to the Passport Agency here in San Diego. As a special gift to we newly naturalized citizens, they allowed us in without an appointment- we just had to show our naturalization certificates. I applied for my passport at 11:30 am and picked it up 24 hours later. The man actually apologized that he couldn't give it to me the same day!(i would recommend making an appointment using the links below just to be sure). You'll have to pay the expedite fee, but you'll have your passport within at most 48 hours. The passport agency in DC is located at 1111 19th Street, N.W., First Floor, Sidewalk Level, Washington, DC 20036 and appointments are available from 8-3 or 9-3 on Wednesdays. Here's the link to information and procedures http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_902.html

I hope this is helpful for you

Thanks peacefulocean

Your response is indeed very helpful. Thanks for clarifying that the GC is retained until naturlisation itself, and that it would it be requested at the oath ceremony. It is also comforting that you were able to travel abroad between the interview and oath ceremony with no issues.

In reviewing the state department website I totally missed the option that you have highlighted. Thanks so much for including the link, I actually work in North-West DC and so the offices are actually very close to where I work.

Very grateful to you for highlighting this, I have booked up flights to fly to the UK next week. Fingers crossed that all goes well this week

Thanks again,

- Z

[Zarathustra 0]

I interviewed at the Fairfax office last summer and also had a friend who just did in Nov - you 'more then likely' have an Oath the same day....what time is your appointment - morning or afternoon? If it's in the morning, they tend to schedule you that same day in the afternoon. You will only have a Citizenship cert after the OATH - your GC is entirely taken away (of course). Then your issue is getting a US passport before you leave....which you might be able to in theory if you go all the way into the DC passport issuing office...I think they do sameday or issue them very quickly if you want to come back to pick it up (Look it up).

You can also run into the situation that the afternoon OATH is already full so they scheduled me a week later.....you really cannot rely on anything. What if you're not approved right away? You may have something outstanding they require....there's always the off chance.

Anyhoo.....They make it very clear at OATH that you cannot travel using your citizenship certificate. May want to reorganize the travel plans for further out until you have the passport. Expedite it and you could ahve it with 10 days or less.

Thanks for your response Udella&Wiz,

My appointment is at 10:40AM, and so I take your point that if all goes well I may or may not be able to participate in oath ceremony that day. I also know of other people that have attended the oath ceremony the same day of their interview at the Fairfax offices.

BTW - for obvious reasons the interview appointment notice does not make any comment regarding the oath ceremony. If I was to attend an oath ceremony on the same day as my interview, would my spouse be able to attend the ceremony?

After the excellent advice received here and contacting the DC passport office, I decided to make travel plans - I can't really move an important family birthday

Thanks for your advice, I really am not counting my chickens as I realise that there could be any number of things that could crop up in the interview.

- Z

[peacefulocean 0]

Thanks for your response Udella&Wiz,

My appointment is at 10:40AM, and so I take your point that if all goes well I may or may not be able to participate in oath ceremony that day. I also know of other people that have attended the oath ceremony the same day of their interview at the Fairfax offices.

BTW - for obvious reasons the interview appointment notice does not make any comment regarding the oath ceremony. If I was to attend an oath ceremony on the same day as my interview, would my spouse be able to attend the ceremony?

After the excellent advice received here and contacting the DC passport office, I decided to make travel plans - I can't really move an important family birthday

Thanks for your advice, I really am not counting my chickens as I realise that there could be any number of things that could crop up in the interview.

- Z

You're very welcome- i am so glad that you found the information we offered helpful- I apologize for the delay in replying; i have been traveling. How did it go? Did you obtain your passport smoothly? I'd love to hear an update!