Citizenship Interview question

[PhiLandShiR 18]

Hello Everyone

My wife just got her citizenship interview notice yesterday!

Way Cool!

We also discovered that her Filipino passport has also expired.

Is that going to be a problem?

Not only for the interview but also for her to maintain her status here in the US??

-Phil

[let-it-be 36]

Hello Everyone

My wife just got her citizenship interview notice yesterday!

Way Cool!

We also discovered that her Filipino passport has also expired.

Is that going to be a problem?

Not only for the interview but also for her to maintain her status here in the US??

-Phil

My Philippine passport have been expired for 3 years when I filed for citizenship. The only time it will be a problem is in case there is an emergency & she needs to go home to the Philippines. As she needs to go for a personal appearance to renew it in the phil consulate that has jurisdiction to where you lived and that it takes approximately 6 weeks for it to be processed & sent to your address. Her expired passport won't have any bearing to her immigration status here in the states. She is a permanent resident & her GC is all that matters as of now.

She'll be fine with an expired PP.

Good luck for the interview!

[ca_babe 129]

Hello Everyone

My wife just got her citizenship interview notice yesterday!

Way Cool!

We also discovered that her Filipino passport has also expired.

Is that going to be a problem?

Not only for the interview but also for her to maintain her status here in the US??

-Phil

I'm not sure about how important is a Philippine passport during the interview. The greencard was the one they asked for me when I had mine but I don't know whether that's standard procedure.

She doesn't need her Philippine passport to maintain her status in the US. She needs her greencard. She can't travel outside US though without her Philippine passport prior to becoming naturalized. Her Philippine passport would be useless after she takes an oath. If she applies for reacquiring her Filipino citizenship, they will replace her passport and cancel the old one even if it weren't expired.

[let-it-be 36]

I'm not sure about how important is a Philippine passport during the interview. The greencard was the one they asked for me when I had mine but I don't know whether that's standard procedure.

She doesn't need her Philippine passport to maintain her status in the US. She needs her greencard. She can't travel outside US though without her Philippine passport prior to becoming naturalized. Her Philippine passport would be useless after she takes an oath. If she applies for reacquiring her Filipino citizenship, they will replace her passport and cancel the old one even if it weren't expired.

My IO did asked to see my passport aside from my GC. She was looking at the bio page & my old visa. It's the IO's discretion.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Probably wouldn't matter if it were expired or not if they just want to see the old visa and bio page, after all - not traveling with it.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Passport will not have bearing for the Naturalization process. I had mine expired for almost 5 years and no issues with it. They'll only collect your GC during the ceremony in exchange of your Naturalization Certificate. As long as your GC is valid then your immigration status is current.

You can't travel by air or seas with it of course. I'm not sure with crossing borders by land if they'll ask for passport or just GC will be enough.

Good luck!

Edited October 16, 2012 by Tintin and Mike

[PhiLandShiR 18]

Thank you all for your replies.

I was hoping we would not need to make a trip to Chicago till next spring.

-Phil

[Tahoma 2,292]

Hi Phil...Good to see you here on VJ...Like the others said, the expired passport won't make any difference in the naturalization process. If she needs to renew it for some reason, she will need to renew it at the Philippines Consulate which has jurisdiction over the state where you got married. Also, you guys would need to file a report of marriage at that same Consulate before (or at the same time) you renewed the passport. The other option would be to go to one of the Consular outreach events. Best wishes for a smooth and speedy process.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Thank you all for your replies.

I was hoping we would not need to make a trip to Chicago till next spring.

-Phil

You won't need a passport if you'll only travel within 50 US states

[andrew&evelyn 6]

If you guys plan to got her a dual citizen, that is the best time to get her a NEW PP.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Even with dual citizenship not sure of the benefit of getting a Philippine passport as the U.S. "gets funny" if you don't travel with a U.S. passport -

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."

[Tahoma 2,292]

Even with dual citizenship not sure of the benefit of getting a Philippine passport as the U.S. "gets funny" if you don't travel with a U.S. passport -

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."

The benefits are in the Philippines...such as owning land and businesses. However, they can still travel using their U.S. passport.