What to show as proof of citizenship at the airport?

[desertb 9]

Hello - 

 

I will have my naturalization interview next month (based on marriage to US citizen). This was completely unexpected as I barely applied 6 days ago. I have a trip planned this summer as well (August) to finally go see my family back in the UE (US citizen husband won't be coming). Assuming that everything goes well and I receive my Naturalization paper, I know I won't have nearly enough time to apply/receive a US passport. I do have my EU passport to travel, however, I always have to show proof of residency at the foreign (and domestic) airport and the airline usually asks for my visa/permanent resident card number before check-in, and I'm sure they'll be even stricter now with the COVID restrictions..

 

Given that my green card will be taken at naturalization, what can I use in lieu of it to show proof of citizenship?

 

Any help on this is appreciated! 

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

US citizens must exit and enter the United States using a US passport.   You might want to delay your citizenship oath or your travel. 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/childabduction/dual_nationality.pdf

 

Edited June 22, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[NYBEtt 88]

@Lucky Cats information is correct. However, I was never able to figure out what "leave with a US passport" means since there is no border exit control in the US.

 

@desertb your best bet is getting a passport appointment at a US expedited agency. you can make an appointment 3 days before your travel day, and appointment slots open up at exactly 5:00AM, 13 days in advance. I provided information regarding this in the following post:

My husband had the same issue. He was naturalized on Monday and already had a trip planned this weekend. So he made an appointment at at passport agency for tomorrow.

 

 

[arken 4,197]

5 minutes ago, NYBEtt said:

 

@Lucky Cats information is correct. However, I was never able to figure out what "leave with a US passport" means since there is no border exit control in the US.

 

Let's figure this way, leave with the US passport so you have one when entering the US" 😀

[NYBEtt 88]

5 minutes ago, arken said:

Let's figure this way, leave with the US passport so you have one when entering the US" 😀

except that you can apply for a passport at the post office and have a friend or relative send it via courier to you while you are abroad

Edited June 23, 2021 by NYBEtt

[desertb 9]

4 hours ago, NYBEtt said:

@Lucky Cats information is correct. However, I was never able to figure out what "leave with a US passport" means since there is no border exit control in the US.

 

@desertb your best bet is getting a passport appointment at a US expedited agency. you can make an appointment 3 days before your travel day, and appointment slots open up at exactly 5:00AM, 13 days in advance. I provided information regarding this in the following post:

My husband had the same issue. He was naturalized on Monday and already had a trip planned this weekend. So he made an appointment at at passport agency for tomorrow.

 

 

This  is awesome! I reached out to a private passport agency (we don't have a State Passport Agency in our city) and they said that the State agency has suspended all expedited passport services until further notice. 🤷‍♀️  I may just reschedule my trip for a month or two to get this done. I already feel lucky to have an interview scheduled so early! 

 

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

4 hours ago, desertb said:

This  is awesome! I reached out to a private passport agency (we don't have a State Passport Agency in our city) and they said that the State agency has suspended all expedited passport services until further notice. 🤷‍♀️  I may just reschedule my trip for a month or two to get this done. I already feel lucky to have an interview scheduled so early! 

 

Drive to Tuscon.

They are still expediting passports.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies/western.html

[Mike E 11,739]

There are laws that say a US citizen must leave the USA on a US passport.  And arrive in a USA passport.  There aren’t however any criminal penalties.  
 

This doesn’t mean an airline will board someone who

 

* presents a foreign passport at a US airport on a round trip reservation and

 

* cannot show proof of authorized presence in the USA

 

It also doesn’t mean CBP cannot block your exit from the USA by air or land if you are US citizen who doesn’t have a US passport (or by land, also a passport card).   I’ve experienced CBP exit controls on jetways of departing international flights several times.  I’ve read of a recent case of someone leaving the USA over land and stopped and thoroughly inspected by CBP.  
 

It does mean if you arrive at a US port of entry without a US passport, and identify yourself as a US citizen, aside from spending some time in secondary inspection, you will be admitted with no criminal or civil penalties.   Due to how courts have interpreted the US constitution,  Congress and CBP know that they cannot refuse to admit US citizens who arrive at ports of entry without a US passport.  

 

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13806734-post12.html is useful reading.  

Edited June 26, 2021 by Mike E

[desertb 9]

On 6/26/2021 at 7:27 AM, Mike E said:

There are laws that say a US citizen must leave the USA on a US passport.  And arrive in a USA passport.  There aren’t however any criminal penalties.  
 

This doesn’t mean an airline will board someone who

 

* presents a foreign passport at a US airport on a round trip reservation and

 

* cannot show proof of authorized presence in the USA

 

It also doesn’t mean CBP cannot block your exit from the USA by air or land if you are US citizen who doesn’t have a US passport (or by land, also a passport card).   I’ve experienced CBP exit controls on jetways of departing international flights several times.  I’ve read of a recent case of someone leaving the USA over land and stopped and thoroughly inspected by CBP.  
 

It does mean if you arrive at a US port of entry without a US passport, and identify yourself as a US citizen, aside from spending some time in secondary inspection, you will be admitted with no criminal or civil penalties.   Due to how courts have interpreted the US constitution,  Congress and CBP know that they cannot refuse to admit US citizens who arrive at ports of entry without a US passport.  

 

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13806734-post12.html is useful reading.  

 

Thank you for all the info!! I am also a EU citizen so I would have dual citizenship, that's why I did not think it would be a big deal. I thought I could show something like I did in the past like a travel authorization while waiting for my green card to get approved, or even my naturalization paper... But I see it's deeper than that and not worth the hassle. I can postpone my trip by a month and just have peace of mind when traveling