N-400 Interview

[Vegas i-751 66]

Hey All, 

 

I got n-400 interview scheduled for mid December and wondering if conflict may arise bc I scheduled international trip around Xmas. Field office Vegas. 
 

Just wondering how it works with oath and if opportunity to plead for delayed oath until Jan onwards as I need my 10 GC to enter back at end of Dec. Can cancel trip but I’d feel hard pressed; don’t want to reschedule interview but of course will do what is required.Never had no idea I’d get scheduled so quickly as I only applied late June. 
 

any advice from those who had similiar situations would be great. 

Edited November 6, 2022 by Vegas i-751

[da95826 387]

5 hours ago, Vegas i-751 said:

I got n-400 interview scheduled for mid December and wondering if conflict may arise bc I scheduled international trip around Xmas.

Generally there would not be a conflict with the naturalization interview per say.  You would do the interview when you pass USCIS and do one of three things. 

1) Approve you and offer you the oath ceremony the same day, you would leave the field office a US citizen. Keep in mind you would need to get a US passport to travel out of the USA as you would no longer be a green card holder, it is hard to get a US passport in a week or so.

2) Approve you and indicate they will schedule you for an oath ceremony. You should indicate to USCIS your travel plans and schedule the oath ceremony after you return, you remain a green card holder until your oath ceremony in January.

3) USCIS may take the case under consideration (they can’t approve your case right away) usually the supervisor has to review and approve the case (In our case it took 6 weeks to get scheduled for the oath ceremony).

 

Go to the n400 interview and apprise the interviewing officer of your travel plans. I believe they will schedule your oath ceremony after you return from your trip.

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

you do not turn the green card in till the oath ceremony

 

so,  u will either have green card or naturalization document to use to return to US  (don't loose it -make a copy and carry that- leave the original in a safe place)

[OldUser 6,633]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

so,  u will either have green card or naturalization document to use to return to US  (don't loose it -make a copy and carry that- leave the original in a safe place)

Sorry, maybe I misread it, are you suggesting travelling with copies? If so, not a great idea. OP should make multiple copies, leave some at home, have digital copies in cloud and on your phone. And bring the originals with them on trip. CBP may not let the person into the US if they carry copies only.

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

20 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Sorry, maybe I misread it, are you suggesting travelling with copies? If so, not a great idea. OP should make multiple copies, leave some at home, have digital copies in cloud and on your phone. And bring the originals with them on trip. CBP may not let the person into the US if they carry copies only.

and what is original is lost overseas?

[OldUser 6,633]

25 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

and what is original is lost overseas?

Then the OP would have copies, allowing to file I-131A and have appointment at the embassy. Embassy then would issue docs allowing to enter the US.

 

But if the OP uses copies of Green Card instead of the card itself, airlines would not let the person to board the plane. CBP may also not allow to cross. Originals is a must when travelling.

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

40 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Then the OP would have copies, allowing to file I-131A and have appointment at the embassy. Embassy then would issue docs allowing to enter the US.

 

But if the OP uses copies of Green Card instead of the card itself, airlines would not let the person to board the plane. CBP may also not allow to cross. Originals is a must when travelling.

never said copy of green card, u r to carry that with you the time if oath has not happened

but u can carry copy of a naturalization and use your home passport

[Olly_ 29]

 

11 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

never said copy of green card, u r to carry that with you the time if oath has not happened

but u can carry copy of a naturalization and use your home passport

The airline won't allow you to board with a naturalization certificate so this won't work. They'll expect to see an approved ESTA, visa or green card in combination with a foreign passport - none of which a US citizen can have.

 

CBP have to allow you to enter the country if you're on US soil but this is moot if you can't get to the border in the first place.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Olly_

[da95826 387]

13 hours ago, da95826 said:

1) Approve you and offer you the oath ceremony the same day, you would leave the field office a US citizen. Keep in mind you would need to get a US passport to travel out of the USA as you would no longer be a green card holder, it is hard to get a US passport in a week or so.

I would avoid this option from happening, travel to the US from outside is not geared to use a certificate of naturalization for travel. As @Olly_  indicates airlines are unlikely to allow you to board because that document type is not on the list of acceptable documents to fly to the USA.

 

Take the option of doing your oath ceremony after your return to the USA, I expect USCIS will accommodate you.

Good luck on your interview.

[OldUser 6,633]

54 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

never said copy of green card, u r to carry that with you the time if oath has not happened

but u can carry copy of a naturalization and use your home passport

US citizens should use US passport to leave or enter the US. If entering by land, there is an alternative - passport card or trusted traveler card.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/your-trip

 

Foreign passport and a copy of certificate of naturalization is not going to be sufficient to enter IMHO. The OP may get a sympathetic CBP officer, but with a copy, not the original... Not sure how easy it would be.

Edited November 6, 2022 by OldUser

[Free Man 119]

The vegas office is scheduling oath between 2-3 week after your interview.  Just did mine a month ago. You can go ahead and do the N400 test. Once the oath letter is sent you can call USCIS to reschedule.  Just monitor your online account, they will upload the letter there. 

 

Just a heads up, all the Las Vegas USPS offices processing passport are fully booked until Jan 2022, only the USPS office in henderson always walk ins

 

[Vegas i-751 66]

Thanks team! I’ll definitely bring it up. Hopefully no conflicts of dates 😊