Naturalization Interview 1 week before International travel -- Is this Enough Time?

[*FishF00D* 45]

I just found out that my Naturalization interview is booked on July 12th at a new field office opening in Cranbury NJ.

I also have a trip to Canada booked for 10 days on July 21st to see my parents (that I haven't seen in 1 year) and my sister who's flying over from Australia (that I haven't seen in 5 years).

 

It seems like this might be too tight of a window to get a passport in time before travel (assuming I'm approved and take the oath on the same day) so I'm trying to figure out which action I can take to solve this issue that creates the least anxiety, with the smallest financial burden. What would you do in this circumstance?

Current Considerations:

• Rebook my travel dates further into the future; however, the airline told me that between change fee's and the difference in airfare it will cost me almost $1000 to move the trip. I'm a full time student, so this isn't ideal. (Refund/cancellation not available)
• I could try requesting to reschedule my interview appointment for a later date. (Any date in the next 6 months would be better to me than missing this trip to see my family!) How likely is USCIS to honor a rescheduling request on the basis of imminent travel?

• I could attend the interview as scheduled, hope for same-day oath, and try to get an Urgent Travel Passport appointment before I fly - which seems like it might be the riskiest/most stressful option.

 

Lastly, it seems like many USCIS locations will allow you to take your oath on a later date if requested but I can't find much info about that as an option in New Jersey -- let alone at a field office that hasn't even opened yet. If anyone in New Jersey has ever requested the oath to be delayed/rescheduled with success I would be so interested in hearing about your experience!

So given these circumstances - what would you do?

[Mike E 11,739]

3 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

Lastly, it seems like many USCIS locations will allow you to take your oath on a later date if requested

They cannot force you to take oath on same day. Worse case they ding you for one missed oath, and automatically schedule you for a second oath. You get 2 strikes.

 

The other option is to travel over land to Canada. On the return, use your naturalization certificate. If you are worried about the security of your naturalization certificate, leave it locked in your safe at home, or better yet apply for a U.S. passport with it, and make a photocopy before applying. Then just  show CBP your photo copy. 

[JeanneAdil 6,492]

go to the interview on the 12th

use your green card and/or Canada passport to travel to Canada

I doubt you will have same day service of the oath as the office is so new they still have a site up to offer  jobs 

these people would be newbe's

[*FishF00D* 45]

10 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

go to the interview on the 12th

use your green card and/or Canada passport to travel to Canada

I doubt you will have same day service of the oath as the office is so new they still have a site up to offer  jobs 

these people would be newbe's

Oh wow! Didn't think of looking to see whether they were still hiring. Is that potentially it's own red flag -- as in, do I want the outcome of my Naturalization in the hands of new hires? 😅

[*FishF00D* 45]

33 minutes ago, Mike E said:

They cannot force you to take oath on same day. Worse case they ding you for one missed oath, and automatically schedule you for a second oath. You get 2 strikes.

 

The other option is to travel over land to Canada. On the return, use your naturalization certificate. If you are worried about the security of your naturalization certificate, leave it locked in your safe at home, or better yet apply for a U.S. passport with it, and make a photocopy before applying. Then just  show CBP your photo copy. 

If they can't make me do it the same day then that's a good sign! My flights to Canada are booked and very expensive to change (and it would take 37hrs to drive to where I'm going) so keeping my flights would be ideal.

 

It's so hard to find more confirmation online as to whether rejecting a same-day oath is acceptable -- and if the officer would also cooperate in not booking the next oath for while I'm out of town. Most people would be thrilled to get the same-day oath, I'm sure!

[JeanneAdil 6,492]

1 minute ago, *FishF00D* said:

Oh wow! Didn't think of looking to see whether they were still hiring. Is that potentially it's own red flag -- as in, do I want the outcome of my Naturalization in the hands of new hires? 😅

not a red flag for the interview but doubt they are ready to do "same oath"

this is only my opinion and only that

 

25 Immigration jobs available in Cranbury, NJ on Indeed.com

[*FishF00D* 45]

6 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

not a red flag for the interview but doubt they are ready to do "same oath"

this is only my opinion and only that

 

25 Immigration jobs available in Cranbury, NJ on Indeed.com

That is a good point, and I appreciate your perspective!

[Mike E 11,739]

20 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

My flights to Canada are booked and very expensive to change (and it would take 37hrs to drive to where I'm going) so keeping my flights would be ideal.

Use your existing flights to get to presumably Edmonton. Cancel your existing return flight, and book: YEG to YHM, take surface transport to Buffalo. Fly to EWR from Buffalo, if you booked a UA ticket, the return credit can at least be used for Buffalo to EWR.

 

You might find YEG to YVR is better, then take surfsce transportation to Bellingham, and fly from there via Southwest Airlines  to Islip or LaGuardia.

[*FishF00D* 45]

4 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Use your existing flights to get to presumably Edmonton. Cancel your existing return flight, and book: YEG to YHM, take surface transport to Buffalo. Fly to EWR from Buffalo, if you booked a UA ticket, the return credit can at least be used for Buffalo to EWR.

 

You might find YEG to YVR is better, then take surfsce transportation to Bellingham, and fly from there via Southwest Airlines  to Islip or LaGuardia.

Ahhh interesting angle, I'll consider that!

[beloved_dingo 1,976]

Just chiming in to add that my local office was once new (opened 5 years ago), and they did not offer same day oath ceremonies for the first 2-3 years. 

[*FishF00D* 45]

5 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

Just chiming in to add that my local office was once new (opened 5 years ago), and they did not offer same day oath ceremonies for the first 2-3 years. 

Daang, okay! That's super helpful! Given a previous responders comment about USCIS still having job postings up for this location it's beginning to seem more likely that oaths might be scheduled separately. (Same day oaths seem to happen at established, high-volume offices)

[Mike E 11,739]

2 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

Same day oaths seem to happen at established, high-volume offices

San Jose wants a word with you.

[*FishF00D* 45]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

San Jose wants a word with you.

Total conjecture on my part, please forgive me West coast! 😅

[M+K IL 102]

Agreed with others here - you can just decline same day oath ceremony if offered, with the reason that you have immediate travel planned (second hand experience from a colleague in California)

 

Not sure if it will count as one of the two rescheduling you can do, hopefully not.

[randomstairs 303]

You should naturalize if the same-day Oath is scheduled. Your third proposed option is optimal given the situation, IMO.