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

[ADW & JOP 146]

When I went to my naturalization interview, the officer asked if I was traveling in the next few weeks. I told her I would be traveling in 6 weeks and she made me feel it would be enough time to get a passport so she sent me to the same day oath ceremony. Fortunately, I was able to get my passport in time.

 

A person I met at the interview told his officer he needed to travel internationally that weekend to see his children so they deferred his oath ceremony to another day.

 

Let your officer know your travel plans.

[ADW & JOP 146]

Also, having just gone through a similar passport situation, your last option is risky and stressful.

 

This is travel season and demand for a passport is very high. Everyone is trying to get a passport right now and those urgent appointments aren’t always available. You would need to call, possibly wait hours on the phone, disconnect and repeat, then if you are lucky enough to get an appointment, may need to travel to where that appointment is, ie Hawaii, etc. Even though I was fortunate enough to get my passport, if had to do it again, I would have deferred the oath ceremony.

Edited June 13, 2023 by ADW & JOP

[*FishF00D* 45]

8 hours ago, ADW & JOP said:

When I went to my naturalization interview, the officer asked if I was traveling in the next few weeks. I told her I would be traveling in 6 weeks and she made me feel it would be enough time to get a passport so she sent me to the same day oath ceremony. Fortunately, I was able to get my passport in time.

 

A person I met at the interview told his officer he needed to travel internationally that weekend to see his children so they deferred his oath ceremony to another day.

 

Let your officer know your travel plans.

13 hours ago, randomstairs said:

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

 

It seems I can call to book an urgent travel passport appointment once I'm 14 days away from my flight (per: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html )
 

So it appears that the best plan might be:
1. Start calling for an urgent passport appointment as soon as I'm eligible (July ~7) and try to book for between July 17-20 (post-interview, pre-travel).
2. If I successfully book an appointment, then I'm free to accept a same-day oath if offered at interview and will have a passport in hand before flying (exciting!)
3.  If a same-day oath isn't offered as others have suggested might happen, I can cancel the urgent travel appointment and fly with my GC.

 

If I don't successfully book an urgent travel appointment in advance, then at least I'll know that going into the interview and can then request to rebook the oath if offered same-day/can inform the IO of my plans.

 

There are only 17 days between my interview date and when I return from Canada anyway, so whatever date I get re-booked for seems statistically in my favor based on other's experiences - although averages and odds might be out the window since I'll be dealing with a brand new office.

 

 

[randomstairs 303]

1 hour ago, *FishF00D* said:

1. Start calling for an urgent passport appointment as soon as I'm eligible (July ~7) and try to book for between July 17-20 (post-interview, pre-travel).

Unfortunately you won't be eligible until your Oath ceremony is behind you. It seems trivial but I'd be extra careful with even scheduling an appointment for a US passport as a non-citizen. (Applying for one as a non-citizen would be fatal. Scheduling an appointment probably doesn't require you to state your citizenship status, but still - I wouldn't do it personally.) 

[*FishF00D* 45]

3 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

Unfortunately you won't be eligible until your Oath ceremony is behind you. It seems trivial but I'd be extra careful with even scheduling an appointment for a US passport as a non-citizen. (Applying for one as a non-citizen would be fatal. Scheduling an appointment probably doesn't require you to state your citizenship status, but still - I wouldn't do it personally.) 

Ahhh interesting technicality -- by "eligible" I was of course only referring to entering the window of time that they allow you to begin calling for an appointment and not my citizenship status, but I understand what you're saying nonetheless.

 

It doesn't seem that you have to disclose immigration status etc. over the phone to book the appointment (only have proof of travel), but if nothing else I can see how booking in advance could be perceived as presumptuous. In that case, going to the interview with the intention of not taking a same-day oath and hoping to be rebooked for after my return may be the one good plan of action, then!

[jan22 3,053]

1 hour ago, *FishF00D* said:

 

It seems I can call to book an urgent travel passport appointment once I'm 14 days away from my flight (per: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html )
 

So it appears that the best plan might be:
1. Start calling for an urgent passport appointment as soon as I'm eligible (July ~7) and try to book for between July 17-20 (post-interview, pre-travel).
2. If I successfully book an appointment, then I'm free to accept a same-day oath if offered at interview and will have a passport in hand before flying (exciting!)
3.  If a same-day oath isn't offered as others have suggested might happen, I can cancel the urgent travel appointment and fly with my GC.

 

If I don't successfully book an urgent travel appointment in advance, then at least I'll know that going into the interview and can then request to rebook the oath if offered same-day/can inform the IO of my plans.

 

There are only 17 days between my interview date and when I return from Canada anyway, so whatever date I get re-booked for seems statistically in my favor based on other's experiences - although averages and odds might be out the window since I'll be dealing with a brand new office.

 

 

I may just being paranoid, but, I would be very cautious about booking a passport application appointment before you've even had your naturalization interview.  This might be viewed by some strictly "by the book" officials as a false claim to US citizenship (since you know as you are booking the appointment that you are not yet a US citizen and non-citizens can't have an urgent need for a US passport) -- which has disastrous consequences.  If you'd had the interview and told you were approved, I wouldn't be too concerned, but before that...?  You certainly don't want to mess up anything at this point!

 

Edit -- I just saw that randomstairs beat me on posting this concern, so I'm glad I'm not the only one to see this as an issue!

Edited June 13, 2023 by jan22

[*FishF00D* 45]

6 minutes ago, jan22 said:

I may just being paranoid, but, I would be very cautious about booking a passport application appointment before you've even had your naturalization interview.  This might be viewed by some strictly "by the book" officials as a false claim to US citizenship (since you know as you are booking the appointment that you are not yet a US citizen and non-citizens can't have an urgent need for a US passport) -- which has disastrous consequences.  If youd had the interview and told you were approved, I wouldn't be too concerned, but before that...?  You certainly don't want to mess up anything at this point!

It is a good point! It might be an overly-cautious consideration, such that just booking an appointment is not the same thing as claiming to be a citizen (that claim is made at the appointment by signing the application in person) but I sense that there might be a difference between booking a passport appointment ahead of a scheduled oath ceremony (interview already passed) vs. booking in advance of the interview itself (outcome technically unknown).

 

Definitely will consult a lawyer on this technicality just out of curiosity's sake at this point, but I'm very interested in being cautious and not risking anything!

[jan22 3,053]

2 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

It is a good point! It might be an overly-cautious consideration, such that just booking an appointment is not the same thing as claiming to be a citizen (that claim is made at the appointment by signing the application in person) but I sense that there might be a difference between booking a passport appointment ahead of a scheduled oath ceremony (interview already passed) vs. booking in advance of the interview itself (outcome technically unknown).

 

Definitely will consult a lawyer on this technicality just out of curiosity's sake at this point, but I'm very interested in being cautious and not risking anything!

Signing the US passport application, under penalty of perjury, is clearly a false claim to citizenship.  However, I would argue -- if I wanted to make the case -- that booking an urgent need appointment for a US passport (an appointment which can only be used by you, cannot be transferred to anyone else, and can only be attended by a US citizen) can also be perceived as such.  False claims do not have to be made in writing.  Just my thoughts.

[*FishF00D* 45]

11 hours ago, ADW & JOP said:

Also, having just gone through a similar passport situation, your last option is risky and stressful.

 

This is travel season and demand for a passport is very high. Everyone is trying to get a passport right now and those urgent appointments aren’t always available. You would need to call, possibly wait hours on the phone, disconnect and repeat, then if you are lucky enough to get an appointment, may need to travel to where that appointment is, ie Hawaii, etc. Even though I was fortunate enough to get my passport, if had to do it again, I would have deferred the oath ceremony.

At first I thought you were exaggerating when you said that one might have to travel as far as Hawaii for an urgent passport appointment, but after reading through threads about people's passport experiences on reddit..you're right! Wow, I didn't even consider that people would fly cross country for passport appointments. What a busy time for travel!

[M+K IL 102]

2 hours ago, *FishF00D* said:

Definitely will consult a lawyer on this technicality just out of curiosity's sake at this point, but I'm very interested in being cautious and not risking anything!

You're a very curious person! My curiosity does not extend to paying one just to ask this question

[Mike E 11,739]

On 6/13/2023 at 8:52 AM, randomstairs said:

Scheduling an appointment probably doesn't require you to state your citizenship status, but still - I wouldn't do it personally

I did. Still not denaturalized.

 

 American Samoans are not U.S. citizens and they apply for U.S. passports.

[Ontarkie 14,219]

~~One post removed as requested.~~

[Mike E 11,739]

On 6/13/2023 at 9:08 AM, jan22 said:

non-citizens can't have an urgent need for a US passport

American Samoans are people too.

[*FishF00D* 45]

32 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I did. Still not denaturalized.

 

 American Samoans are not U.S. citizens and they apply for U.S. passports.

Hey Mike,

 

Are you saying that you also scheduled a passport appointment ahead of taking the Oath of allegiance (and presumably attended the appointment after being naturalized + getting your certificate)?

[Mike E 11,739]

7 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

Hey Mike,

 

Are you saying that you also scheduled a passport appointment ahead of taking the Oath of allegiance (and presumably attended the appointment after being naturalized + getting your certificate)?

Of course. Passport appointments are hard to get. Why on earth would I wait until naturalized to get an appointment?

 

Did the same for my wife.

 

Why wouldn’t we?