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

[M+K IL 102]

19 minutes ago, Mike E said:

No. There is no reason to do that.

If they say they need to hold it, walk away and go to another SSA office.

Whoever “they” are, this was not my experience in 2018, and not my wife’s experience in 2023.

Yeah, we are planning to update our SS records (name change) as soon as we naturalize, before we apply for passport - so we can update our other paperwork (driver license etc) while waiting for the passports

[randomstairs 303]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

 

they told us we need to do this prior to getting a passport.

This way you can lose your Naturalization Certificate without having a passport in hand. The processing time for a replacement is currently 11 months. Worst advice ever. 

[randomstairs 303]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

She can just bring her passport card to SSA

They refused to accept my passport card at a SSA office in my area, and asked for the passport book. I explained (a pointless endeavor) that the passport card is equivalent to the book within the US. Had to bring the passport book to the office only to learn from another agent that the card would've been perfectly fine.   

[Mike E 11,739]

52 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

This way you can lose your Naturalization Certificate without having a passport in hand. The processing time for a replacement is currently 11 months. Worst advice ever. 

I did not write the text you quoted

[Mike E 11,739]

56 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

They refused to accept my passport card at a SSA office in my area,

I would have driven to the next SSA office and shown them https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110210505

 

“

U.S. passport, including:

• •

  Machine readable passports;

• •

  Passport cards;”

Edited June 19, 2023 by Mike E

[randomstairs 303]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I did not write the text you quoted

I'm sorry. I was quoting the quote from your post, assuming that it would reference it to the original. My bad. 

[*FishF00D* 45]

Really weird turn of events: I've just been notified that my naturalization interview has been "de-scheduled" (cancelled) and I'll be notified when it gets rescheduled. So... I guess there's a good chance it'll be scheduled for after I return from my trip, now! 😅

 

Thank you everyone for the input nonetheless! If I manage to get rescheduled before my trip I feel like now I know what to do in order to be successful in juggling the interview, oath, and travel

[*FishF00D* 45]

6 hours ago, *FishF00D* said:

Really weird turn of events: I've just been notified that my naturalization interview has been "de-scheduled" (cancelled) and I'll be notified when it gets rescheduled. So... I guess there's a good chance it'll be scheduled for after I return from my trip, now! 😅

 

Thank you everyone for the input nonetheless! If I manage to get rescheduled before my trip I feel like now I know what to do in order to be successful in juggling the interview, oath, and travel

 

What a ride -- today I've been rescheduled for July 27th at the same office, which is in direct conflict with my travel plan (July 21-29th).

Is pre-scheduled international travel a valid reason to request rescheduling? 😕

[Mike E 11,739]

2 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

 

Is pre-scheduled international travel a valid reason to request rescheduling? 😕

Yes. But unless those are non refundable no credit tix, I would not re-schedule.

[*FishF00D* 45]

6 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Yes. But unless those are non refundable no credit tix, I would not re-schedule.

Unfortunately they are non-refundable. The airline says I could *change* the dates but it would cost ~$400 plus the difference in fare to do so, and doing so opens a new can of worms with the unknown timeline of non-urgent passport processing 😕

 

Additionally, my sister is flying in to Canada from Australia to see me and surprise our parents -- I haven't seen her in 5 years, so it would be really nice to not cancel for that reason as well!

Edited June 22, 2023 by *FishF00D*
Adding context

[randomstairs 303]

47 minutes ago, *FishF00D* said:

Unfortunately they are non-refundable. The airline says I could *change* the dates but it would cost ~$400 plus the difference in fare to do so, and doing so opens a new can of worms with the unknown timeline of non-urgent passport processing 😕

 

Additionally, my sister is flying in to Canada from Australia to see me and surprise our parents -- I haven't seen her in 5 years, so it would be really nice to not cancel for that reason as well!

Can your sister reschedule HER flight more conveniently? 

[JasonGG 280]

On 6/22/2023 at 4:51 PM, *FishF00D* said:

 

What a ride -- today I've been rescheduled for July 27th at the same office, which is in direct conflict with my travel plan (July 21-29th).

Is pre-scheduled international travel a valid reason to request rescheduling? 😕

Short answer- Yes.  Follow the instructions to reschedule on the interview letter.

[TBoneTX 45,267]

A hijack post and reply to it have been split from this thread and moved to the US Citizenship Case Progress subforum.

[mbaig5 0]

Kindly let us know how it goes with you on July 12th. I have an interview scheduled at the same office on Aug 1st. 
Thanks 

[M+K IL 102]

2 hours ago, mbaig5 said:

Kindly let us know how it goes with you on July 12th. I have an interview scheduled at the same office on Aug 1st. 
Thanks 

Note in OP's last update that he got rescheduled to the 27th and has to reschedule that