International travel and pending citizenship

[johnstonl 2]

Hello all,

 

My wife would like some guidance. 

 

We've been married nearly 10 years, she's had permanent residency for about 8. We finally applied for citizenship on February 2, 2024, and had her first interview on March 19, where she was "recommend for approval" and a ceremony would be scheduled. It has been two weeks, no notice about the ceremony. 

This whole process has been very quick which was a huge surprise, we expected it to take months at least, maybe even a year. That was short citied on our part, I know, just didn't think this would be an issue. 

 

The concern: 

We have a 2 week vacation to Europe at the very end of May. The USCIS woman during the interview said my wife needs to have a new US passport before we travel (if she's a citizen by then of course). 

 

1. What were to happen if she's a citizen, but we don't have time to get a passport before we travel? Can she travel under her French passport? What happens when we come home? She saw somewhere that they'll take her green card at the naturalization ceremony, or invalidate it. Could they deny her entry? She'd be a citizen then, could they actually keep her out as a citizen? I feel like probably not, but not sure.

 

2. At what point should we be concerned that scheduling the ceremony is taking too long? The interviewer made it sound like it "was just coming, no biggie". I know 2 weeks is short but we need time to get the passport processed too. 

 

Please ask if I've left important details out. 

 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

Edited April 1 by johnstonl
Typo

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

If she takes the oath, they will take her Green card.  She will then need a US passport to exit and enter the US.  Fortunately, emergency passports for imminent travel can be processed very quickly.  Another option is to reschedule the oath ceremony if needed. 

***Moved to Working and Traveling during US Immigration***

[johnstonl 2]

11 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

If she takes the oath, they will take her Green card.  She will then need a US passport to exit and enter the US.  Fortunately, emergency passports for imminent travel can be processed very quickly.  Another option is to reschedule the oath ceremony if needed. 

***Moved to Working and Traveling during US Immigration***

Thank you, how long does getting this ceremony typically take? What's even happening between the interview and ceremony? 

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

Just now, johnstonl said:

Thank you, how long does getting this ceremony typically take? What's even happening between the interview and ceremony? 

Depends on the local office.  What is the status on "My USCIS" site?  

[johnstonl 2]

4 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Depends on the local office.  What is the status on "My USCIS" site?  

"Oath ceremony will be scheduled" which has been there since the appointment on 3/19. Portland, Oregon office. 

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

Just now, johnstonl said:

"Oath ceremony will be scheduled" which has been there since the appointment on 3/19. Portland, Oregon office. 

OK.  She is in the queue for her oath.  

[Dashinka 24,496]

I cannot comment on Portland, but in Detroit my cousins had their interviews in early February, and their oath about two weeks later.  Hopefully her oath will come up soon, and passport processing times is much more reasonable now.  I just renewed mine with no expedite and it took less than four weeks.

 

Good Luck!

[johnstonl 2]

9 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I cannot comment on Portland, but in Detroit my cousins had their interviews in early February, and their oath about two weeks later.  Hopefully her oath will come up soon, and passport processing times is much more reasonable now.  I just renewed mine with no expedite and it took less than four weeks.

 

Good Luck!

Thank you. It's already been two weeks, which is why I'm becoming nervous about the process. I assume they'll schedule it, but also provide enough time so that a person can make proper plans for time off work, etc. So the window feels small. 

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

4 minutes ago, johnstonl said:

Thank you. It's already been two weeks, which is why I'm becoming nervous about the process. I assume they'll schedule it, but also provide enough time so that a person can make proper plans for time off work, etc. So the window feels small. 

Here in Dallas, they wife's oath was about 6 weeks after interview.  They gave her about 2 weeks' notice of oath date. 

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

https://ord.uscourts.gov/index.php/visitors/naturalization-ceremony-information

 

 

CEREMONY DATES	LOCATION	TIME
July 21, 2023	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
October 19, 2023	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
January 18, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
March 21, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
June 20, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
October 17, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.

[johnstonl 2]

14 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

https://ord.uscourts.gov/index.php/visitors/naturalization-ceremony-information

 

 

CEREMONY DATES	LOCATION	TIME
July 21, 2023	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
October 19, 2023	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
January 18, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
March 21, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
June 20, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.
October 17, 2024	Morse Courthouse	10:30 a.m.

Oh wow, thank you. The image above is not for Portland. But Portland is on that website. If they schedule her for May 16th, I think it's not enough time unless we can get a seriously expedited passport. 

 

The next one isn't until June 13 and we'll be in Europe. 

 

Is it easy to reschedule a ceremony?

 

Also, I thought the ceremony was at USCIS, not a courthouse?

Edited April 1 by johnstonl

[NorthByNorthwest 352]

3 minutes ago, johnstonl said:

Is it easy to reschedule a ceremony?

 

Also, I thought the ceremony was at USCIS, not a courthouse?

 

I would not reschedule anything given how unpredictable USCIS can be. Your nearest passport agency is Seattle - with proof of travel within 14 days you can get a passport there in 0-2 days, so if you have the time/ability to do 1-2 trips to Seattle that's the best way by far.

[johnstonl 2]

2 minutes ago, NorthByNorthwest said:

 

I would not reschedule anything given how unpredictable USCIS can be. Your nearest passport agency is Seattle - with proof of travel within 14 days you can get a passport there in 0-2 days, so if you have the time/ability to do 1-2 trips to Seattle that's the best way by far.

Thanks, I saw that. Driving to Seattle is doable, but incredibly inconvenient, Especially if having to go twice. But if that's what it takes...

at this point, she hasn't been a citizen for 8 years. We're not in a hurry except this trip. Rescheduling to after the trip wouldn't really matter. Trying to understand options is all. 

[Dashinka 24,496]

8 minutes ago, johnstonl said:

Thanks, I saw that. Driving to Seattle is doable, but incredibly inconvenient, Especially if having to go twice. But if that's what it takes...

at this point, she hasn't been a citizen for 8 years. We're not in a hurry except this trip. Rescheduling to after the trip wouldn't really matter. Trying to understand options is all. 

With an expedited appointment at a passport agency you can get a passport same day or a few days later.  When my wife naturalized we also had a trip planned less than two weeks later, we went to the passport agency in Detroit (more convenient for us than your situation), paid for premium processing, and her passport was delivered to our home 3 days later via FedEx.

[johnstonl 2]

9 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

With an expedited appointment at a passport agency you can get a passport same day or a few days later.  When my wife naturalized we also had a trip planned less than two weeks later, we went to the passport agency in Detroit (more convenient for us than your situation), paid for premium processing, and her passport was delivered to our home 3 days later via FedEx.

Ah, so you understand my impatience and concern! Thanks, your story is comforting. 

Edited April 1 by johnstonl