Same day travel as oath ceremony

[naiku 0]

So, I finally got my oath ceremony date, Jan 11th, almost 50 days after my interview, and what is doubly annoying is my interview office does same day oath's, but since I live about 60 miles away they do not have jurisdiction over my zip code to do the oath. But... here is the great part, the office I have go to for my oath ceremony is almost the exact same distance away, simply in another direction. Anyways, at least I have a date!!

The question I have is that there is a possibility that I need to travel internationally on the same day as my oath, I really do not want to reschedule my oath, but am wondering how much hassle I will get when I try to return to the US. Can I take my citizenship certificate with me and use it to get back into the country? Or am I stuck, rescheduling the travel is not going to be easy since it will be for work.

Thanks.

[edward toro 3]

So, I finally got my oath ceremony date, Jan 11th, almost 50 days after my interview, and what is doubly annoying is my interview office does same day oath's, but since I live about 60 miles away they do not have jurisdiction over my zip code to do the oath. But... here is the great part, the office I have go to for my oath ceremony is almost the exact same distance away, simply in another direction. Anyways, at least I have a date!!

The question I have is that there is a possibility that I need to travel internationally on the same day as my oath, I really do not want to reschedule my oath, but am wondering how much hassle I will get when I try to return to the US. Can I take my citizenship certificate with me and use it to get back into the country? Or am I stuck, rescheduling the travel is not going to be easy since it will be for work.

Thanks.

I had the same problem My wife is in south america and I wanted to go and see her right after my citizenship, I ask the officer who did my interview (he was at the ceremony) and he told me that is not a good idea. can't travel with a foreign passport on one hand and US Citizenship Cert. on the other.

You have 2 options: one is to get the passport ultra express it cost $200 dollars at the post office I did this the same day after my interview. The down part is that you have to give them your certificate of naturalization you will get it by mail latter. I received my passport in about 7 days.

Go to the passport office: I don't know if this is available where you live but I'm in Miami FL and here there's a passport building where in some cases you could get a passport same day. I know it is not that simple. You have to explain why you need it so fast and the may denied to give you a passport same day.

[Lansbury 19]

Someone I know of went to Canada last week using their UK passport and Naturalization Certificate. They got sent to secondary and spoken to for about 10 minutes but it wasn't much of a problem. They were told if they did it again there would be a $545 "fine".

Don't think I would do it, you may meet a CBP officer who wants to make it a problem. They cannot deny you entry into the US as you would be a citizen but there is a US law that requires you to enter and leave the US on a US passport.

[lucyrich 20]

When you walk out of the oath ceremony, you are a US citizen who hasn't yet obtained his first US passport. The fact that you happen to hold another nation's passport is irrelevant to US law. Like any other US citizen in this situation, you've got to get a US passport before you can legally cross US borders.

I'd suggest rescheduling either the travel or the oath, whichever is easier.

[antda 13]

Hi Naiku,

In answer to your question: No, you cannot travel as a US Citizen, with only a US Naturalization Certificate and a Foreign Passport.

So here are your options instead:

Option 1

You can postpone your oath (other VJers have done it too). As long as you don't mind a delay in having your oath later than expected, and aren't in too much of a hurry to get citizenship, then you're fine there. Be prepared though, that the wait for a new oath date could be quick, or it could be a lot later. As long as you're willing to take this risk, especially more so since you've come so far in the process...

I don't know about same day passports, but more likely than not, for "emergencies" you can apply for such in-person at a passport office. Not sure if business trips are considered emergencies though. But be sure to have all your travels plans for them, in case they ask. From what I've read, I've heard that there is "expedited" processing though, if you want to pay the extra fee for it, and you get your passport in a week or so.

Option 2

Alternatively, can you ask your boss to postpone your trip until you have your passport, if need be? Try explaining it to them again, and this time, provide information (maybe you can find such online) that you cannot travel out of the USA as a US Citizen without a passport. I'm sure if your boss is understanding, they might be able to accomidate for such. After all, they don't want you in legal trouble as an employee of their workplace, right?

Hope this helps. Good luck on your oath, and travels too.

Ant

So, I finally got my oath ceremony date, Jan 11th, almost 50 days after my interview, and what is doubly annoying is my interview office does same day oath's, but since I live about 60 miles away they do not have jurisdiction over my zip code to do the oath. But... here is the great part, the office I have go to for my oath ceremony is almost the exact same distance away, simply in another direction. Anyways, at least I have a date!!

The question I have is that there is a possibility that I need to travel internationally on the same day as my oath, I really do not want to reschedule my oath, but am wondering how much hassle I will get when I try to return to the US. Can I take my citizenship certificate with me and use it to get back into the country? Or am I stuck, rescheduling the travel is not going to be easy since it will be for work.

Thanks.

Edited December 23, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[chanbreceda 0]

Your responses are not entirely correct. It depends whether you are traveling by land, sea, or air. by land and sea ok to have just the certificate. By air, need passport. However, i made the mistake of traveling by air to mexico with just my certificate once and after about an hour at secondary inspection upon return, i was allowed to re-enter USA.