passed interview but have to go abroad for long without oath.

[cheesecake77 0]

I passed an interview, it went well. But I'm in danger to fail to get citizenship.

I have to go abroad to go to medical school starting on March 1st And only can come and stay in U.S in July, during vacation.

My original plan was ruined since I live in suburb. It sounds absurd but it is.

If I could do my oath in Chicago, I would do it yesterday or some day in next week. I'm sure, because I saw many people who did interview same day with me received oath day in the waiting room.

But I live in southern part of Illinois, and Central district court has authority. It offers oath two days in every two month, like March 15, 22, May 10, 17.. even in different cities.

It seems possible at glance, because I might come back for oath when mine is scheduled. But I'm not going to Caribbean. I'm going to a country in Asia. It will take at least 3-4 working days to come and finish things.

However, due to their strict culture, absence means failure of whole year (not semester but year due to continuing curriculum) So I'm in the situation where I have to choose btw med school and citizenship.

Some might wonder why you wanna go med school in foreign country? I wanted to be a doctor in the states, but I had to go college again for prerequisites, since I graduated University in my home country.

It takes so long and needs so much money. So I chose med school in my country. This is the fastest and cheapest way for me to be a doc in U.S.

Back to my topic, I could not finish my citizenship process due to my address and will not be able to come back till July.

I did my best to explain my situation to IO. Though she understood my situation, she couldn't help. I have to wait my oath letter.

The only thing that I could do was to ask her to make a note on my file. Let me be scheduled in July oath. But It is not guaranteed. And there is possibility that approval is turn down due to my long absence in States.

It will be around 130 days till July.

I don't know what can I do. I should have known about jurisdiction earlier. I would have moved my address to Chicago area, so I do my oath in few days before I leave.

Some might say why you didn't apply earlier? Chicago is the one the slowest cities. I saw others who filed in similar time with me already finished everything in Dec or Jan.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

1. give up med school and just wait here to be a citizen.

2. give up citizenship and apply again 9 years later ( 4yr med + 5 yr stay in US)

3. When receive a letter ask rescheduling and Pray to be rescheduled in July

4. Come back on scheduled oath day and take a year off in med school.

I think 1,2 are too extreme. what else I can do? I wrote a letter to Senators but it won't help. I asked someone who might be able to call a Judge in my town. But donno yet.

I don't know why I share my story. But I'm so hopeless right now. Do I need to think that I'm just unlucky?

I can't change title. I say, Don't live not leave though I didn't mean it seriously

Edited February 22, 2013 by cheesecake77

[Susi100 0]

Try to reschedule it and tell them that you will be abroad until july, so that they will not re-schedule you before...and tell them that you prefer to have the oath in july...try to talk to somebody before, so that they understand your case and hopefully can help you...

[cheesecake77 0]

Try to reschedule it and tell them that you will be abroad until july, so that they will not re-schedule you before...and tell them that you prefer to have the oath in july...try to talk to somebody before, so that they understand your case and hopefully can help you...

Thanks for your reply..

But according to my research in visa journey, rescheduling put me at the end of queue and don't know when it will be. Some have been lost in system and had to wait for a year ;(

So, if there is a way, I want to be scheduled on specific day in July at the first time. But it seems impossible.

I read many oath experience, and longest waiting is 2 month.. There is a May schedule in my district, but I will be between mid term. Bummer.

[DC85 113]

Did you try to book info pass to explain your situation; they could give you same day oath. Otherwise, I would give the priority for citizenship. Another solution, what if you go for school and let somebody watch the mail for you, and when the letter for oath comes, you can come for 3 days trip, you get your certificate and passport in 2 days!!

[cheesecake77 0]

Did you try to book info pass to explain your situation; they could give you same day oath. Otherwise, I would give the priority for citizenship. Another solution, what if you go for school and let somebody watch the mail for you, and when the letter for oath comes, you can come for 3 days trip, you get your certificate and passport in 2 days!!

Officer already told me it's impossible to do oath in Chicago unless I'm about to die. But I just made infopass appointment to do my best before I leave. Thanks for inspiring me to do that.

I'm willing to come back if I am assigned to July oath. But concern is I can't control oath date. Especially in my case where oath is done a few times per year.

[DC85 113]

Also , try to contact the court directly, I know sometimes the take the personal situation in thier consideration, So , give it a shot

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Also , try to contact the court directly, I know sometimes the take the personal situation in thier consideration, So , give it a shot

See if USCIS is willing to allow you to take your citizenship oath on your own prior to going, or ask for a July date, explaining that you are starting medical studies overseas. The other problem you have to worry about is getting a US passport. Once you get your citizenship you cannot use your foreign passport to -re-enter the US - you have to use an American one. You can apply for an expedited passport, but unless you are able to go in person to a passport facility office that does the passports there, you will still end up having to wait a few days for the passport. You will need to allow for that time if you get a July scheduled date as well.

I know it seems like a difficult decision, but if you are able to delay attending medical school until next year instead of this year, I do think that would be a better option for you. You would have your citizenship; you would have all of the things that need to get done after citizenship and you would not have to worry about leaving the US for extended periods of time putting your green card at risk. I know it seems like a long wait, but in that year you could also earn more money to help cover your expenses while at school and be in a better position all around to continue your medical degree.

Good luck with your choice. I realize it is a very difficult one to make.

(btw - I have edited your topic title to correct the spelling error).

Edited February 22, 2013 by Kathryn41

[cheesecake77 0]

See if USCIS is willing to allow you to take your citizenship oath on your own prior to going, or ask for a July date, explaining that you are starting medical studies overseas. The other problem you have to worry about is getting a US passport. Once you get your citizenship you cannot use your foreign passport to -re-enter the US - you have to use an American one. You can apply for an expedited passport, but unless you are able to go in person to a passport facility office that does the passports there, you will still end up having to wait a few days for the passport. You will need to allow for that time if you get a July scheduled date as well.

I know it seems like a difficult decision, but if you are able to delay attending medical school until next year instead of this year, I do think that would be a better option for you. You would have your citizenship; you would have all of the things that need to get done after citizenship and you would not have to worry about leaving the US for extended periods of time putting your green card at risk. I know it seems like a long wait, but in that year you could also earn more money to help cover your expenses while at school and be in a better position all around to continue your medical degree.

Good luck with your choice. I realize it is a very difficult one to make.

(btw - I have edited your topic title to correct the spelling error).

Thanks for changing my typo

I'm going to go infopass and ask them plz let me attend afternoon ceremony before I take a flight, though it's like waiting for miracle. Nothing to lose and nothing to do for me.

If I decide to come for assigned oath maybe in March or May, I would fail to school and have to take a year off. It would be painful.

But I appreciate your opinion

Edited February 22, 2013 by cheesecake77

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Do you have to have US citizenship right now?? I only ask because you could just get your 10 year green card, and apply for citizenship later on. You'll be in your country most often due to school, and there I doubt you'll get lower tuition for being a foreign dude (US citizen). Just wondering why you want your citizenship so bad under the circumstances you chose to live in...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks for changing my typo

I'm going to go infopass and ask them plz let me attend afternoon ceremony before I take a flight, though it's like waiting for miracle. Nothing to lose and nothing to do for me.

If I decide to come for assigned oath maybe in March or May, I would fail to school and have to take a year off. It would be painful.

But I appreciate your opinion

Lets say you take the Oath, but you said "before you take a flight"... you need to leave on your US passport, and enter the US on your US passport. So you'll need to make sure ou have the money and time to apply for a same-day passport. There should be an office in Chicago to do it hopefully!

[cheesecake77 0]

Do you have to have US citizenship right now?? I only ask because you could just get your 10 year green card, and apply for citizenship later on. You'll be in your country most often due to school, and there I doubt you'll get lower tuition for being a foreign dude (US citizen). Just wondering why you want your citizenship so bad under the circumstances you chose to live in...

Maintaining Green card for 4-year abroad is very difficult even with reentry permit. LPR cannot stay outside U.S so long to maintain green card, but no restriction to USC. I don't wanna lose my GC but it is possible.

And it's same tuition. No difference.

But, thanks for your reply

[cheesecake77 0]

Lets say you take the Oath, but you said "before you take a flight"... you need to leave on your US passport, and enter the US on your US passport. So you'll need to make sure ou have the money and time to apply for a same-day passport. There should be an office in Chicago to do it hopefully!

Thanks for your words.

I know about passport. If miracle happens, I would postpone my flight 2 days to get a passport in a day. I already checked it before my interview.

But I know that possibility is very low..;(

[TimeTravel 78]

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

1. give up med school and just wait here to be a citizen.

2. give up citizenship and apply again 9 years later ( 4yr med + 5 yr stay in US)

3. When receive a letter ask rescheduling and Pray to be rescheduled in July

4. Come back on scheduled oath day and take a year off in med school.

I think 1,2 are too extreme. what else I can do? I wrote a letter to Senators but it won't help. I asked someone who might be able to call a Judge in my town. But donno yet.

What is more important for you? Med School or Citizenship?

If I was you, then if there is no alternate option to get oath early before med school, I still would stay to get citizenship FIRST. Med School can be done later, but there is no assurance if you would be qualified for citizenship later. We dont know when the immigration laws may change, and what if one made some mistake accidentally and later one is not qualified for citizenship.

[TigerBite 0]

Getting the US government to adapt to your circumstances? Good luck.

However I would expect that finding considerate professors or a clerk in the office at your med school that will be willing to ignore a few days absence so you can go take your oath wouldn't be hard???

Not sure why you're trying it so hard on this side where a university would likely be a whole lot more flexible I expect.

I'm sure students get sick all the time and miss a few days, without having to redo a full year of school! Or maybe it's a family member that died or some other special circumstance. Really shouldn't be hard :/