Traveling abroad on expired GC, right after interview

[Roger78 0]

Hi, this is my first post, i got to this site by looking around for an answer to my scenario. On Feb 5 i have my naturalization interview at the Baltimore office.

We (wife and kids) are planning on traveling to Peru on Feb 17. From reading other posts i can travel after the interview since my GC is not taken until the oath. The thing is my GC expired in Nov 2013, that is one of the reasons i applied for citizenship ( sent the n-400 in Aug 2013) as i didnt want to renew my GC since i was eligible for citizenship.

My question is what options do i have? And postponing my travel arrangements would want to be my last resort as this is the only time i have available to fly because of work.

Hopefully anyone that knows someone or has experienced this can chime in

Thanks again

Roger

[Hypnos 6,579]

No idea if Baltimore do same-day oath ceremonies (some offices do, some don't).

If they do then obtain a US passport through expedited processing and you should have it by the 17th.

If they don't then you can perhaps ask for an I-551 stamp in your passport that will get you back into the country. If they can't / won't do that (without a pending I-90 to replace your green card then they might not) then you may need to reschedule your plans.

[Roger78 0]

Would i ask for it at the interview?

[Hypnos 6,579]

I would, if you didn't get a same-day oath. I just don't know if they will give you an I-551 stamp only for your green card having expired. With a ten year green card your status doesn't expire when the card does, but it's still a requirement by law that you carry your valid green card on your person at all times. They might want to see an I-90 receipt first, showing that you have applied for a replacement green card, before they give you an I-551 stamp. OTOH they might just give you a stamp regardless.

Edited January 21, 2014 by Hypnos

[IcyStar 10]

Hi, this is my first post, i got to this site by looking around for an answer to my scenario. On Feb 5 i have my naturalization interview at the Baltimore office.

We (wife and kids) are planning on traveling to Peru on Feb 17. From reading other posts i can travel after the interview since my GC is not taken until the oath. The thing is my GC expired in Nov 2013, that is one of the reasons i applied for citizenship ( sent the n-400 in Aug 2013) as i didnt want to renew my GC since i was eligible for citizenship.

My question is what options do i have? And postponing my travel arrangements would want to be my last resort as this is the only time i have available to fly because of work.

Hopefully anyone that knows someone or has experienced this can chime in

Thanks again

Roger

most of times baltimore office schedules the oath ceremonies at the same day or week or two after the interview.

but if you don't mind me asking,when did you file your n-400?

baltimore office statistics says they process may cases,which i don't believe is truth.

when did you apply for citizenship?

[BigDaddy28 228]

You know that when you travel and your green card is expired, you wrong be able to get back in the US. You can't travel without a baked green card even if you approved at the interview. You have to take your oath to become a citizen and then travel. Cam you postpone your travel dates?

[Roger78 0]

most of times baltimore office schedules the oath ceremonies at the same day or week or two after the interview.

but if you don't mind me asking,when did you file your n-400?

baltimore office statistics says they process may cases,which i don't believe is truth.

when did you apply for citizenship?

I hope everything goes well in the interview and the Oath is the same day or week, we are planning of flying on the 19th, my interview is on the Feb 5th. I filed the N-400 around August 19, Biometrics on Nov.

[Roger78 0]

You know that when you travel and your green card is expired, you wrong be able to get back in the US. You can't travel without a baked green card even if you approved at the interview. You have to take your oath to become a citizen and then travel. Cam you postpone your travel dates?

I wish I could postpone my flight, but it would probably be until next year, since I dont have much choice because of my work.

[Roger78 0]

I would, if you didn't get a same-day oath. I just don't know if they will give you an I-551 stamp only for your green card having expired. With a ten year green card your status doesn't expire when the card does, but it's still a requirement by law that you carry your valid green card on your person at all times. They might want to see an I-90 receipt first, showing that you have applied for a replacement green card, before they give you an I-551 stamp. OTOH they might just give you a stamp regardless.

One of the reason we are flying is also that my wife's grandma is very sick and she wants to see her, and wants her to meet her great grandkids.

[IcyStar 10]

I hope everything goes well in the interview and the Oath is the same day or week, we are planning of flying on the 19th, my interview is on the Feb 5th. I filed the N-400 around August 19, Biometrics on Nov.

i'm not taking the risk if i were you.besides the office where they processed the applications for naturalization has moved,don't know where they are located ,might be away from the court house(which means oath may be scheduled a bit later),not sure though,

if you received the interview notice(i believe you did)?what address is listed there as an interview office?

and also could you please check when exactly you've sent your n-400?i belong to the same Baltimore office and applied in the end of august,haven't gotten any interview notices yet,although it has been quite some time.

thank you in advance.

ps-in baltimore they do aoth 4 times per week,so i don't think it's gonna wait for long,but still-try to postpone your trip at least for few days.

[BigDaddy28 228]

I wish I could postpone my flight, but it would probably be until next year, since I dont have much choice because of my work.

You will have to renew your green card before you will otherwise you won't be able to get back in.

[IcyStar 10]

You will have to renew your green card before you will otherwise you won't be able to get back in.

it takes time.

another thing is that even when he and his family get citizenship-how would they travel with no passports ?application for passport/passport processing takes for a bout 2-3 weeks.

they won't be able to fly with naturalization certificate,will they?

[BigDaddy28 228]

it takes time.

another thing is that even when he and his family get citizenship-how would they travel with no passports ?application for passport/passport processing takes for a bout 2-3 weeks.

they won't be able to fly with naturalization certificate,will they?

Passports could be applied for and get them same day, but green card i assume after you apply you can get an extension. But if he gets out with an expired green card he won't get back into the US.

[IcyStar 10]

. But if he gets out with an expired green card he won't get back into the US.

well,i don't doubt that))i just thuught it's barely possible to get passport within a day,but perhaps it's not such a bad idea?)

[Roger78 0]

yes you can get a passport in 1-2 if not the same day....both my kids already have passports and are good to go, worst case scenario i will move the flight back a couple of days, and meet my family there, we are going for 3 weeks anyways.

I will keep you guys updated thanks for the info.

let me get the info regarding when exactly i filed the N-400 for you IcyStar