brand new citizen: Can i leave the country without a passport, and get one at a consulate overseas?

[JFH 12,189]

58 minutes ago, Ray.Bonaquist said:

In my book postponing any immigration process and particularly the last step in the immigration process, citizenship is a no no no especially in these times of an immigrant unfriendly government. But then I respect other opinions.

There is no risk with postponing an oath ceremony. It happens for various reasons (even before all this madness with COVID-19). Your status isn’t in jeopardy if you postpone your oath or if you even decide never to go through with it. Citizenship is voluntary. To be at this stage he is obviously already an unconditional LPR and can remain so until he dies, if he wishes, It’s not like postponing AOS or something that you could put you into unlawful presence. 

[HRQX 4,145]

11 minutes ago, JFH said:

Emergency services usually only cover the matters of lost and stolen passports or people who involuntarily need to travel at short notice and don’t have a valid passport,

That's when the overall situation is routine (I.e. when regular processing by ACS is a viable option). During the initial wave, ACSs required confirmed booking for travel to the US and were issuing limited-validity passports. Thus, based on ACS's protocol during the initial wave OP would still be able to get such limited-validity passport during subsequent waves.

[African Zealot 1,452]

1 hour ago, JFH said:

There is no risk with postponing an oath ceremony. It happens for various reasons (even before all this madness with COVID-19). Your status isn’t in jeopardy if you postpone your oath or if you even decide never to go through with it. Citizenship is voluntary. To be at this stage he is obviously already an unconditional LPR and can remain so until he dies, if he wishes, It’s not like postponing AOS or something that you could put you into unlawful presence. 

That is a complete and utter fabrication. Let's see him/her get into a DUI or some other serious crime even inadvertently before the swearing in and  then come tell me there is no risk with postponing an oath ceremony.

Edited July 30, 2020 by Ray.Bonaquist

[Asterix78 27]

How urgently do you have to leave? Every major city in the US has an emergency passport office which can issue you a passport on the same day with proof of immediate travel. I am speaking from first hand experience. Straight from the oath to the office with a plan ticket in hand. Passport done in 30 minutes. 

[HRQX 4,145]

8 minutes ago, Asterix78 said:

I am speaking from first hand experience. Straight from the oath to the office with a plan ticket in hand. Passport done in 30 minutes. 

That was before Covid. None of the Passport Agencies are in Phase Three yet: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html

[Asterix78 27]

Thank you for the correction. 

[millefleur 5,034]

**Moved from US Citizenship General Discussion to Passports, etc. - What to do now that you are a US citizen**

[cacolac323 11]

16 hours ago, Asterix78 said:

How urgently do you have to leave? Every major city in the US has an emergency passport office which can issue you a passport on the same day with proof of immediate travel. I am speaking from first hand experience. Straight from the oath to the office with a plan ticket in hand. Passport done in 30 minutes. 

 

if things play out in the way I think they may -- I may have to leave the country 2 days after the oath, and this is to attend my (only) sister's wedding. Now, this isn't attending a parent's funeral. It's a wedding, and I understand the distinction between a tragic life event like a death, versus a joyful one like a wedding. My understanding was that an emergency passport was an option only for force majeure events of the tragic kind (at a very close degree of familial ties)

 

However, in terms of options I see before me -- there's no way I'm going to miss my sister wedding. After years and years of H1B, Green card, now an incredibly long citizenship process, I would rather do anything than postpone the interview or oath (I concur with some of the views on that thread that in this day and age, the safest outcome is simply to be naturalized), but on the other hand, I really want to look at every other option if I can both go through with the interview/oath, and still attend my sister's wedding in Europe.

 

Hence why I was asking whether leaving without a US passport and getting my first US passport at a US consulate (the consulate of my birth country, as it happens), was an option.

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

Start here by finding the embassy or consulate of your birth country:

 

https://www.usembassy.gov

 

 

Heres the statement at my birth country/US embassy:

 

According to Section 215 of the U.S Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185) it is illegal for an American citizen to enter or leave the U.S on anything other than an American passport. This applies to dual citizens as well, meaning that persons holding e.g. both Belgian and American citizenship must enter and leave the U.S. on a valid U.S. passport; they may not enter/leave the U.S. on a Belgian passport. This applies to children as well as adults.

 

 

Edited July 31, 2020 by NEW CITIZEN

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

Heres the statement at my birth country/US embassy:

 

According to Section 215 of the U.S Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185)

That same law was already discussed in the first page. In OP's case, it's not illegal since OP will depart the US with the original Naturalization Certificate:

 

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

17 minutes ago, HRQX said:

That same law was already discussed in the first page. In OP's case, it's not illegal since OP will depart the US with the original Naturalization Certificate:

 

 

That statement 

"Except as otherwise provided by the President and subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may authorize and prescribe" The President* allows exceptions to the passport requirement; i.e. NEXUS card, Naturalization Card"

ONLY applies to land and sea travel basically from Mexico and Canada, NOT air travel.

 

 

Is the OP traveling in that method? And to Canada or Mexico???

[HRQX 4,145]

3 minutes ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

NOT air travel.

Incorrect for departing the US. Thus, why all American Citizen Services Units will issue a passport in OP's case.

Edited July 31, 2020 by HRQX

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

3 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Incorrect for departing the US. Thus, why all American Citizen Services Units will issue a passport in OP's case.

 

And you are confident enough that the OP won't run into any obstacles trying to do and end run?

 

I wouldn't give that advice.

 

[HRQX 4,145]

1 minute ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

And you are confident enough that the OP won't run into any obstacles trying to do and end run?

Yes. No issues.

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

On 7/30/2020 at 5:53 PM, Asterix78 said:

How urgently do you have to leave? Every major city in the US has an emergency passport office which can issue you a passport on the same day with proof of immediate travel. I am speaking from first hand experience. Straight from the oath to the office with a plan ticket in hand. Passport done in 30 minutes. 

He doesn't have to leave. He wants to go to a wedding.