civis

You withheld the other country from us, which makes answering more time consuming. Thank you for that.

1) Leaving US

a) Normally US Passport.

B) If the country you are traveling to requires visa from USC, but not from your other country, you need to use other passport for one in order to be allowed to board.

In B you would in fact have to get a visa for your US passport as the US require you to exit the US only on a US passport.

Except of course if you are traveling to your own country and they require a visa for US citizens but your own country wouldn't give you a visa if they know you are a citizen. So in those circumstances you wouldn't be going anywhere.

Thanks everybody for confirming. For those who asked about my country of origin, it is Italy, which is in the Visa-Waiver. Will certainly post my experience this time around.

I have just naturalized in the U.S. but the laws of my country of origin still regard me as a citizen. In other words, I am now a dual citizen. I would like to keep enjoying the privileges of freely traveling back to my family. Any other dual citizen traveling back to their country of origin? My questions:

1. What Passport to use for the travel (the flight out). I plan using U.S. passport (P1)

2. What Passport to use for the entry in my country of origin? I plan to use my country of origin passport (P2). No stamp will then result on the U.S. passport

3. What Passport to use for the flight back? I will use U.S. passport (P1)

4. What Passport to use for the enter U.S.? This is a no brainer. U.S. passport (P1)

Would you please confirm the above?

My main concern is that by using P2 to enter my country of origin, I will not get any stamp on my U.S. passport. How is this going to affect my entry in the U.S.? Will POE agents begin questioning? It will also be my first time using my U.S. passport. I have heard stories of people subject to extensive questioning about their status and naturalization.

Any comment is greatly appreciated as usual. I hope that I posted this in the right forum.

Congratulations to all jul/aug filers who are completing their U.S. immigration journey

First, congratulations!

Second, oath letters are usually given out at the interview if the interview is coming up so soon that there is a chance the individual might not receive the letter in time through the mail - generally if the interview is within 2 or 3 weeks. If there is an oath ceremony later than that, then the standard procedure is to mail out the letter. You gave them the date that you wanted your ceremony to be after. I expect you will get a letter for a ceremony sometime within the week or two weeks after November 22nd. Don't worry - you will be fine. You can travel without a problem, return home and then have your oath ceremony and get your new US passport. Again, congratulations.

Thank you for your message. And thanks everybody for the valuable advice. I have received a Notice with an oath date in early December.

In retrospect, I can say that the USCIS has been most effective, cooperative and certainly flexible. Upon request and having noted the dates of my trip overseas, they have sent me an oath letter before my departure date, with a ceremony scheduled the week after my return. I could not have asked for better. Thanks everybody, thanks USCIS. I will share my experience about the naturalization ceremony.

You should be able to postpone your oath until you return. At the interview (after you have been approved) just tell the IO that you have travel requirements for work that you can't miss and ask to have your oath scheduled for after the date of your return. It should not be a problem.

I thought that you guys might want to know how the story ended. I had my naturalization interview yesterday. It was very smooth and probably lasted about 15 minutes. After I was approved, the IO, a nice and very professional gentleman, handed me a paper stating that I had been approved and said that I should expect my naturalization date to be in about two weeks. Guess what, in two weeks I'd be traveling abroad, as predicted. I had to take a decision. I asked the IO to postpone the oath date after my trip (Nov. 22 or later). He made a note in the file and told me not to worry, that the oath would be after that date.

There are some pros and cons to my decision to postpone. The pro is that the date for the nat. ceremony would not interfere with my upcoming travel plans. The big con is that I did not get an oath letter on site, but have to wait for it in the mail. Someone was otherwise giving oath letters to approved applicants, who had not requested to postpone the swearing-in date.

Feel free to send me your comments. I am a bit concerned that they might delay my letter as my case is now falling outside of the ordinary process. I would have preferred to get the oath letter. The only thing in my possession is a standard form with the details of the IO and a mark where it says approved. Should I be concerned? What should I do if I do not get the letter in the near future?

Also, I'd like to add that a co-worker of mine had his interview in Connecticut on Sep 27.

He was offered oath of Oct 2, he refused because he had a meeting, then on Oct 9, he refused again because he was traveling for work and he finally accepted Oct 16. He took the oath last Friday as matter of facts.

It all depends on the IO you have and how flexible he/she is.

I suggest that if you see the "approved" stamp or a recommended for approval N-652, you ask the IO for a specific date or at least not to be scheduled during your travel. I don't see why he/she shouldn't accommodate you.

I would like to thank everybody for the great and valid suggestions. I will keep you guys updated about everything. After the interview, I will be able to know at least if I am recommended for approval. Concerning the oath date, I will play by ear and, will ask the IO only if he/she looks nice and the interview flows smoothly.

Hi Civis,

In answer to your questions:

1) I don't know about NYC specifically about same day oaths. Any other VJers can help with that? What I do know is that if you have an interview scheduled in the morning, and your local office does same day oaths, then you could possibly get a same day oath in the afternoon.

2) It doesn't hurt to ask, and if the IO is nice enough, they might even agree to such. But don't be surprised if they say no either.

3) Yes, 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...

4) 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 heart 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.

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 interview, oath, and travels too.

Ant

My boss has scheduled an international trip for the week of Nov. 15 to Nov. 22. I have told him repeatedly that I might not be able to travel and that I do not know my oath date yet. He does not care and does not understand that if I get naturalized, I cannot use my foreign passport to travel from/to the U.S.. I need everybody's suggestion and/or experience as to how to manage this travel pending my oath. In fact, it is possible that my oath would be scheduled either immediately before or during that specific week. My interview is on Oct. 27 in Fed Plaza in Manhattan.

More specifically:

1. Do they do same date oath? My understanding is that it is uncommon in New York. Anybody can confirm.

2. Assuming that I am approved, can I ask the IO for an oath date either before Nov 15 or after Nov 22?

3. Assuming that my oath is scheduled in that specific week, can I move it? If so, can it be easily done and without consequences?

4. If I get an oath date about a week in advance of my scheduled trip, would it still be possible to apply for a same-day passport?

Any answer or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Thank you Ant+D+A. I appreciate your time and I am glad that somewhere I could find some empathy. I have already explained the situation to my boss and laid down the options. First, he complained that I am not using a lawyer (can't really afford one on my salary) and then implied that it can't be that they are so rigid, and perhaps I am doing something wrong. His request is to postpone the oath. If anything, I know that the time has come for me to look for a better job. I could not believe his stubbornness and lack of empathy.

Concerning the postponement, based on the horror stories around, what type of delay am I risking at worse: days, months?

My boss has scheduled an international trip for the week of Nov. 15 to Nov. 22. I have told him repeatedly that I might not be able to travel and that I do not know my oath date yet. He does not care and does not understand that if I get naturalized, I cannot use my foreign passport to travel from/to the U.S.. I need everybody's suggestion and/or experience as to how to manage this travel pending my oath. In fact, it is possible that my oath would be scheduled either immediately before or during that specific week. My interview is on Oct. 27 in Fed Plaza in Manhattan.

More specifically:

1. Do they do same date oath? My understanding is that it is uncommon in New York. Anybody can confirm.

2. Assuming that I am approved, can I ask the IO for an oath date either before Nov 15 or after Nov 22?

3. Assuming that my oath is scheduled in that specific week, can I move it? If so, can it be easily done and without consequences?

4. If I get an oath date about a week in advance of my scheduled trip, would it still be possible to apply for a same-day passport?

Any answer or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

I forgot to add that I cannot afford to loose my job. Working in a small service company, my boss is also the owner. He is not particularly empatic and has easily "laid off" or "let go" employees. I would face some consequences, if I refuse to travel.

My boss has scheduled an international trip for the week of Nov. 15 to Nov. 22. I have told him repeatedly that I might not be able to travel and that I do not know my oath date yet. He does not care and does not understand that if I get naturalized, I cannot use my foreign passport to travel from/to the U.S.. I need everybody's suggestion and/or experience as to how to manage this travel pending my oath. In fact, it is possible that my oath would be scheduled either immediately before or during that specific week. My interview is on Oct. 27 in Fed Plaza in Manhattan.

More specifically:

1. Do they do same date oath? My understanding is that it is uncommon in New York. Anybody can confirm.

2. Assuming that I am approved, can I ask the IO for an oath date either before Nov 15 or after Nov 22?

3. Assuming that my oath is scheduled in that specific week, can I move it? If so, can it be easily done and without consequences?

4. If I get an oath date about a week in advance of my scheduled trip, would it still be possible to apply for a same-day passport?

Any answer or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

same thing happened to me. Sent out my package, came home n read ur post... wish I read it before i mailed it. Tried to recall but it was too late. Let me knw what happened with urs. thanks

I will. Mine was finally delivered. I will let the forum know when I get it back. This mistake is probably very common. A friend of mine got naturalized last March. I told her my story and she started laughing. The same thing had happened to her. Received the package a few days later exactly as she mailed it, corrected the deficiency and sent the package back. Yet I fear that the USCIS is sometimes unpredictable, particularly when things take a detour from their ordinary course. For example they might just cash the check, or might not realize the mistake until later. Who knows?

Thank you guys. I will let you know how this ends up. Delivery was scheduled for this morning but Fedex website does not say anything about actual delivery. Should I try to recall package?

Separately, when I file the new application with the signature page, should I mention that the prior one was deficient and therefore returned to me?

It sounds like one of those ridiculous stories that you never believe would occur to you. Well... it occurred to me. I have just realized that I missed the last page (signature) on my N-400 that I submitted a few days ago (yet to be received by USCIS). I had checked my application thousand of times, but in the last re-print, I missed the last page.

Is there any way to repair the error or submitting the missing page? Will the application be returned or will it be denied? Will I get the check back? More importantly, how is this going to affect my naturalization chances?

Thank you for your help. I am desperate.

Hi everyone:

While driving in 2005 in New Jersey, a ticket was erroneously issued for driving without a license. In Court, all charges were immediately dropped as I showed my European driving license. No penalty of any sort, nothing, just dismissed. I am now applying for naturalization, based on the 3-year marriage rule. Should I include the information about the ticket on my N-400? I always thought that it was irrelevant and never listed before.

Do you think that it is going to be a problem?

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.