Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Finally, after 5 years of living here i have been awarded citizenship.

Process was really simple and pain free, quick too.
I applied 4 years and 9 months after i moved here, had my interview 4 weeks after my 5 year anniversary, and have my Naturalization ceremony in 2 weeks time (4 weeks after interview).

Problem is, i have to surrender my greencard and need to travel to Hong Kong for work the week after my ceremony. I cant get a US passport that quickly!

Any ideas?

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

still takes at least a week, i dont have that long...PLUS i have to send my naturalization certificate which i dont want to do before i travel.....

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Postpone your trip.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Or postpone the oath ceremony ...

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

yeah.... just spoke with passport office and USCIS... im bolloxed.
I guess i cant go and exhibit at the trade show in hong kong. :(

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

i can only postpone one ceremony. if the second one comes in as a date when im out of the country, i have to start the process all over again.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Really? I hadn't heard of that...where did you read/hear that?

There are a few passport offices around the USA, where they actually do same-day service. I know there's one in Tucson AZ and one somewhere in Oregon, I think? Have a look around on the net and see where the others are, and arrange a 1-day trip there to get your US Passport in 1 day.

Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Without thinking this through - what would stop you using your British Passport?

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

You haven't yet been awarded citizenship. You won't be awarded citizenship until after you take the oath at the naturalization ceremony.

Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

US citizens must, by law, enter the US on a US passport. I don't know what would actually happen if OP were to use a British Passport for the trip though.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

In the documentation i have, and during the interview, it was made clear to me that i can only miss one ceremony. If i skip two then i have to reapply for citizenship.

I think i will have to apply to the Atlanta office for a 'submit in person' process and hope that i get an appointment and passport before i have to leave for work!

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

I see. I was hoping for a link, but I can research it.


http://travel.state.gov/passport/npi...ncies_913.html

Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

The USCIS Guide to Naturalization doesn't say there's a limit on how many times you can reschedule the oath ceremony:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/chapter3.pdf

20. What should I do if I cannot go to my oath ceremony?

If you cannot go to the oath ceremony, you should return the “Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony” (Form N-445) that you received to your local USCIS office. Include a letter saying why you cannot go to the ceremony. Make a copy of the notice and your letter before you send them to USCIS. Your local USCIS office will reschedule you and send you a new “Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony” (Form N-445) to tell you when your ceremony will be.

Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Go to the ceremony, apply for US passport, leave on UK passport, get someone to fed ex US passport to you while you're away, renter on US passport?

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

While that is the letter of the law, plenty of US citizens enter the US with foreign passports and nothing happens to them. One of my wife's friends, who is a dual British and US citizen, regularly travels to the US on her British passport, each time declaring that she is a US citizen.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Hello...long time no see. Congratulations on becoming a USC. :thumbsup:

How's tricks? ;)

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

How long will you be in Hong Kong?

Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

In all my years following this forum and its antecedent, I've never come across this tidbit of idiocy. AFAIK, the requirement doesn't actually exist despite what you've been told.

Ian

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Not to be a pain, but this is important information, if true. I do not recall reading that on any documentation my husband received when going through the naturalization process. If you don't mind, can you do a huge favor and scan the document which says this? You can black out your personal information, of course.

It would really help us to help others.

Thanks,
Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Sounds like the local Jobsworths scaring you into not creating extra paperwork for them? They probably do a ceremony every month, why should it be a problem since you are "approved" already. Maybe where you are they get a loot of no-shows.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

That sounds *way* too risky - what if something happens with his passport application that requires the OP to be in the US to sort it out and what if his passport gets lost in transit leaving him outside the US with only a UK passport - no green card and no US passport ... :eek:

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

For a price you can get a US PP within 24/48 hrs at our county courthouse. I think you have to produce proof of immediate travel plans.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

I suppose I'm more of a half glass full kinda gal ;)

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

There is one in New York City, too.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Just a correction in case someone reads this thread at a later date looking for information.

There isn't a passport office in Oregon, we have to use the one in Seattle, WA.

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Thanks, I knew it was in the NW somewhere...meauxna went there. :)

Rene

Re: Citizenship!!! oh crap
 

Yes, you should be able to go to a passport office and apply in person and be able to pick it up soon after. As I remember, you have to call for an appointment.

That's what we did for my wife a couple of years ago. She was traveling about a week after her ceremony so we made an appointment ahead of time to go to the passport office the day after the ceremony. They had her new passport ready in a couple of days.

- Eric S.