Fragger

Hello everyone,

My Dad has an interview for the citizenship soon. The problem is that he has to go back to his country as soon as his interview takes place. My question is, can he somehow request the INS to take his oath sooner than usual? If so, how? Also, if not, does anyone know how long does it take to be called for an oath ceremony in Philadelphia? Thanks for reading!

John Smith

No problem, if everything else is satisfied sometimes they can give the oath
right at the interview, just tell the officer.

"Fragger" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello everyone,
    > My Dad has an interview for the citizenship soon. The problem is that he
    > has to go back to his country as soon as his interview takes place. My
    > question is, can he somehow request the INS to take his oath sooner than
    > usual? If so, how? Also, if not, does anyone know how long does it take
    > to be called for an oath ceremony in Philadelphia? Thanks for reading!
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Ilynat

Others here will know better and I'm sure will confirm this, but
I believe that your father may jeopardize his situation by leaving
after the interview and before the ceremony. In my case, I asked
that I be able to take the oath of citizenship so I could start
work on a government contract that would directly benefit INS
(the position was held for me for 8 months while my naturalization
was processed) but I was told nothing could be done. If INS
won't move faster even for their own benefit, why should we expect
them to move any faster for ours (as potential citizens)? My
husband and I also attempted to enlist the intervention of our
senators and congressman, but was told nothing could be done. The
only case I found where an exception was made involved a man with
terminal cancer who had only weeks to live and so was naturalized
before he died.

On a positive note, my interview took place on Sept 24 and the
oath ceremony was on Oct 17. I had been told at the interview
that there could be a delay of "several months" before I became
a citizen while in reality it was only about three weeks.

John Smith

True, but he says his dad has the interview soon, getting the date means
half the battle is over, i.e. he has passed the FBI background check and
satisfied most other things. If he proves at the interview he paid taxes
consecutively, and lived in the US consecutively since becoming a PR, and
gets through the history/government test, I am sure they will accomodate his
request about taking the oath provided of course the availability.

"ILYNat" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Others here will know better and I'm sure will confirm this, but
    > I believe that your father may jeopardize his situation by leaving
    > after the interview and before the ceremony. In my case, I asked
    > that I be able to take the oath of citizenship so I could start
    > work on a government contract that would directly benefit INS
    > (the position was held for me for 8 months while my naturalization
    > was processed) but I was told nothing could be done. If INS
    > won't move faster even for their own benefit, why should we expect
    > them to move any faster for ours (as potential citizens)? My
    > husband and I also attempted to enlist the intervention of our
    > senators and congressman, but was told nothing could be done. The
    > only case I found where an exception was made involved a man with
    > terminal cancer who had only weeks to live and so was naturalized
    > before he died.
    > On a positive note, my interview took place on Sept 24 and the
    > oath ceremony was on Oct 17. I had been told at the interview
    > that there could be a delay of "several months" before I became
    > a citizen while in reality it was only about three weeks.

Marcia

I am waiting to hear when my oath ceremony will be...where did you file your
N-400?

Best,
Marcia

"ILYNat" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Others here will know better and I'm sure will confirm this, but
    > I believe that your father may jeopardize his situation by leaving
    > after the interview and before the ceremony. In my case, I asked
    > that I be able to take the oath of citizenship so I could start
    > work on a government contract that would directly benefit INS
    > (the position was held for me for 8 months while my naturalization
    > was processed) but I was told nothing could be done. If INS
    > won't move faster even for their own benefit, why should we expect
    > them to move any faster for ours (as potential citizens)? My
    > husband and I also attempted to enlist the intervention of our
    > senators and congressman, but was told nothing could be done. The
    > only case I found where an exception was made involved a man with
    > terminal cancer who had only weeks to live and so was naturalized
    > before he died.
    > On a positive note, my interview took place on Sept 24 and the
    > oath ceremony was on Oct 17. I had been told at the interview
    > that there could be a delay of "several months" before I became
    > a citizen while in reality it was only about three weeks.

Fragger

Thanks for the reply guys. Marcia, my Dad has an interview in Philadelphia, PA.

Also John Smith, I have heard about the oath being taken at the interview, that is, later that day. Could you confirm that, but giving me an actual example? Also, any of you guys got their citizenship processed in Philadelphia, PA? If so, how long did it take you guys to take the oath? Thanks everyone!

sarina

my mom had an interview on OCT 25 and today she went for her oath. She had to fill out a questionaire which was given at the time of interview to be taken on the oath day. One of the question was have u left the country since the time of interview Well i don't know what the consiquenses would've been if she said yes but it was a question. And this is in Texas so i guess it makes a difference if you leave the country.

Ilynat

My N-400 was filed in September 2001. I had my fingerprints taken in
April this year.


"Marcia" wrote in message news:...
    > I am waiting to hear when my oath ceremony will be...where did you file your
    > N-400?
    >
    > Best,
    > Marcia

Fragger

Guys, I appreciate your valuable comments, but can anyone answer my follow up questions. Waiting for the replies, Thank you all!

Ingo Pakleppa

On Sun, 10 Nov 2002 22:10:15 -0800, Fragger wrote:


    > Hello everyone,
    >
    > My Dad has an interview for the citizenship soon. The problem is that he
    > has to go back to his country as soon as his interview takes place. My
    > question is, can he somehow request the INS to take his oath sooner than
    > usual? If so, how? Also, if not, does anyone know how long does it take
    > to be called for an oath ceremony in Philadelphia? Thanks for reading!

Taking the oath before the trip may actually be not a good idea. The
problem is that you'd then have to apply for a US passport before you can
travel. Even with expedited processing, that still takes at least a week
or two.

He will definitely need to use the US passport to return to the US
(although I know of an instance where immigration officers accepted a
certificate of naturalization, you could still be fined for not using a US
passport). Depending on his old country's citizenship laws, he may or may
not be able to use the old passport to travel to other countries.

I think travelling between the interview and the oath is likely the
better approach (and to my - limited - knowledge, there is no problem
with that).

Fragger

I appreciate your help, but I did not ask if there will be problem if my father leaves the country after taking the oath, I asked you guys, what he could do to get his oath faster. I heard, that INS lets some people take their the same day as their interviews, is that true? Has anyone experienced this, if so, what did you do in order to acheive this? Also, if you have taken your oath in Philadelphia, could you tell how long it took to get called on for the oath after the interview? Thanks again!

Ingo Pakleppa

On Thu, 14 Nov 2002 15:01:52 -0800, Fragger wrote:


    > I appreciate your help, but I did not ask if there will be problem if my
    > father leaves the country after taking the oath, I asked you guys, what
    > he could do to get his oath faster. I heard, that INS lets some people
    > take their the same day as their interviews, is that true? Has anyone
    > experienced this, if so, what did you do in order to acheive this? Also,
    > if you have taken your oath in Philadelphia, could you tell how long it
    > took to get called on for the oath after the interview? Thanks again!

Taking the oath on the same day as the interview does happen.
Unfortunately, you don't have control over it - it is the INS office
together with the court who handles that. As far as I know, same-day oath
ceremonies are very unusual.

Incidentally, INS isn't even in charge of the oath-taking; that final act
is done by a judge.

Fragger

You are right indeed, sir! My father's interview took place, today, and thank God, he is approved, got all of his questions right! Unfortunately, his oath date, according to the officer, will occur in approx. 6 weeks! Dang that! Anyway, thanks for all your help people!

Jesse

What they tell you may or may not be accurate. When my wife completed
her interview, the Immigration Officer told her the oath ceremony
would be in two to three months. A week or so later we got a letter
in the mail infoming her that her cermeony would be conducted in about
40 days or so. This was in San Antonio however, so your case may be
different.

On Fri, 15 Nov 2002 23:01:20 +0000, Fragger
wrote:

    >You are right indeed, sir! My father's interview took place, today, and
    >thank God, he is approved, got all of his questions right!
    >Unfortunately, his oath date, according to the officer, will occur in
    >approx. 6 weeks! Dang that! Anyway, thanks for all your help people!