Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
Apr 15th 2002, 10:30 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
I'm becoming a US citizen in two weeks (oath ceremony scheduled).
I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
naturalized.
So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
Thanks, Manu.
I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
naturalized.
So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
Thanks, Manu.
Apr 16th 2002, 12:00 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
No! By law a US citizen is required to exit and enter the US with a valid US
passport! There are exceptions for countries like Mexico and Canada. When you check
in the Airline Company will ask you for a US passport or a Green Card, or I-94/I-94W.
If you don't have it they will make you fill one new (a record of departure) which
you are not supposed to as you are a US Citizen. I would suggest to postpone the Oath
which will be rescheduled in 60 days or so. I got my US Passport after 8 days from
the Oath with the expedite process....if you can wait!
R "Manu" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm becoming a US citizen in two weeks (oath ceremony scheduled).
>
> I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
>
> Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
> naturalized.
>
> So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
> passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
>
> I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
>
>
> Thanks, Manu.
passport! There are exceptions for countries like Mexico and Canada. When you check
in the Airline Company will ask you for a US passport or a Green Card, or I-94/I-94W.
If you don't have it they will make you fill one new (a record of departure) which
you are not supposed to as you are a US Citizen. I would suggest to postpone the Oath
which will be rescheduled in 60 days or so. I got my US Passport after 8 days from
the Oath with the expedite process....if you can wait!
R "Manu" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm becoming a US citizen in two weeks (oath ceremony scheduled).
>
> I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
>
> Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
> naturalized.
>
> So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
> passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
>
> I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
>
>
> Thanks, Manu.
Apr 16th 2002, 1:30 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
> I'm becoming a US citizen in two weeks (oath ceremony scheduled).
>
> I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
>
> Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
> naturalized.
>
> So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
> passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
>
> I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
US law requires US citizens to leave the US in possession of a US passport.
Unless you are sure that you can have a passport issued within one day, your only
other options are to delay your trip, or to delay your naturalization ceremony.
S. Gallagher
>
> I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
>
> Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
> naturalized.
>
> So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
> passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
>
> I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
US law requires US citizens to leave the US in possession of a US passport.
Unless you are sure that you can have a passport issued within one day, your only
other options are to delay your trip, or to delay your naturalization ceremony.
S. Gallagher
Apr 17th 2002, 6:00 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
I had EXACTLY the same issue. My father has passed away a couple of days after the
oath overseas, so I needed to attend at the funeral. I had a canadian passport and no
green card and no certificate, because I applied for my US passport already when I
got the news.
So, I called several INS offices around the country's airports to ask the same
question you are asking. All of them said, that although I would come back with a
foreign passport and no US documents, thay would let me in with no penalty. They
said, that I could count on many questions at the port of entry, but if I can answer
all the questions and provide reasonable proof that I am a resident, there would be
no problem.
My private recommendation to you is: If you really need to go, this issue should not
keep you from going. Since you will be a citizen at the time of leaving the country,
you should not encounter any problem. If you are still uncertain, please do the same
as I did and call INS offices at any international airport. They will give you the
correct answer and don't listen to cry babies on this group.
GOGO
"Manu" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm becoming a US citizen in two weeks (oath ceremony scheduled).
>
> I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
>
> Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
> naturalized.
>
> So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
> passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
>
> I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
>
>
> Thanks, Manu.
oath overseas, so I needed to attend at the funeral. I had a canadian passport and no
green card and no certificate, because I applied for my US passport already when I
got the news.
So, I called several INS offices around the country's airports to ask the same
question you are asking. All of them said, that although I would come back with a
foreign passport and no US documents, thay would let me in with no penalty. They
said, that I could count on many questions at the port of entry, but if I can answer
all the questions and provide reasonable proof that I am a resident, there would be
no problem.
My private recommendation to you is: If you really need to go, this issue should not
keep you from going. Since you will be a citizen at the time of leaving the country,
you should not encounter any problem. If you are still uncertain, please do the same
as I did and call INS offices at any international airport. They will give you the
correct answer and don't listen to cry babies on this group.
GOGO
"Manu" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm becoming a US citizen in two weeks (oath ceremony scheduled).
>
> I have to fly overseas a day after the oath.
>
> Looks like it's very unlikely to get a passport ready the same day I become
> naturalized.
>
> So, can I still use my old passport to leave the country and then get my new US
> passport mailed to me overseas ? Or mailed to me in the US ?
>
> I guess the main question is: can I leave US without greencard and US passport ?
>
>
> Thanks, Manu.
Apr 22nd 2002, 3:30 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
"gogo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I had EXACTLY the same issue. My father has passed away a couple of days after the
> oath overseas, so I needed to attend at the funeral. I had a canadian passport and
> no green card and no certificate, because I applied for my US passport already when
> I got the news.
>
> So, I called several INS offices around the country's airports to ask the same
> question you are asking. All of them said, that although I would come back with a
> foreign passport and no US documents, thay would let me in
with
> no penalty. They said, that I could count on many questions at the port of entry,
> but if I can answer all the questions and provide reasonable proof that I am a
> resident, there would be no problem.
>
> My private recommendation to you is: If you really need to go, this issue should
> not keep you from going. Since you will be a citizen at the time of leaving the
> country, you should not encounter any problem.
Keep in mind that depending on the poster's original citizenship, he may not be
allowed to travel to the US on his original passport, if citizens of that country
require a visa to enter the US.
Canadians do not require visas to travel to the US, so it would be simple for a
Canadian who had newly naturalized as a US citizen to travel to the US on his
original passport (even if it was technically illegal, under US law).
But if the original poster came from a country whose citizens need visas to travel to
the US, he may find himself with a problem when he tries to return. He won't be able
to get a US visa in his non-US passport since he's a US citizen.
Stephen Gallagher
news:[email protected]...
> I had EXACTLY the same issue. My father has passed away a couple of days after the
> oath overseas, so I needed to attend at the funeral. I had a canadian passport and
> no green card and no certificate, because I applied for my US passport already when
> I got the news.
>
> So, I called several INS offices around the country's airports to ask the same
> question you are asking. All of them said, that although I would come back with a
> foreign passport and no US documents, thay would let me in
with
> no penalty. They said, that I could count on many questions at the port of entry,
> but if I can answer all the questions and provide reasonable proof that I am a
> resident, there would be no problem.
>
> My private recommendation to you is: If you really need to go, this issue should
> not keep you from going. Since you will be a citizen at the time of leaving the
> country, you should not encounter any problem.
Keep in mind that depending on the poster's original citizenship, he may not be
allowed to travel to the US on his original passport, if citizens of that country
require a visa to enter the US.
Canadians do not require visas to travel to the US, so it would be simple for a
Canadian who had newly naturalized as a US citizen to travel to the US on his
original passport (even if it was technically illegal, under US law).
But if the original poster came from a country whose citizens need visas to travel to
the US, he may find himself with a problem when he tries to return. He won't be able
to get a US visa in his non-US passport since he's a US citizen.
Stephen Gallagher
Apr 27th 2002, 7:00 am
#6
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2002
Location: Palm Beach Gardens
Posts: 11
Re: Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
Well in my ignorance I have done all of the above. I frequently went to the UK and back to the US with both US and UK passports and get this for ignorance. I used whichever passport had the SHORTER LINE at the passport checkpoint! And some officials saw I had both and said "quick put the other one away" as I offered them BOTH to be stamped ROFL :-)
Never a problem. I guess I now believe in dumb luck
G. A L
Never a problem. I guess I now believe in dumb luck
G. A L
Apr 28th 2002, 3:30 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tricky Question: leaving US right after oath with foreign passport!
"Stephen C. Gallagher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected] ble.rogers.com>...
> Canadians do not require visas to travel to the US, so it would be simple for a
> Canadian who had newly naturalized as a US citizen to travel to the US on his
> original passport (even if it was technically illegal, under US law).
US citizens do not need a passport when travelling to and from Canada. They can
travel using their naturalization certificate.
news:<[email protected] ble.rogers.com>...
> Canadians do not require visas to travel to the US, so it would be simple for a
> Canadian who had newly naturalized as a US citizen to travel to the US on his
> original passport (even if it was technically illegal, under US law).
US citizens do not need a passport when travelling to and from Canada. They can
travel using their naturalization certificate.
