US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Hi everyone ( I posted this on returning to UK forum but thought I'd post it here too)

So I finally bit the bullet and decided to get my US citizenship. I sent the application overnight on Oct 30th 2013, and within two weeks got a letter for a date for my fingerprints. After I completed that I got a letter approximately 2 wks after that for an interview date. The letter stated that I need to bring my Current UK Passport as well as expired passport/s.

My question is will I receive my UK passport back? When I called the immigration line I was not given a clear answer. I was told more than likely it would be returned but that was not a guaranteed answer . I then asked what if I need to travel before I could get a US passport and again was told that more than likely my Passport would be returned.

A second question, why would they need expired passports? Not that I have any. The last one I had was clipped at the end and returned to me when I got my current passport. I always shred my expired passports.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

They are interested in your travel, since becoming a PR.if some of that is in an old pp that is why. They Won,t keep your UK passport.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Thanks for the response!

Don't have the old passport so they will have to go on the new one. Unfortunately the new one only has my return stamps in it as I traveled to Paris and other EU countries. Let's hope I don't have to explain to them why. On my trip back from Paris last year, I had to explain to the officer at the airport why my passport was not stamped in Paris :blink: yup sure did

If I had the old passport would they give that back or would they keep that one?

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Yes. That's the property of the UK government, and the USA is not allowed to keep it.

If you think you will be needing to travel right after becoming a USC, you will need to make a trip to one of the main passport offices in the USA to get a same-day US passport. If you think you won't need to travel for a couple of weeks, apply for an expedited US passport. If you won't need to travel in the immediate future, just do a regular US passport (not expedited).

For travel purposes, it doesn't matter if they return your UK passport to you after becoming a USC or not. As a USC, you are required to travel on a US passport.

Rene

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

The US won't keep any of your UK passports at all.

Rene

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

I took all my old passports but wasn't asked for any of them at the interview.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

YAY! Thanks for the response

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

thanks. So good to know puts my mind at ease

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

At my interview they skimmed my passports, but no questions.

Took the Oath yesterday so fully fledged now. All done.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Not exactly correct. A US citizen is required to leave and enter the US on a US passport. Once outside the US you can use other passports. However, if you ever need a security clearance the use of a foreign passport could be taken as evidence of a foreign preference.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

My interview is in few days so will update once it's done. Congrats on being fully fledged :)

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Good luck. It was a breeze for me, went through my application, asked me a few questions on it, did the Civics test (was easy), the english sentences made me laugh and then he poked around my Green Card app but no questions and that was it.

I had to wait 2 months from interview for the Oath, some offices do Same day but not Northern Virginia (as a rule!).

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Thanks!
I've been reading the questions for the test... I'm hoping my office is one that does everything same day :fingerscrossed: if not hopefully it wont take 2 months as everything else has taken about a span of two weeks for each process

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

See this thread. The last couple of pages are mostly about my experience recently:D

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...703810&page=44

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Sweet! Thanks so much will give it a look

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Did they ask you five or six times if you are or have been a member of the communist party like they did me ?:huh:

Charles

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Was it the hammer and sickle lapel pin you were wearing?

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

I found this useful after my ceremony ( a few years ago now!)

http://www.newcitizen.us/after.html

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

So I had my interview this morning at 10:30. I got everything back including my GC. I was asked 6 questions and got them all correct.

In case anyone wants to know, here are the 6 questions I was asked
( my answers in parenthesis)

1. What is freedom of religion (freedom to practice or not practice religion)
2. When must all men register for selective service (between ages 18-26)
3. When was the constitution written (1787)
4. Name one state that borders Canada (NY)
5. How many U.S. Senators are they? (100)
6. What ocean is in the East coast of the United States (Atlantic ocean)

Now the waiting game begins for a date for the swearing in ceremony. I was told that it could take as little at 4 weeks and up to 4 months
Forgot to add: my English reading (or was it written ?) sentence was " We pay taxes" :rofl:

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Congratulations on a successful interview!

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Thank you. It was a relative simple and short process since I mailed the application on Oct 31.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

I received a letter in the mail today for my swearing in ceremony at the end of the month. So basically a very short process from start to finish (4 months) and 4 wks after interview to get swearing in date. Will update once the ceremony is over and done with. I welcome tips and advice from those who have already gone through the process :thumbup:

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Not quite true. While a USC is expected to enter/leave the US on a US passport, the US cannot dictate which passport is used to enter/leave a foreign country. Sometimes it is advantageous to enter another country on a UK passport. The obvious example is a trip back to the UK (or anywhere else in the EU for that matter) where UKCs can take advantage of potentially faster immigration lines. UKCs do not require a visa to enter Brazil while USCs do. If you enter New Zealand on a UK passport, you can stay for 6 months as opposed to the normal 3 months.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

The only tip I can give is an obvious one - dress appropriately!

I had my ceremony the day of my interview. We were all told to return later in the day (2:00pm, IIRC) so we had time to get some lunch. We were then shepherded into a big room and the ceremony took place. I won't give details so you can enjoy it!

However, there was a goth/punk couple who either didn't realize that the ceremony would be the same day or thought that their black studded clothing, piercings, belts and other attire would be fine. They were told that if they couldn't return in 'respectful clothing', they would not be allowed to take the oath. They spent the time trying to beg, borrow or steal something that would be deemed acceptable. I didn't see them again, so I don't know if they were successful or not.

Be prepared to stand up or wave your hand when your country of origin is called, otherwise that's it. Enjoy the day - and congrats on (soon) becoming a USC!

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Also, don't forget to bring your green card(s) to the Oath Ceremony - you have to hand those back.

Which, obviously, is fine because you won't need them anymore :D

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Although it's important to realize that any minors who obtain US citizenship through the naturalization of a parent, do need to keep their green cards. They don't need to renew them obviously (since they are now USCs) but they may be needed to prove US citizenship (one of the conditions is that the minors were legal PRs in the US at the time of the parent's naturalization).

http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/...hrough-parents

The N600 application form (Certificate of Citizenship) asks for a copy of the child's green card.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/f...n-600instr.pdf

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

That's about it. Mine was a ceremony at a High School in Fairfax County, VA at the end of last year. I didn't realize that there would be 500 of us. They told us report at 8:30am. We got there at 8:25 and we were at the end of the line. I was around one of the last to get processed.

In the auditorium I was in the last row for new citizens, and when the did the Nation calling where everyone stands when their nation was called, UK was last so about 3 of us were still sat until the end (I assume 3, there was a see of nearly 500 stood). Sang the national anthem, took the oath, listened to our Congressman waffle on for 3 minutes, (thankfully not a long time) and were were done.

As I was last row, i was first out, got my certificate, filled in voter registration, few photo's and we were out of dodge and went to Silver Diner to celebrate.

Overall they did a great job with 500 of us. Smooth. Only "issue" was that we were all processed by 9:15am but ceremony didn't start until 10am. My kids got restless.....

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Thanks everyone for the tips :) I will definitely keep in mind the appropriate dress and make sure that my green card is securely placed in my purse the night before.

Re: US Citizenship (quick question)
 

Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but take a camera if you don't have one on your phone. There'll probably be an opportunity to take your pic holding your certificate with the American flag in the background.