next steps After Oath

[lukizen]

After Oath why can't one travel with old passport

I would say if one has travel plans within two months it's worth applying for expedited, for the extra peace of mind. Back in my time I applied for expedited because I had travel plans within four months and there was a severe passport backlog. In the end it was a bit of a waste of money, but it gave me extra peace of mind.

Why can't one travel with his/her's old country passport until one gets US passport. At Port of Entry can we show Naturalization Certificate to enter America as we don't have green card any more.
After we get the US passport then we longer use the old passport.
Please advice.

 

[Huracan]

Why can't one travel with his/her's old country passport until one gets US passport. At Port of Entry can we show Naturalization Certificate to enter America as we don't have green card any more.
After we get the US passport then we longer use the old passport.
Please advice.

Naturalization certificate is not a valid document to get back into the US.

Check this page:

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_at.html

 

[sam99]

In my case, my son's PP took more than 6 weeks of processing time at Miami DOS.

I guess I was not thinking straight when I applied. Looking at all the timelines in this forum I thought I was sure to receive it in 3 weeks or so ... oh well another disorganized govt mess ....

Also, I applied in DE though I am resident of GA .... does that have anything to do with it? the postal clerk did say that should not be a problem.

 

[lukizen]

we already have passport

Naturalization certificate is not a valid document to get back into the US.

Check this page:

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_at.html

I guess this issue is quite tricky. You are right that one cannot travel with Naturalization Certificate but here the scenario is different. We have a different country passport here where as most Americans do not have any passport until they apply for one. We already have one to enter another country.
Example
If an american wants to visit say Costa Rica he must have a passport else that country would not let them come in. Where as in our case we already have a old passport.

 

[Huracan]

It is quite tricky indeed. However, most people advice in this board relies on a couple of things. A US citizen is required to enter the US as a US citizen, even if that person has dual citizen, i.e. more than one passport. However, it might be possible in practice to enter with a passport from another country and not identify oneself as US citizen. However, even the Visa Waiver Program requires some preregistration for the trip and it is more of a hassle than it used to be. Considering how quickly one can obtain a US passport if one has a true emergency it doesn't make a lot of sense to try to leave and enter the US without a US passport. Another completely different issue is that one can leave the US with the US passport, but then travel around Europe or Asia or wherever with the passport of the former country. There is nothing against it.

Please check this page about the requirement to use US passport to leave and enter the US:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

In particular where it says:
"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."

I found this other page with valid documents for US citizens to enter the country:

https://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/custom...3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

 

[lukizen]

Can we apply for passport in another Country at a US consulate

It is quite tricky indeed. However, most people advice in this board relies on a couple of things. A US citizen is required to enter the US as a US citizen, even if that person has dual citizen, i.e. more than one passport. However, it might be possible in practice to enter with a passport from another country and not identify oneself as US citizen. However, even the Visa Waiver Program requires some preregistration for the trip and it is more of a hassle than it used to be. Considering how quickly one can obtain a US passport if one has a true emergency it doesn't make a lot of sense to try to leave and enter the US without a US passport. Another completely different issue is that one can leave the US with the US passport, but then travel around Europe or Asia or wherever with the passport of the former country. There is nothing against it.

Please check this page about the requirement to use US passport to leave and enter the US:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

In particular where it says:
"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."

I found this other page with valid documents for US citizens to enter the country:

https://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/custom...3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

Thank you for excellent information you provided. Another scenario to consider is Can we apply for passport in another country at a US consulate?

 

[Huracan]

Thank you for excellent information you provided. Another scenario to consider is Can we apply for passport in another country at a US consulate?

I think that question has been asked before and some people thought it was possible. However, that would kind of violate the part about leaving the US without a US passport. Anyway, it would be possible if one drives up to Canada and doesn't need to show a US passport to a CBP officer when leaving the country, and then having to apply for a US passport at a US consulate. You would need to have the naturalization certificate with you to apply. As an example you can find information here:

http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/passport_first.asp

In general it is easier to apply for a US passport before leaving, even if there is this possibility of applying in a US consulate

 

[lukizen]

Apply US passport - leave - have it mailed

Another scenario is
Apply for US passport here in US then leave to another country with one's old passport and then have your US passport mailed to you by your friend.
Does this work?

 

[Huracan]

Who is going to give up before, you coming with new scenarios or me coming with more answers? By the way, this answer has been asked before and you are welcome to look for past answers. I believe there were some comments about the legality of mailing passports. My uneducated take on this is that it would be possible.

Again, the main problem is that if you need to leave the US by air the airline might refuse to let you board unless you can prove you were in the US legally. How would you prove this without your Green Card? However if you leave by land your scenario might be more realistic.