Hi all,
I am new to the forum. Already read through a lot of threads and found helpful advice, thanks to all.
Nevertheless I want to ask a question as I am in some kind of predicament here:
My Interview is scheduled for 6/9/2010 at the Durham DO. I will have to fly to Europe for a business trip on June 30th, returning July 13th. This trip has been planned long ago and I absolutely cannot postpone it. So this trip will most likely interfere with the naturalization process as I expect to get an oath appointment sometime mid/ end June and then there won't be enough time to get a US passport on time before the trip.
The way I see it I have the following options now (based on the assumption of the oath ceremony taking place mid/ end June):
1.) Take the interview and after (hopefully) successful completion ask the officer to schedule the oath some time after July 13th (is that even possible? Is the person doing my interview even involved in determining the date of the oath? Or can I contact some other person while there at their offices?)
2.) Take the interview, wait for the oath letter and then contact them and postpone the oath date
3.) Take the interview, take the oath, apply for a passport immediately and hope and pray that the passport will arrive on time before June 30th. If it doesn't, cancel the trip - bad luck
4.) Take the interview, take the oath, apply for a passport immediately and if it doesn't arrive on time travel with the foreign passport (I am a German citizen and Germany does allow dual citizenship) and try reentry with German passport and naturalization certificate, explaining that my passport hasn't arrived yet.
I personally prefer options 1 and 2 as 3 and 4 are too risky for my liking. I know this has been discussed in other threads before too but I would still like to hear if someone has a valuable opinion...
Another question I have: How does traveling abroad between interview and oath or during the whole application process in general affect my application? Anybody with experiences?
Sent N-400: 01/25/2010
cashed check: 01/27/2010
NOA: 02/02/2010
FP notice: 02/18/2010
FP date: 03/03/2010
IL: 05/10/2010
ID: 06/09/2010 (scheduled)