Travel after test and interview?

C

cookiebeast

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

So my test and interview is next Wednesday, (4/11/2012) and my father just suddenly pass away.

My family told me to go for my interview and leave to come home (Southeast Asia) right after. It takes 2 days to get home anyways.

Big question is, after interview, would I be able to travel? I plan to be in Asia for 10 days only. I would need the green card indefinitely to return.

Another question: If I reschedule, would I be able to reschedule as the timeline is so tight. It's already Friday and I notice I need to notify them in letter.

Thanks in advance.
 
depends on how long it takes in your local office and how long are you ready to wait ?
Assuming the interview office does the oath the same day and issues the Citizenship Certificate, you will need a US passport and then a Visa from your home country.
That stuff can take some time.

I had a similar situation during my N400. I was able to go up to the Interview office and speak to the head of the Citizenship Dept.
He was nice enough to pull my file and asked me when do I want to reappear. I told him that I can come back in a month.
He wrote it on the file and my IL and I was able to get the interview done 1 month later.

So your best bet is to go to the interview office and speak to an officer there.
 
cookiebeast said:
Hi,

So my test and interview is next Wednesday, (4/11/2012) and my father just suddenly pass away.

My family told me to go for my interview and leave to come home (Southeast Asia) right after. It takes 2 days to get home anyways.

Big question is, after interview, would I be able to travel? I plan to be in Asia for 10 days only. I would need the green card indefinitely to return.

Another question: If I reschedule, would I be able to reschedule as the timeline is so tight. It's already Friday and I notice I need to notify them in letter.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You are allowed to travel abroad between the naturalization interview and the naturalization oath. During that period you remain an LPR, keep your green card and you can re-enter the U.S. using your green card.
You have to be careful with extended trips (e.g. a trip lasting several months) after the interview and before the oath to make sure that you don't break the continuous residency requirement for naturalization (which has to be satisfied all the way to the moment of the naturalization oath), but a trip of of 10-14 days will certainly not be a problem.


If the DO where you will have the naturalization interview administers same-day naturalization oaths, then, assuming your interview goes well, you'll take the naturalization oath, receive the naturalization certificate and become a U.S. citizen on the day of the interview.
After you become a U.S. citizen, you'll surrender your green card and you'll need to get a U.S. passport before travelling abroad. In case of emergency travel needs, you can get a U.S. passport very quickly (on the same day you apply for it if necessary) at a U.S. passport agency. See http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html for details.
 
Thanks

Thanks, took the advice not to reschedule. I searched across the forum and from people's experiences, rescheduling can take additional 3-4 months.

I am taking a 10 day trip. I don't think my office provides same oath day. I am a DC resident but the office is in Fairfax, VA, which do not offer same day oaths to DC residents.

Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated!
 
Don't reschedule the interview, reschedule the oath. If they give you "recommended for approval" at the end of the interview, ask for your oath date to be after the end of your upcoming trip.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top