visiting India before US passport arrives

[msgandhi]

Hi,

I have been approved for US citizenship and given a date for oath. However, I may have to tarvel to India in a week after the oath ceremony, and might not have enough time to get my new passport and visa to India. As I understand, at the oath ceremony, I will be given the certificate of naturalization and asked to surrender the greencard.

In this case, can I travel on my Indian passport, even though I am technically a US citizen at that time? When I am back, at the port of entry in US, would they let me in on my Indian passport and ceryificate of naturalization with no green card?

Thanks.

[acpdelhi]

Hi - You will become the US citizen the day you take the oath. You need to get your US passport before traveling to India. You cannot travel on your Indian passport.

Here are the options you have:

1. Apply for the expedited service to get US passport at the oath taking ceremony. Show them your travel plans and ask them you need your passport within two weeks. You need to pay extra for an expedited processing.

2. Postpone your oath taking ceremony. You can contact your local USCIS to postpone.

[msgandhi]

ok, even if I expeiate the US passport, I will also need visa/PIO/OCI, befoer I can actually travel? What is teh best next step for earlier travel? and how long is that process? Thanks

[acpdelhi]

I think it takes a day or two to get visa to India. Call your local Indian consulate to find out.

[bunny75]

Expedited US passport

Hi,

I was in the same situation as you when I had India travel plans closer to the date of my oath ceremony. Go to the passport information webpage on the DOS site and you can find out the closest Regional Passport agency in your area and take an appointment through the automated appt line. When you show the confirmed tickets or travel itinerary, you will be given the passport mostly the same day or within a day or two. You would not need to wait for two weeks even. The charges are the same as the expedited passport charges (97 + 60 = 157 for adults; and 142 for kids). You do need to show the confirmed travel itinerary and explain that you need an Indian visa to travel.

With one week between the trip, you might not have enough time to get a PIO card. I got a six month tourist visa and then when I came back from the trip, applied and got an OCI card in about 5 weeks processing time.

Another option is to write to your local USCIS to postpone your oath ceremony.