Can I leave country after oath taking before US passport arrives with Indian passport

[thasildar]

My appt for oath ceremony is on Dec 7th. I have a business travel need to travel between Dec 15 and 22nd. Can I travel on Indian passport and return to US with naturalization certificate only without a US passport on hand? Appreciate a fast response on this......thanks

[PraetorianXI]

Yes, you can.

[thasildar]

Thanks a lot for the response. I figure leaving the country with just Indian passport and that visiting country's visa is not a problem. Leaving that country may be an issue if the airline authorities ask for US Visa or green card. If I show naturalization certificate, would that mean being a US citizen, I should be traveling with US passport, not Indian. My concern if whether they will detain me at the airport while returning.

Even if I leave, would entering US at the border be an issue? Please advise.

[PraetorianXI]

Show your Green Card. or NC, either way, you have the right to enter, they will understand about the passport, considering it is taking several months to get one.

[indianium]

Dear PraetorianXI, I may be in the same boat in the future so I have a question to clarify from you.
Is it not the person become US citizen after oath and need US passport to travel?
In my opinion, the person is not Indian citizen and cannot use Indian passport after acquiring US citizenship to travel overseas.
Now a days it takes just less than a week to get US passport (expedite process) and a day to get Indian visa in person from Indian consulate in case of such an urgency to travel India.
Traveling without proper passport may not be a good idea, as you have to go through Indian immigration officer but also US immigration officer at POE in US.

*This is not a legal advice. Please consult your immigration attorney for legal advice.

[PraetorianXI]

I am not aware of current passports processing times, but 4 months ago, it was up to 12 weeks, and 4 weeks with expedited.

As far as using passport from home country or not, if a person adquires US citizenship, unless this person's other citizenship is lost, then he/she could use that other citizenship.

In lieu of the passport, the NC would serve as proof of status. The person could even get a passport through the US embassy in the country he/she is traveling to.

But if it is taking a week, then go ahead and get one expedited... I am not advising for him to leave without an US passport, but I think it is possible.

[knowledgeable]

Per Indian laws ...

... one would automatically lose Indian citizenship if the person acquires the same of another country.

India does not recognize dual citizenship.

There's a totally separate process of getting Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI).

However, that requires an US passport (from an US citizenship)

The US naturalization certificate is given once the oath is taken, thereby making a person an US citizen. At this very moment this person now is NOT a citizen of India anymore legally.


Take care.

[thasildar]

Checked with Pasport office....Cannot enter country without US passport

I called the US passport agency to get an in-person appt for potential same day issue of passport in one of the 13 centers all over the country.......While doing so, I asked this question and the lady on the line checked with her supervisor and said that one can the country but cannot enter without US passport........Always have the option of trying to get a passport in the foreign country........but it may take as much time any way. So, going to really expedite the passport process.

Thanks for your replies.

[knowledgeable]

Caution

Read my previous response. Once you become an United States citizen upon taking the oath you cannot fly to India without a proper US passport and appropriate Indian visitor visa / PIO / OCI.

Get an appointment for the US passport application for the next day after your oath ceremony. Prepare your application and photos for the US passport and keep everything ready. Apply for expedited processing and send via Express Mail.

Scan your naturalization certificate and make a copy for your records.


You can get an Indian visitor visa within hours if you go to CGI.


Good luck.