All steps identical to Fast Track through Phase 4. Passport issued via LA Consulate. Adds ~90 days to timeline.
What happens if each stage hits its maximum duration, blockers aren't resolved quickly, and no Prague trip is taken.
| Stage | ⚡ Fast Track | 📋 Standard | 🐢 Slow / Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document prep complete | Aug 2026 | Aug 2026 | Sep–Oct 2026 |
| LA Consulate submission | Sep 2026 | Sep 2026 | Oct–Nov 2026 |
| Forwarded to Ministry | Oct 2026 | Oct 2026 | Nov–Dec 2026 |
| Ministry review period | 60–90 days (optimistic) | 90–120 days | 120 days (full) |
| Citizenship cert received | Jan–Feb 2027 | Feb 2027 | Apr–May 2027 |
| IS EO + Brno wait | 30 days (IS EO only) | 30–90 days | 60–90 days |
| Passport application | Feb–Mar 2027 (Prague) | Apr–May 2027 (LA) | Jun–Jul 2027 (LA) |
| Passport processing time | 5 days (fast) · 1 day (express) | 120 days (LA Consulate) | 120 days (LA Consulate) |
| Passport in hand | Mar–Apr 2027 | Aug–Sep 2027 | Oct–Nov 2027 |
| Total time (submit → passport) | ~6–7 months | ~11–12 months | ~12–14 months |
| Requires Prague trip | ✅ Yes (~1 week) | No | No |
| Prague trip cost (est.) | $600–$900 flight + ~$400 expenses | N/A | N/A |
| Time saved vs. Slow | +18–24 months faster | +2–4 months faster | Baseline |
The single biggest lever is where you pick up your passport.
LA Consulate takes 120 days to process a passport. Czech Republic does it in 5 days (fast) or 1 day (express). A week-long trip to Prague — once you have your citizenship certificate — saves 3–4 months of waiting. At current airfare monitoring ($700 target, $600 "ACT NOW"), the trip costs ~$1,000 total. The time value alone makes it the obvious call. Vienna routing is also worth checking — often cheaper fares and a direct connection to your ancestry.