DCMark

From personal experience (3 weeks ago) I found out they do notice the lack of stamps! Returning to the US (from Amsterdam) on my US passport, the agent asked why I had visited Amsterdam. Not wanting any sort of search by customs (Amsterdam you know) I told him that I lived and worked there. After studying my passport he asked if I had a second passport. I then told him yes, I had a French one, and how did he know. He said he could tell since I did not have a residence permit stamp to live in the EU (should be somewhere in my US passport). He then let me on my way without asking to see my French passport.

So he did not care. But its easy to see how these guys can ask you question and catch potential liars.

DCMark

More personal experience: Upon leaving the US for Amsterdam, I tried to do online checking (United) with my US passport but was rejected and needed to use my French one. I was returning on the second leg of a round-trip ticket and they wanted to ensure I had the proper authority to remain in Europe. Of course, this is a United Airlines issue, and not a US Customs issue.

Jelly100

Thanks for your replies.
My move back to the UK, will be at least for a few months, if not permanent (due to family circumstances). I had booked a flight back before I knew when my Oath ceremony was, and I didnt expect it to be so quick. As it turns out, my oath ceremony is in the morning and my flight home is in the evening of the same day. Therefore no time to get passport.
I had read on another thread about someone taking their natz certificate to the US embassy to get the US passport while out of the country, and as I am in no rush to return to the US at the moment I would have plenty of time to do this.
I completely understand the need to re-enter on a US passport, I just was unsure about leaving on the UK one without the Greencard.


"According to 8 USC § 1185(b) it is "unlawful" for a US citizen to leave or attempt to leave the US without a valid US passport. There is some discussion in another forum, whether this is actually the law or merely a guideline! At any rate, since there is no immigration exit control when leaving the US, there doesn't seem to be much more in it than a slap on the wrist... if they ever put 2+2 together (which is highly unlikely). "

Thanks Ian for this.

I guess I will post on here after my trip and let people know what happens.
Fingers crossed will be ok.

thanks

Jelly

meauxna

Just to be pedantical, what you quoted there IS "the law". What we don't know is how it's enforced or what the penalties are. It is NOT a guideline though.

But you're right; you're going to do it anyway, what are they gonna do, make a Federal case out of it (and so what if they do, if you're not planning on returning etc). Safe travels, Jelly, I hope everything's ok back home.

Gingerert

Might I throw in my tuppence worth?

NOT ALL WOMEN CHANGE THEIR NAME WHEN THEY GET MARRIED. IT IS ILLOGICAL AND SEXIST TO ASSUME THEY DO.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...18#post7041118

(Not aimed at Sunflwrgrl. You speak the truth)


Okay... I feel better now. Carry on with the original topic.

annqldau

My favourite is the women who don't get married but then feel the need to name the baby in the man's surname as if there own is not good enough.

Can't see why they don't stick to the comedy sketch version of naming the child with the man's surname as a first name and their own as a last name if they have no intention of marrying?