Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,153
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
Well, I'm part of a family of 6 US citizens and that's the first I've ever heard of it. In the past few years, various members of the family have traveled overseas (Europe, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and New Zealand). We've never had a single US passport stamped when entering the US and I just double-checked all US passports (prior and current) to make sure. Maybe it happens sometimes but it certainly can't be the norm given that 6 USC's haven't had a single US stamp in their US passports during countless trips into the US over the past 8 years!
We're also Canadian citizens and have never had Canada stamp any of our Canadian passports (prior or current). We're also UK citizens and have never had the UK stamp any of our UK passports (prior or current).
I'd be annoyed if my passport's visa pages were being used up unnecessarily. Citizens don't need visas to enter their own country.
We're also Canadian citizens and have never had Canada stamp any of our Canadian passports (prior or current). We're also UK citizens and have never had the UK stamp any of our UK passports (prior or current).
I'd be annoyed if my passport's visa pages were being used up unnecessarily. Citizens don't need visas to enter their own country.
I became a US citizen in 1998 and place of birth says England in my passport. Are you a US citizen by birth?
We flew to Canada this year (Winnipeg) and I just checked and there is no re-entry stamp (hooray!) but this is the first time we traveled under the Global Entry program plus we went through US Immigration in Winnipeg arriving at a domestic terminal in Denver.
#32
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
Interesting. I have stamps entering at Houston, Chicago, New York etc.
I became a US citizen in 1998 and place of birth says England in my passport. Are you a US citizen by birth?
We flew to Canada this year (Winnipeg) and I just checked and there is no re-entry stamp (hooray!) but this is the first time we traveled under the Global Entry program plus we went through US Immigration in Winnipeg arriving at a domestic terminal in Denver.
I became a US citizen in 1998 and place of birth says England in my passport. Are you a US citizen by birth?
We flew to Canada this year (Winnipeg) and I just checked and there is no re-entry stamp (hooray!) but this is the first time we traveled under the Global Entry program plus we went through US Immigration in Winnipeg arriving at a domestic terminal in Denver.
#34
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
It's clearly not a requirement to place a US stamp in a US passport. Over the last 8 years since becoming USC's, my family members and I have arrived at various US airports on international flights. These include LAX, JFK, Newark, Dulles (Washington DC), BWI (near Baltimore), Philadelphia and Charlotte. Not a single US stamp is in any of our US passports.
#35
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
As far as I can recall, my USC wife has always had her US passport stamped by CBP when entering by air but not by land from Canada, but then I didn't get my passport stamped when returning from Canada by land either; CBP didn't look at my passport, just my GC.
We recently holidayed in Bermuda, which has US pre-clearance. I think she did get her passport stamped there too.
We recently holidayed in Bermuda, which has US pre-clearance. I think she did get her passport stamped there too.
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
As far as I can recall, my USC wife has always had her US passport stamped by CBP when entering by air but not by land from Canada, but then I didn't get my passport stamped when returning from Canada by land either; CBP didn't look at my passport, just my GC.
We recently holidayed in Bermuda, which has US pre-clearance. I think she did get her passport stamped there too.
We recently holidayed in Bermuda, which has US pre-clearance. I think she did get her passport stamped there too.
What could be the purpose of a US stamp in a US passport anyway?
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 860
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
There is NO requirement to do this unless you have CIMTs to declare. A 'standard' UKC visiting the US for less than 90 days need only to fill in the form before going through immigration.
Therefore, the Visa Waiver Program is just that - a waiver for a visa - and NOT a visa in itself.
Therefore, the Visa Waiver Program is just that - a waiver for a visa - and NOT a visa in itself.
If it looks like a visa, swims like a visa, quacks like a visa...
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
The difference between the VWP and ESTA is just a technicality. Fact is, a 'standard' UKC doing the 'standard' thing (travel UK->US) needs to fill in an application, pay a fee, be subject to scrutity prior to travel, and receive an (electronic) endorsement.
If it looks like a visa, swims like a visa, quacks like a visa...
If it looks like a visa, swims like a visa, quacks like a visa...
#39
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,153
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
Make you pay for more visa pages?
I just checked with a good friend and old colleague who I know has come back in through the same airports as I used to on our many business trips. He says that he has never had his passport stamped when coming back into the country.
I wonder if I should start looking out for the "black helicopters" as I must be on some terrorist watch-list or something.
note to NSA who are probably reading this - the above is just a joke - honestly
I just checked with a good friend and old colleague who I know has come back in through the same airports as I used to on our many business trips. He says that he has never had his passport stamped when coming back into the country.
I wonder if I should start looking out for the "black helicopters" as I must be on some terrorist watch-list or something.
note to NSA who are probably reading this - the above is just a joke - honestly
#40
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
I'm not sure I follow that. A UKC is obliged to use ESTA regardless of whether they have a CIMT to declare or not, so I'm not sure what you're referring to here? I know I must have mis-understood you, but just not sure how?
#41
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
Make you pay for more visa pages?
I just checked with a good friend and old colleague who I know has come back in through the same airports as I used to on our many business trips. He says that he has never had his passport stamped when coming back into the country.
I wonder if I should start looking out for the "black helicopters" as I must be on some terrorist watch-list or something.
note to NSA who are probably reading this - the above is just a joke - honestly
I just checked with a good friend and old colleague who I know has come back in through the same airports as I used to on our many business trips. He says that he has never had his passport stamped when coming back into the country.
I wonder if I should start looking out for the "black helicopters" as I must be on some terrorist watch-list or something.
note to NSA who are probably reading this - the above is just a joke - honestly
#42
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
I travel on a US passport. When returning, I ASK for an entry stamp and it is provided no problem.
My dual national brother-in-law travels with both passports. He uses the US passport for airline purposes, but presents BOTH at the POE in the UK.
A long time ago, the UK would place in endorsement in the US passports of dual nationals noting their right of abode in the UK as British Subjects. I have not seen that in quite a while.
BTW, before 1986, the US required visitor visas from UK nationals while the UK did not require them from US nationals. In an effort to approach reciprocity, UK nationals would be issued indefinite validity visas good for multiple entries. [Those visas were later amended to be valid for 10 years and all have now expired].
Under US law a "visa" is a document issued by a CONSULAR OFFICER of the US State Department. Even with ESTA, the "visa" requirement does not exist. Notionally speaking, I would venture it is considered part of the inspection process. Note that ESTA is done on-line, no personal appearance and the fee is nominal.
My dual national brother-in-law travels with both passports. He uses the US passport for airline purposes, but presents BOTH at the POE in the UK.
A long time ago, the UK would place in endorsement in the US passports of dual nationals noting their right of abode in the UK as British Subjects. I have not seen that in quite a while.
BTW, before 1986, the US required visitor visas from UK nationals while the UK did not require them from US nationals. In an effort to approach reciprocity, UK nationals would be issued indefinite validity visas good for multiple entries. [Those visas were later amended to be valid for 10 years and all have now expired].
Under US law a "visa" is a document issued by a CONSULAR OFFICER of the US State Department. Even with ESTA, the "visa" requirement does not exist. Notionally speaking, I would venture it is considered part of the inspection process. Note that ESTA is done on-line, no personal appearance and the fee is nominal.
#43
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
I don't understand that. A British Citizen is different to a British Subject. Why would the UKBA place an endorsement that the UKC was something they are not (ie, a 'Subject' rather than a 'Citizen').
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 860
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
VWP/ESTA is definitely not a visa under US law. But under common sense?
The British 'right of abode' certificates still exist. They are double the price of a passport, so I guess not many dual-national Brits would choose to go this route.
AFAIK, you only really need the certificate if you're an 'historical' non-British citizen with right of abode status in the UK. Presumably no people in that status are "manufactured" anymore, so you'd encounter the certificate less and less? A good question for JAJ.
The British 'right of abode' certificates still exist. They are double the price of a passport, so I guess not many dual-national Brits would choose to go this route.
AFAIK, you only really need the certificate if you're an 'historical' non-British citizen with right of abode status in the UK. Presumably no people in that status are "manufactured" anymore, so you'd encounter the certificate less and less? A good question for JAJ.
Last edited by FlyingDutchman6666; Jul 2nd 2014 at 6:57 pm.
#45
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 860
Re: Dual Citizen, which passport do I show
BTW, before 1986, the US required visitor visas from UK nationals while the UK did not require them from US nationals. In an effort to approach reciprocity, UK nationals would be issued indefinite validity visas good for multiple entries. [Those visas were later amended to be valid for 10 years and all have now expired].