DenverDave

Hi All!

Quick question regarding passports. I hold dual citizenship (UK/US) and will be travelling to the UK in February - i'm a little confused as to which passport to use (?). I think it's US federal law for US citizens to exit/re-enter the US on a US passport, so I'm assuming I would leave on my US passport and then enter the UK on my British passport (I don't want to get held up with immigration on the UK side etc). On my return I'd leave the UK on my British passport and then re-enter the US on my US passport - is this OK?



Help/advice very much appreciated - cheers!
Dave

nettlebed

Yes.

MarylandNed

Yes - that's exactly what my wife (a UK/US citizen) did 3 times in the last 18 months. I also hold UK/US citizenship but I just used my US passport as my UK passport had expired. There is no requirement for UK citizens to use UK passports when entering/exiting the UK.

meauxna

I'm not sure where you show your UK passport to leave the UK. You will need to show your US passport when you check in for your flight; I think you need to stay American from then on.

nettlebed

You need to go through passport control when you go airside, where you can actually use either passport. The only place where the UK passport confers a real advantage is at UK immigration.

Jerseygirl

I do exactly what you have described...but I exit the UK using my US PP. A list of passengers including nationality etc is electronically sent to US authorities. If there is a discrepancy it could throw up a red flag...it may not but it could.

Bob

As long as the passport they use is valid for the purpose of the trip, so for a holiday using the US passport is fine, anything longer and it becomes a hassle.

candy wy.

when I went over in October I had ticket booked in name that was on UK passport
had a different name on USA passport when I checked in for the return flight I showed my UK passport I was then asked if I had a green card at which point showed USA passport had no problems with the different name ...
anyway point being have to show USA passport to show that you can enter USA..

mwdake

I thought when you return and go through US Immigration they look for an Entry/Exit stamp from where you have been. If they don't see a UK entry stamp in your US passport and they realize you used your UK passport to get in to the UK then I think they frown on that and may tell you off. I am not sure what they can do about it; but, I think they like it better when you are a US citizen and you use your US passport coming and going.

Bob

They don't care and it's no concern of theirs.

To the US and its authorities, you have to act as a US citizen but else where you don't, but you can't ask the US to protect you if you get into trouble with the other countries you hold citizenships with.

Jerseygirl

I've been through US imm. scores of times...never had a problem.

DenverDave

Thanks all - appreciated!!!

I'll leave on my US and then enter the UK on my UK passport so I can skip the lines at immigration - will then leave the UK on my US passport.

Have a great week - thanks again!!!!
Dave

ian-mstm

They can think what they like... it's not something they have control over. I suggest that if an officer "tells you off" you report him to his supervisor.


Except for entering the US using your US passport, you are not obligated to use your US passport at all. They know it... and now, so do you! As I say... they can think what they like.

Ian

MarylandNed

As I said, my wife has done this 3 times in the last 18 months and had no problem at all.

I just asked her what she did. She said she showed her US passport when leaving the US, showed her UK passport when entering the UK, showed her US passport when leaving the UK (she said she showed her UK passport first but they asked questions when she didn't have an ESTA so she then showed her US passport), and finally showed her US passport when entering the US. No foreign stamp in the US passport - no problem.

I went with her on one of these trips. I only showed my US passport throughout as my UK passport had expired.

ldyinlv

Why not use your US passport period?