Can US citizens use a foreign passport to travel?

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't really need a US passport to leave and they have to let me back in if I'm a US citizen...

will this cause any problems though?

The State Department's web site says:

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country.

Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship."

"Most", but not all?

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I don't really need a US passport to leave and they have to let me back in if I'm a US citizen...

will this cause any problems though?

The State Department's web site says:

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country.

Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship."

"Most", but not all?

How will you prove your an USC without your US passport?

That "most" describes people like the military for instance, they do not need a passport to enter/leave the US, their military ID works. I'm sure there are other exceptions, and you would know if you fell under that category I would think.

I would imagine, with the new rules in place, if you are an USC, and try to enter without your US passport, your going to find it very difficult to do so.

[J&D 0]

I don't really need a US passport to leave and they have to let me back in if I'm a US citizen...

will this cause any problems though?

The State Department's web site says:

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country.

Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship."

"Most", but not all?

You have to use a US passport to re-enter the US when you're a US citizen. I would think the State Department's web site means 'most' = You, I and all others while the remainder that may not need a US passport are members of the CIA, The President, Hilary, my mom who doesn;t believe in silly things like passports and other such VIP's.

[Old Dominion 26]

You'll need the passport. It will get you on the overseas flight without a hassle, it will get you through foreign immigration checkpoints, it will provide official ID while you are overseas (try getting a hotel room or exchanging money or cashing a travelers check without one) and make your re-entry a smooth one.

Edited July 3, 2009 by Old Dominion

[Allie and Nigel 2]

Yes, i travel on my Canadian passport only, and come home only on my Yankie passport...hehe.

[jsnearline 2]

If you try to enter the US on a foreign passport and they discover you are a US citizen, you can face a steep fine at the minimum. A friend of mine's daughter made this mistake using her UK passport to enter the US and she was fined because she wasn't carrying her US passport.

[payxibka 10,048]

I don't really need a US passport to leave and they have to let me back in if I'm a US citizen...

will this cause any problems though?

The State Department's web site says:

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country.

Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship."

"Most", but not all?

maybe this was written before the new re-entry requirements went into effect for coming back from Canada, Mexico, etc when a passport was not required

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

An interesting point about the re-entry requirements for Canada, Mexico, Bremuda, etc.....

As, yes, a passport is not necessarily required in all cases for land and sea travel between these countries to/from the USA...

For example, my USC husband doesn't have any passports (not even a US one...lol)...He just travels with a US birth certificate and an EDL/Enhanced Driver's License when he travels with me by land to Canada and back to the USA and have no problems crossing the border.

I on the other hand travel with my....Canadian Passport, US Green Card, and Non-Enhanced Driver's License when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA, and for the most part have few problems crossing the border.

When I become a US Citizen though...I plan to travel with my US Passport Card, EDL/Enhanced Driver's License, and Canadian Passport when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA. Lol...I'll just present all 3 documents at the same time on both sides of the border (lol..there's no rule against this, after all)...and let them decide which travel documents that they want to process...I don't care...I have nothing to hide....And hopefully I won't have any problems crossing the border..."Better safe than sorry", by presenting all the travel documents that I will have, right?

Ant

I don't really need a US passport to leave and they have to let me back in if I'm a US citizen...

will this cause any problems though?

The State Department's web site says:

"Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country.

Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship."

"Most", but not all?

maybe this was written before the new re-entry requirements went into effect for coming back from Canada, Mexico, etc when a passport was not required

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD

[Stella08 0]

Hi Everyone,

An interesting point about the re-entry requirements for Canada, Mexico, Bremuda, etc.....

As, yes, a passport is not necessarily required in all cases for land and sea travel between these countries to/from the USA...

For example, my USC husband doesn't have any passports (not even a US one...lol)...He just travels with a US birth certificate and an EDL/Enhanced Driver's License when he travels with me by land to Canada and back to the USA and have no problems crossing the border.

I on the other hand travel with my....Canadian Passport, US Green Card, and Non-Enhanced Driver's License when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA, and for the most part have few problems crossing the border.

When I become a US Citizen though...I plan to travel with my US Passport Card, EDL/Enhanced Driver's License, and Canadian Passport when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA. Lol...I'll just present all 3 documents at the same time on both sides of the border (lol..there's no rule against this, after all)...and let them decide which travel documents that they want to process...I don't care...I have nothing to hide....And hopefully I won't have any problems crossing the border..."Better safe than sorry", by presenting all the travel documents that I will have, right?

Ant

Since June 1st the law has changed and these documents are not sufficient anymore:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL

ALL PERSONS traveling by land and sea outside of the United States are required to present a passport book/card, or other valid travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States.

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website:

Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport book, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document when entering the United States.

Please Note: Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate (or other form of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate.). The original birth certificate or a copy may be used. See the Department of Homeland Security's Ready, Set.. Go! for more information on the changing travel requirements.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory

And as a U.S. citizen, you should not present your foreign passport to U.S. immigration officer, but only show them your U.S. passport (book or card)

[antda 13]

Hi Stella08 and Everyone,

Lol....a EDL/Enhanced Driver's License is a WHTI-compliant document...(hence, my USC husband got one of those for land travel between the USA and Canada...)

http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/#0

Land/Sea Travel

Beginning June 1, 2009

• U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry are required to have documents that comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), most commonly a U.S. passport, a passport card, a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST, or an enhanced driver's license. See the complete list of WHTI-compliant documents.

And he did travel with that before and after June 1st...No problems... (and hopefully no problems in the future either)

As for me..I didn't say I wasn't going to show my US Passport Card and EDL/Enhanced Driver's License when I get such when I get US Citizenship and actually have those travel documents with me. Rather, I would show those documents and more....

I just like to have all my bases covered, and show my US Passport Card and EDL/Enhanced Driver's License, along with my Canadian Passport too, especially more to so explain as to why I went to back "home" to Canada for a trip, and as to why I'm "dual American and Canadian"...(I'm not going to lie about such either)

Again, let them figure out which travel documents they want to process...I'll be happy to show them all that I have....I'm not hiding anything...I'm not telling any lies....

"Better safe than sorry...."....

Ant

Hi Everyone,

An interesting point about the re-entry requirements for Canada, Mexico, Bremuda, etc.....

As, yes, a passport is not necessarily required in all cases for land and sea travel between these countries to/from the USA...

For example, my USC husband doesn't have any passports (not even a US one...lol)...He just travels with a US birth certificate and an EDL/Enhanced Driver's License when he travels with me by land to Canada and back to the USA and have no problems crossing the border.

I on the other hand travel with my....Canadian Passport, US Green Card, and Non-Enhanced Driver's License when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA, and for the most part have few problems crossing the border.

When I become a US Citizen though...I plan to travel with my US Passport Card, EDL/Enhanced Driver's License, and Canadian Passport when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA. Lol...I'll just present all 3 documents at the same time on both sides of the border (lol..there's no rule against this, after all)...and let them decide which travel documents that they want to process...I don't care...I have nothing to hide....And hopefully I won't have any problems crossing the border..."Better safe than sorry", by presenting all the travel documents that I will have, right?

Ant

Since June 1st the law has changed and these documents are not sufficient anymore:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

LAND AND SEA TRAVEL

ALL PERSONS traveling by land and sea outside of the United States are required to present a passport book/card, or other valid travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States.

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security's website:

Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport book, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document when entering the United States.

Please Note: Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate (or other form of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate.). The original birth certificate or a copy may be used. See the Department of Homeland Security's Ready, Set.. Go! for more information on the changing travel requirements.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory

And as a U.S. citizen, you should not present your foreign passport to U.S. immigration officer, but only show them your U.S. passport (book or card)

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD

[Stella08 0]

I have no idea what an enhanced driver's license is... I wonder if that's the same thing as the secure driver's license which they issue in Virginia now (they verify your citizenship when you apply). But if the enhanced driver's license meets the criteria, then there should be a need to carry a birth certificate around, right?

And I agree: I wouldn't lie about anything either. Lying is never a good idea.

[antda 13]

Hi Stella08 and Everyone,

Here is more information about what an Enhanced Driver's License is:

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_edl.html

Enhanced Driver's License – This is a driver’s license that can also be used as a cross-border travel document to enter the U.S. by land and sea. It denotes both identity and citizenship, per the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The following states are issuing this type of WHTI-compliant document: Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington.

For information on costs, validity and issuing agencies, visit the appropriate state government website.

Limitations: Not valid for international air travel

And here is how they look like: http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/EDL_map.html

Here in NYS they cost about $30 or so, is valid for 8 years, and it only takes 2 weeks to get in the mail....Much less expensive and quicker to get than a US Passport.....

Lol...as for my USC husband's birth certificate, he carries that around anyways and has used it before for travelling, so it doesn't make a difference for him as to whether or not he brings it with him everywhere, regardless of situation. And if he loses such (though he's never lost such over the years...lol...), he can get a replacement quickly, within a few days or so at the local town clerk's office, and at a very low cost too ($10-15, I think).

The last time we went over the border to Canada though, my husband decided to try an experiment....

He only showed his NYS EDL, and didn't show his US birth certificate (since US birth certificates can't be used for travel purposes for citizens over sixteen years old anyways, according to the new June 1 rules)

And needless to say, he had no problems on both sides of the border to and from the US/Canada, just showing his EDL.

So yes, in that instance, showing an EDL is sufficient enough for a US Citizen travelling by land or sea.

But a USC having a US birth certificate is good to have too, just in case they inquire further about US citizenship.

As for me...when I become a US Citizen, I can't show them my US Naturalization certificate to prove US Citizenship, as I cannot carry around with me and it is difficult and expensive to replace (plus they don't accept that anyways for travel purposes).

So hence, I have to apply for a US Passport Card (to be used in lieu of a US Birth Certificate to show US Citizenship) and for convenient's sake, will apply for and travel with an EDL/Enhanced driver's license too.

I will show my valid US Passport Card, valid NYS EDL, and valid Canadian Passport when travelling to and from US/Canada.

As for our future baby/child...They can travel with their US Birth Certificate only, since they are under sixteen. We'll probably get an EDL (yes, they have EDL's for children too...funny...) for them just in case. Not sure about getting them a US passport card as well...We'll have to look further into that....

Therefore for our future US/Canada land trips:

D= US Birth Certificate ($35-45, forever), NYS EDL Card ($30, 8 years)

Ant=US Passport Card ($20, 10 years), NYS EDL Card ($30, 8 years), Canadian Passport ($100, 5 years)

Baby=US Birth Certificate, NYS EDL Card ($35-45, forever), and maybe a US Passport Card too ($10-20, 5 years)

Lol...let the border guards figure this one out.....

Ant

I have no idea what an enhanced driver's license is... I wonder if that's the same thing as the secure driver's license which they issue in Virginia now (they verify your citizenship when you apply). But if the enhanced driver's license meets the criteria, then there should be a need to carry a birth certificate around, right?

And I agree: I wouldn't lie about anything either. Lying is never a good idea.

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD

[antda 13]

Oops...I meant...(after doing a bit more research online...)

Therefore for our future US/Canada land trips:

D= US Birth Certificate ($30, forever), NYS EDL Card ($30, 8 years)

Ant = US Passport Card ($45, 10 years), NYS EDL Card ($30, 8 years), Canadian Passport ($100, 5 years)

Baby= US Birth Certificate ($30, forever), NYS EDL Card ($30, 4-8 years), and maybe a US Passport Card ($35, 5 years)

Ant

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD

[metals95 1]

Oops...I meant...(after doing a bit more research online...)

Therefore for our future US/Canada land trips:

D= US Birth Certificate ($30, forever), NYS EDL Card ($30, 8 years)

Ant = US Passport Card ($45, 10 years), NYS EDL Card ($30, 8 years), Canadian Passport ($100, 5 years)

Baby= US Birth Certificate ($30, forever), NYS EDL Card ($30, 4-8 years), and maybe a US Passport Card ($35, 5 years)

Ant

My wife and I are worried about how our 2 month old US/Canadian baby is going to do on his Nexus Card interview this month. Please let us know how well your baby does on his/her driving test to get the EDL.

[antda 13]

Hi Metals95,

Congratulations on your new US/Canadian baby! By the way, do they have both US and Canadian dual immigration status too?

For example, did they apply for a Canadian Citizenship Card, and Canadian passport for their Canadian status as well?

Hmmm....Interesting to know too, that babies can get Nexus Cards, as well...I wonder how they do that, especially more so that getting nexus cards requires an interview? What types of questions do they ask a baby during such an interview?....

And if you do pursue that for your baby, yes, do let us know as to how that goes too.

Oh and if you live in a state that issues EDLs for children, maybe you can get that for your baby too?

As for our baby getting an EDL....lol...no driver's test needed for children!..Just pay the fee, sign the forms (well, the parents sign those)..and voila....A government issued document, good for land border travelling (especially to Canada)!

For EDL's in NYS, a person can either get: a) one that includes a NYS driver's license (like the one my husband has), or b ) one that is an only an NYS ID card, for those who don't drive and/or are under-aged.

-Basically, it's $30 for an EDL, on top of the card fee for a NYS driver's license or NYS ID card.

Here is what NYS DMV says about children getting EDLs.....

Can a child under age 16 or a person with a disability get an EDL?

Yes. A parent can show his or her proofs that are required for an EDL, complete form MV-45, and sign the name of the child if the child is too young to sign. An official of a government facility or a government-approved facility that represents a person with a disability can complete form MV-45A and sign the applications and documents for the person with a disability.

Funny, the EDL looks exactly like a regular driver's license or ID card, except for the word "enhanced", a small American flag in the corner, and the machine-readable barcode on it.

So yes, I do find it a bit odd for a baby/child to have an EDL that looks likes a driver's license!....

Hmmm...I wonder what would happen if they were ever asked about such....

Hence, I haven't ruled out the US Passport Card for them either...(even though it's easier to deal with the DMV than with the passport office)....

Ant

My wife and I are worried about how our 2 month old US/Canadian baby is going to do on his Nexus Card interview this month. Please let us know how well your baby does on his/her driving test to get the EDL.