Can I travel with my native country's passport after oath?

[v333k 59]

BECAUSE if you only show the US passport how do they know you HAVE the country you are travelling to's passport/visa?

I am a dual citizen. I KNOW you need to show a visa or passport for the country you are travelling TO when you are boarding the plane NOT in the country you are arriving in as border control starts when you board the plane as you need a visa or passport BEFORE you board the plane.

I have never needed to show my Australian passport when leaving Australia, I used my UK passport to leave Aus, I wasn't checked when I arrived in the UK for a visa, just for customs. I left the UK on the UK passport only because I was using it to enter the US and that's where the VWP was registered. Then I then showed my Aussie passport when leaving the US because I was going to Australia they needed PROOF that I was Australian and had an Australian visa. I wrote this above... didn't you read the posts above?

So, because it was mentioned on the State website, and because other people said you NEED to show the US passport when leaving the US then I can only assume you need to show both (if visiting a country you have a passport to) because how else do they know you have a visa or a passport to go there? And they WILL NOT let you board the plane without that proof.

Depends on your destination. If the visiting country required a pre-stamped visa in your passport then that will be true... however, many countries either have agreements with the US for USC to visit less than 30/45/60 or whichever number of days without a visa required. Also, other countries provide USC visa stamps right then and there in the visiting country's POE so this doesn't quite hold truth. But very true that if the visiting country requires a visa then a visa/passport needs to be shown to be able to board the plane.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Very Very true.... do not mix and match passport as if they are credit cards.....

I disagree. I would think it was true if it wasn't for my issue at the US border when they said I couldn't board without an Aussie visa and then that I should have left the US on the Aussie passport because that's where I was headed... I asked about the I-94 and she said as long as they had that I didn't need to show my UK passport (which is what I entered on). That's why I showed the UK passport, it made sense to leave on what I entered with, to prove I left. She said that wasn't true and that I leave on the passport that carries the visa or "ability" to enter the country I'm travelling to BUT that I make sure that I hand over any I-94's.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[NickD 203]

I disagree. I would think it was true if it wasn't for my issue at the US border when they said I couldn't board without an Aussie visa and then that I should have left the US on the Aussie passport because that's where I was headed... I asked about the I-94 and she said as long as they had that I didn't need to show my UK passport (which is what I entered on). That's why I showed the UK passport, it made sense to leave on what I entered with, to prove I left. She said that wasn't true and that I leave on the passport that carries the visa or "ability" to enter the country I'm travelling to BUT that I make sure that I hand over any I-94's.

Sounds like a self appointed law maker to me, meet way too many of those. Actually you can fly to practically any airport in the world, big question is, after you get there, can you enter that country?

Got to thinking about the difference between a US passport and a ten year green card, both expire in ten years. Wonder if that is a coincidence. But if your passport expires, only privilege you lose is traveling outside of the USA. Penalties are far greater with an expired green card. But either way, the government gets the fee for a piece of paper and every ten years.

[TheBears 9]

I disagree. I would think it was true if it wasn't for my issue at the US border when they said I couldn't board without an Aussie visa and then that I should have left the US on the Aussie passport because that's where I was headed... I asked about the I-94 and she said as long as they had that I didn't need to show my UK passport (which is what I entered on). That's why I showed the UK passport, it made sense to leave on what I entered with, to prove I left. She said that wasn't true and that I leave on the passport that carries the visa or "ability" to enter the country I'm travelling to BUT that I make sure that I hand over any I-94's.

I'm wondering if you didn't experience a fluke. When I went to Australia, I wasn't questioned at all if I had a tourist visa or not. Booking the ticket, there was no information bubble saying I might even need a tourist visa. I found out about it after realizing that since Husby needed a visa to enter Australia, I might need one, too. But that's beside the point.

The point is that no one checked if I had the visa or not. Even if they had, it was processed online. There was no actual visa in my passport for them to admire. I probably had a printout or a confirmation or something, but I never showed anything other than my passport.

Maybe it was different because you weren't leaving using a US passport. In Eric's case, though, he'll have a US passport. He won't have an I-94 to hand over. I'm not certain, though. I know I didn't have a visa sticker in my passport when I went to Australia and had no problems. Same thing when I went to Taipei.

[AusCal 3]

I am a US/Australian/UK citizen. I understand the law that states a US citizen must leave & enter the US on a US passport. As an Australian citizen, Australian law also requires me to enter and leave Australia on my Australian passport.

My experience, on numerous occasions has been:

*Approach Los Angeles ticket counter, hand over US passport. Am asked "Do you have an Australian visa". I reply that I have an Australian passport. The ticket clerk invariably returns my US passport, and asks for the Australian passport. I use my US passport to pass through security (though, i don't believe that is registered anywhere).

*Arrive in Sydney, use Australian passport to pass through immigration.

When returning

*Approach ticket counter in Sydney - hand over Aussie passport, am asked - do you have e-visa? Reply "I have US passport." Ticket clerk returns Aussie passport & uses US details. When passing through immigration departure in Australia, use Aussie passport.

*Arrive in Los Angeles, use US passport to pass through immigration.

So, my experience mirrors Vanessa's - the ticket clerk is interested in the eligibility of the country you are visiting. As there is no US departure immigration, there is no opportunity to show the US passport.

[AusCal 3]

I'm wondering if you didn't experience a fluke. When I went to Australia, I wasn't questioned at all if I had a tourist visa or not. Booking the ticket, there was no information bubble saying I might even need a tourist visa.

When I traveled with my US husband, the check-in clerk at Los Angeles requested to see the printed confirmation of his e-visa (Applied online, almost instantaneous, and , from memory, $20). I don't really recall, but,have a vague recollection that there was a reference & link to obtaining this on the Qantas website at the time I booked the ticket.

[echang03 0]

I am a US/Australian/UK citizen. I understand the law that states a US citizen must leave & enter the US on a US passport. As an Australian citizen, Australian law also requires me to enter and leave Australia on my Australian passport.

My experience, on numerous occasions has been:

*Approach Los Angeles ticket counter, hand over US passport. Am asked "Do you have an Australian visa". I reply that I have an Australian passport. The ticket clerk invariably returns my US passport, and asks for the Australian passport. I use my US passport to pass through security (though, i don't believe that is registered anywhere).

*Arrive in Sydney, use Australian passport to pass through immigration.

When returning

*Approach ticket counter in Sydney - hand over Aussie passport, am asked - do you have e-visa? Reply "I have US passport." Ticket clerk returns Aussie passport & uses US details. When passing through immigration departure in Australia, use Aussie passport.

*Arrive in Los Angeles, use US passport to pass through immigration.

So, my experience mirrors Vanessa's - the ticket clerk is interested in the eligibility of the country you are visiting. As there is no US departure immigration, there is no opportunity to show the US passport.

When you are coming back to America at the customs, does the officer ask you a lotta questions? What I don't understand is I won't have a visa or proof or anything in my American passport to show that I left the country and entered another country. What are they gonna think? Are they just gona ask to see my Taiwanese passport?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I'm wondering if you didn't experience a fluke. When I went to Australia, I wasn't questioned at all if I had a tourist visa or not. Booking the ticket, there was no information bubble saying I might even need a tourist visa. I found out about it after realizing that since Husby needed a visa to enter Australia, I might need one, too. But that's beside the point.

The point is that no one checked if I had the visa or not. Even if they had, it was processed online. There was no actual visa in my passport for them to admire. I probably had a printout or a confirmation or something, but I never showed anything other than my passport.

Maybe it was different because you weren't leaving using a US passport. In Eric's case, though, he'll have a US passport. He won't have an I-94 to hand over. I'm not certain, though. I know I didn't have a visa sticker in my passport when I went to Australia and had no problems. Same thing when I went to Taipei.

When did you visit Australia? Up until around November 08 (It was sometime after I entered the US (October 08) and before I left (December 08)), the VWP didn't require any proof of having it or anything. You simply showed a passport from a VWP eligible country and were waived through and on arrival your passport was stamped with the VWP stamp and the entry date written.

Since then, we now have ESTA. You need to register online to visit a VWP country to ensure you are eligible and then you will need to take a printout of the ESTA registration when you pick up your tickets at the ticket counter.

I have a friends in the UK right now that had to do that. I had my brother-in-law come to the US for a work conference recently, my friends from VJ that are travelling to the US to visit their significant others PRIOR to getting their K1 (and CR1) visas.. all of whom are having the same thing asked of them, proof of the ESTA registration or they cannot board.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[AusCal 3]

When you are coming back to America at the customs, does the officer ask you a lotta questions? What I don't understand is I won't have a visa or proof or anything in my American passport to show that I left the country and entered another country. What are they gonna think? Are they just gona ask to see my Taiwanese passport?

My experiences have been that the US immigration officer scans the passport, look at me, stamps the customs declaration form, and send me on my way. Normally the conversation is limited to " hello", & "thankyou" :-) If you are worried, have your Taiwan passport handy, if he asks any question, answer honestly, and show him the passport if he asks. The great thing about doing everything legally and correctly is that you have nothing to hide, and, nothing to worry about.

[TheBears 9]

Hmmm... I guess I got the fluke then. Good to know. I went to Australia in March 2008. No questions when checking in. Nothing when going through security. Nothing at the stopover in Hong Kong (not that I was expecting anything). No problems getting through immigration and customs at Sydney.

Definitely good to know about the changes. We want to visit again next year. Thanks for the update.

Edited April 22, 2010 by TheBears

[w8inglongtime 29]

Small (But Important!) Note: Whatever passport you enter a country with, you leave on that passport, too. Always. So you enter China with TBC, then you leave China with TBC.

Safe travels!

Are you sure about that? If you have a U.S passport but enter country B using that country's passport you will not have to leave that country (B) with that passport heading back to the U.S. This is because if you use that country's passport, you will need a visa in it to be able to come to the state. Why would the U.S give it's citizen a visa to come back to the U.S? I say the O.P has to enter their home country on that passport and return to the states on the U.S passport so no visa will be needed in both travels.

[v333k 59]

I am a US/Australian/UK citizen. I understand the law that states a US citizen must leave & enter the US on a US passport. As an Australian citizen, Australian law also requires me to enter and leave Australia on my Australian passport.

My experience, on numerous occasions has been:

*Approach Los Angeles ticket counter, hand over US passport. Am asked "Do you have an Australian visa". I reply that I have an Australian passport. The ticket clerk invariably returns my US passport, and asks for the Australian passport. I use my US passport to pass through security (though, i don't believe that is registered anywhere).

*Arrive in Sydney, use Australian passport to pass through immigration.

When returning

*Approach ticket counter in Sydney - hand over Aussie passport, am asked - do you have e-visa? Reply "I have US passport." Ticket clerk returns Aussie passport & uses US details. When passing through immigration departure in Australia, use Aussie passport.

*Arrive in Los Angeles, use US passport to pass through immigration.

So, my experience mirrors Vanessa's - the ticket clerk is interested in the eligibility of the country you are visiting. As there is no US departure immigration, there is no opportunity to show the US passport.

That sounds logical. I am not trying to say that the other country's passport is irrelevant... all I am trying to say is that if you hand the Australian passport - they will ask you how are you allowed to be in the US without a visa in your passport - then you will have to show them your US passport. Some countries do not care if you have a visa or not because you can obtain it at their airport (POE). I went with my wife to S. Korea and I had a reentry permit which they wanted to see that I already got a visa stamp in it... my wife, the USC, they didn't care or ask any other questions...

I think we are all saying the same thing but emphasizing a different focal point that is making us sounds like trying to say opposite things.

[v333k 59]

I disagree. I would think it was true if it wasn't for my issue at the US border when they said I couldn't board without an Aussie visa and then that I should have left the US on the Aussie passport because that's where I was headed... I asked about the I-94 and she said as long as they had that I didn't need to show my UK passport (which is what I entered on). That's why I showed the UK passport, it made sense to leave on what I entered with, to prove I left. She said that wasn't true and that I leave on the passport that carries the visa or "ability" to enter the country I'm travelling to BUT that I make sure that I hand over any I-94's.

Try this next time you travel to Australia - show them your Australian passport and tell them you are a US citizen - but you didn't bring your US passport with you.... they will not allow you to leave the country. It is that simple. Your Aussie passport was asked for to make sure you don't fly there and have to come back because of lack of proper documentation.

This is why some people who commit some crime get their US passports revoked until the legal action takes place....

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I am a US/Australian/UK citizen. I understand the law that states a US citizen must leave & enter the US on a US passport. As an Australian citizen, Australian law also requires me to enter and leave Australia on my Australian passport.

My experience, on numerous occasions has been:

*Approach Los Angeles ticket counter, hand over US passport. Am asked "Do you have an Australian visa". I reply that I have an Australian passport. The ticket clerk invariably returns my US passport, and asks for the Australian passport. I use my US passport to pass through security (though, i don't believe that is registered anywhere).

*Arrive in Sydney, use Australian passport to pass through immigration.

When returning

*Approach ticket counter in Sydney - hand over Aussie passport, am asked - do you have e-visa? Reply "I have US passport." Ticket clerk returns Aussie passport & uses US details. When passing through immigration departure in Australia, use Aussie passport.

*Arrive in Los Angeles, use US passport to pass through immigration.

So, my experience mirrors Vanessa's - the ticket clerk is interested in the eligibility of the country you are visiting. As there is no US departure immigration, there is no opportunity to show the US passport.

That's a 5-Star response, so good it deserves 5 + ratings. Unfortunately, I could give you only one.

But now change some facts of YOUR scenario.

Now you are Chinese, traveling to China. You do have a US passport and a Chinese passport, yet since China does not allow dual citizenship, the former one is "iffy." China also requires a visa from US citizens, so now try your trip to China with a US and Chinese passport and entertain all of us. You can do it!

[me&me 0]

Yes you can. The issue arises that you no longer have a greencard, and you have no status on the basis of your home countries passport anymore... so how would you re-enter?

As stated by other people, you will need a US passport in order to re-enter the US.

As a dual-citizen I can tell the process for multiple passports is fun. You will need to leave the US on the passport that gives you the ability to visit the country you're going to, without a visa. For instance, when I went home to Australia I entered the US on my UK passport so thought I needed to use it to leave (like you said to show I left after I arrived)... WRONG! They were going to deny me getting on the plane because my UK passport didn't have an Australian visa in it, and because I hadn't registered for the Visa Waiver Program using my UK passport. When I said "but I have an Australian passport" she said that I need to leave using that one because without a visa they won't let me board the plane.

So when you go to Taiwan, show your Taiwan passport when you board the plane/get tickets, on your way back to the US, show your US passport. This way you don't need to worry about visas.

If you were to ever go anywhere where you don't have a passport (lets say the UK for instance, or Australia) you should apply for a visa (or visa waiver program) using US passport as the US is now your "home country". The rule of thumb is the country you are living in is your "default" passport. So normally my Aussie passport is my "default" passport (for when I get visas and for ID etc) and once (and if) I naturalise in the US, while I live here I will need to use the US passport as my default. If we move back to Australia then my Aussie is my default again. Make sense?

Best of luck

This is one showing which countries allow dual nationals: http://www.800citizen.com/dualCitizenship.htm I can't see Taiwan on the list, I could be missing it though

Citizenship Certificate, Naturalization Certifacte, US Birth certificate and Military Active Duty IDs serve as a re-entry permit to the US. You don't need to have a US passport to re-enter the US of A if you have in hands any of the mentioned above while re-entering.