Dual citizenship entering the US

[BlindSide 0]

Hello all,

Longtime reader, and second post. I guess after all the help I've received while reading this forum it was my time to become part of it and perhaps lend a hand when I can.

Anyway, here's a question I wasn't able to find an answer to with a search.

I'm currently waiting on an interview/decision for my GC, and don't anticipate issues with that. Besides having married while I was out of status, everything is legit and there's no reason at all for our interviewer to become suspicious.

I'm a dual citizen of the EU and a Latin American country I won't mention. I came into the US as a citizen of that LA country, and applied for AOS as such (logical, since I'd entered on that passport).

Here's the question: after I have my GC, could I enter the US by using my European passport instead? There's no legal reason to it besides the fact that my LA passport is close to expiring, and the consulates will use any excuse in the book to not issue new ones ("we don't have materials", "new regulation says you must travel to your home country", etc).

Thanks in advance, and apologies if I've posted in the wrong section of the forum.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hello all,I'm a dual citizen of the EU and a Latin American country I won't mention. I came into the US as a citizen of that LA country, and applied for AOS as such (logical, since I'd entered on that passport).

Here's the question: after I have my GC, could I enter the US by using my European passport instead? There's no legal reason to it besides the fact that my LA passport is close to expiring, and the consulates will use any excuse in the book to not issue new ones ("we don't have materials", "new regulation says you must travel to your home country", etc).

No problems. I have UK and Aussie. Basically your passport allows you to fly, the GC identifies you to the US... the passport is your ID of course as well but the GC is your American ID, proves who you are to America... if that makes sense.

Anyway, no issues If you're anything like me though you haven't changed the passport you use less often yet (my UK one is still maiden name) you would need to carry your marriage certificate just in case you need to prove name change (you shouldn't ask the GC is appropriate government-issued photo ID)

**Edit - thank you for this post. You just reminded me I'm waiting on an email about renewing my UK passport.. US$200.. 1/2 that if I renewed it in the UK.. man marriage is expensive!

Edited January 20, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[Barbara J 115]

No problems. I have UK and Aussie. Basically your passport allows you to fly, the GC identifies you to the US... the passport is your ID of course as well but the GC is your American ID, proves who you are to America... if that makes sense.

Anyway, no issues If you're anything like me though you haven't changed the passport you use less often yet (my UK one is still maiden name) you would need to carry your marriage certificate just in case you need to prove name change (you shouldn't ask the GC is appropriate government-issued photo ID)

**Edit - thank you for this post. You just reminded me I'm waiting on an email about renewing my UK passport.. US$200.. 1/2 that if I renewed it in the UK.. man marriage is expensive!

So Vanessa my passport is still in my maiden name and I only have one Aussie lol and it expires 2016. At the end of this year I know I will have to send home the form to BDM to have my name changed so I can get my passport changed to my married name here in Atlanta and its free yay!! Q is when mine expires do I have to have it done in Aust or can I do it from here?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You enter the US with your Green Card.

For all other purposes -- assuming there are no conflicts with your two citizenships -- you use the one passport you find best suited for your purpose. If I were to travel to Iran, I would show my German passport; if I were to travel to Israel, I'd show my US one.

Edited January 20, 2011 by Just Bob

[BlindSide 0]

Thanks to all your replies!

I was just worried about there being conflicts between the citizenship shown on my green card, and the passport I present at the POE.

I might add that my Latin American passport has also caused me to be given quite a bit of sass by customs officers in the past, and I religiously get pulled over for a "random inspection" of my luggage. So I much prefer the EU one.