OCONUS travel with Dual Citizenship Child

[thuleshark 0]

Our child, who is American by birth, also is registered in his mother's home country and holds passports for both countries. He and his mother will be going home to visit for a month and the question I have is which and where should each passport be used. Since his mother holds a foreign passport it would seem to me that she would get less flak if he also exited the US on his foreign passport since a woman with a foreign passport and an infant with an American passport might throw up some red flags. When arriving in his mother's country it would seem best to use his foreign passport since he is a citizen and it would register his arrival and establish his eligability for full protection and social services provided to citizens. Upon return to the US I would think that his American passport would be appropriate for the same reason that it would be over there. However if he did not exit the US on that passport would that cause another problem?

[Little_My 464]

He has to ALWAYS use his US passport to both exit and enter the US. To the United States, he is ONLY an American Citizen - though America accepts dual citizenship, it doesn't officially recognize it. It is illegal for him to use any other passport to leave or enter the US.

In most cases, this is how dual citizens tend to handle traveling, especially when going back to their original home countries:

1. Leave US with US passport

2. Enter original home country with that country's passport

3. Leave original home country with that country's passport

4. Re-enter US with US passport

His mother should have a letter from you stating that she has your permission to take your child abroad. They might not even ask for it, but it's better to be prepared, especially when traveling with a kid. Remember that his ticket has to match his passport - so it would be good if his name in both passports is the same. This probably isn't an issue with a child as much as it is with mainly women who change their name after marriage, and the 1st passport has the old name and 2nd the new name.. But just double check the names match!