Traveling with two passports

[NuHere 6]

It seems that the general guideline for traveling from US to a country where you are also a citizen is this (I'll use Czech Republic):

check in with your Czech passport

going through security show your US passport

boarding the plane show your Czech passport

arriving in the Czech Republic show your Czech passport

check in with your Czech passport

going through security show your US passport

boarding show your US passport

arriving in the US show your US passport

It is advised not to mention "dual" citizenship, if possible, since technically it does not exist. A person can be a citizen of two or more countries, but not a dual citizen.

My question is this. When you are leaving from Prague to the US, you go through a short interview before the actual check in. Everybody does. They ask about how long you have been in Czech, where in the US you'll stay, if you packed your own bags, etc.

If I show them my Czech passport, there is no visa allowing me to come to the US. If I show them my US passport, there is no evidence of me having entered the Czech Republic (since I have entered using my Czech passport).

What to do in this case? How can I not tell them I have two passports?

Thank you.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Close... Here is how it works:

check in with your Czech passport

going through security show your US passport

boarding the plane show your Czech passport

arriving in the Czech Republic show your Czech passport

check in with your Czech and US passport

going through security show your Czech passport

boarding show your US passport

arriving in the US show your US passport

Upon return you will need to show your US passport to the arilines as evidence you don't need a visa to travel to the US.

If you entered the Czech Republic as a Czech citizen you must leave as a Czecch, therefore you go through passport control in Prague with your Czech passport.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

[NuHere 6]

I see, I had my leaving the Czech Republic procedure mixed up.

But you confirmed that at that point, I have to show both passports. I couldn't wrap my head around how to avoid it.

Actually, when checking in in the US, they used to ask for my green card.. I assume to see if I was here legally. Again, if I show my Czech passport and won't be a LPR anymore... won't they want to know how come there is no visa in my Czech passport?

Thank you very much.

[JohnR! 5,495]

On the way out of the US some airlines used to ask for your visa so that they could collect the I-94. I don't think they do so anymore. It is not up to them anymore to collect that information so they don't really care.

My kids often travel to Europe and have to do the passport dance on the way out and back. They've got it down pat now. You'll get used to it too.

[NuHere 6]

I have been reading up on this for the past couple of hours and seems like revealing your "dual" citizenship is best avoided.

I want to make sure I don't mess anything up when I have to do this in the future .

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You don't need to hide your dual citizenship.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[JohnR! 5,495]

I have been reading up on this for the past couple of hours and seems like revealing your "dual" citizenship is best avoided.

I want to make sure I don't mess anything up when I have to do this in the future .

The US doesn't care if you hold more than one citizenship. You don't need to hide it.

[NuHere 6]

That's what I thought too, but the more I researched it, the more it seemed like it's really not a good idea to be walking around with two passports at the airport.

[mamaSue 38]

Here's what I do going to the UK....

Check in with US passport and go through security with US passport.

Arrive in UK with UK passport.

Leave UK with US passport

Arrive in US with US passport.

Done the same thing twice now. The only time my UK passport was needed was getting into the UK.....and even then, for a stay under 6 months, the US passport would have sufficed.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Here's what I do going to the UK....

Check in with US passport and go through security with US passport.

Arrive in UK with UK passport.

Leave UK with US passport

Arrive in US with US passport.

Done the same thing twice now. The only time my UK passport was needed was getting into the UK.....and even then, for a stay under 6 months, the US passport would have sufficed.

My original country requires you to use its passport on entry and exit if you have one...as does the US from what I understand. So (I'm not naturalized yet but family members who are) show US passport at US border posts and SA passport at SA border posts; and US passport to airline who just wants to know that you will be allowed to enter there.

[mamaSue 38]

My original country requires you to use its passport on entry and exit if you have one...as does the US from what I understand. So (I'm not naturalized yet but family members who are) show US passport at US border posts and SA passport at SA border posts; and US passport to airline who just wants to know that you will be allowed to enter there.

OK.... so you're flying to the US on your SA passport....Person checking you in asks to see your GC, ESTA or visa... and you don't have one. So... without them knowing you've got a US passport, they probably wouldn't let you check in.

They require something to let them know you're allowed into the US.

Before ESTA, it was possible, you just got a I-94 on landing, but since ESTA, things have changed. Maybe your family members haven't been out of the country for a while.

Edited August 8, 2014 by mamaSue

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That's what I thought too, but the more I researched it, the more it seemed like it's really not a good idea to be walking around with two passports at the airport.

I think you are being paranoid. You have dual citizens in this thread telling you it is fine, but you want to believe it is something to hide? Because the internet said so?

You used CZ as a "pretend" country but the country can matter. If the other country does not allow dual citizenship, like China, and you are trying to hide the fact that you got it, you will just get in trouble.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[NuHere 6]

I'm not sure why you're being so aggressive with your comments. I never said there was something to hide. I have read that some officers get confused when presented with two passports , call supervisors, things get delayed. I didn't say I'd get int trouble.

I believe JohnR and I appreciate his advice. Before I had asked the question, I researched what other dual citizens had to say about this. Even what JohnR says is "on the internet", as you put it.

Do you yourself have more than one passport? Are you speaking from your personal traveling experience?

[USAnewcomer 0]

Here is an idea as I see it:
As a citizen you are entitled to get into country. As a foreigner you don't have such rights.
Therefore, it's better to enter the US with an US passport (or a green card). There are officials on the border who make decisions. The same goes with other countries.
It doesn't matter IMHO what passport you show to the security. They just check your luggage.
It doesn't matter IMHO what passport you show during the check in. They are just air company's employees. I would show them 2 passports.

I agree that it's different in China. But people still manage to do it somehow.

[NuHere 6]

Thanks. Not only is it better, it is actually a law for US citizens to enter USA with a US passport.

I was mainly confused about leaving the other, non US airport.

JohnR! seems to have it down. I'll follow his advice in the future.

Edited August 8, 2014 by NuHere