Flying back to the UK after 27 years away

[QueenComley 295]

This probably sounds like a ridiculous question but let me give you some facts first:

• My husband is original from the UK, born and raised there
• when he was 15 his mother married my (now) father-in-Law who was in the American Military, thus, they moved to America
• My husband remained on a green card for 23 years until we got together. He applied for citizenship 4 years ago which he was granted
• He now has an American passport.

I am also from the UK, I have been in America 4 years now and we have decided next year to go to the UK on vacation to visit all my family. My question is, although my husband is from the UK he will be flying into the UK on a US passport - will he have to apply for an ESTA (visa waiver) like I used to have to do when I flew out from the UK to visit him? Or can he just travel freely between each country? He has never left the USA in the whole 27 years he has been here since he came over at the age of 15. Needless to say he is extremely excited of the prospect of visiting the UK again!

Edited August 31, 2016 by QueenComley

[Mollie09 1,543]

Where is his UK passport? That's what he should use to enter the UK.

[Boiler 45,282]

UK Passport to enter UK

US to enter US

[Ontarkie 14,190]

~~Moved to the regional forum, from USC General discussion - The OP is asking about a traveling to the UK~~

[JFH 12,189]

Unless he renounced his UK citizenship he should use his UK passport to enter the UK.

[vanhiscers87 14]

OK. ESTA is an American online system designed for foreigners who're able to travel under U.S.' Visa Waiver Program, and the U.K. does not have such procedure for their own visa-free scheme. A U.S. citizen can travel to the U.K. without a visa; that means you husband can grab his U.S. passport and go there anytime he wants.

Since your husband hasn't been to the U.K. for a while, I'm sure his British passport is probably already expired. Therefore, right now he has 3 options to go about:

1. If you still have time before leaving for your vacation, he could use his old British passport or maybe birth certificate to apply for a new British passport at a British Consulate;

2. Just travel to the U.K. as a tourist, but bring his old British passport, so maybe he can still be admitted as a U.K. citizen;

3. If you have time in the U.K., have him apply for a Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode to be affixed to his U.S. passport, so he could be admitted by the U.K. as a citizen all the time even when he's traveling with a U.S. passport. Note that the Certificate is more expensive than getting a British passport.

Edited September 2, 2016 by vanhiscers87

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Unless he renounced his UK citizenship he should use his UK passport to enter the UK.

Are you saying he can't enter as an American tourist?

[QueenComley 295]

Thank you guys for all your answers . He has not had a british passport for 2 decades. I called my mother-in-law who is also (obviously) British and she also has citizenship and an American Passport. She said she travelled to the UK on her American passport on vacation several times no problems. But... that was ten years ago. Who knows if regulations have changed. Everything me and my mother-in-law researched online was very conflicting. But most of what we found suggested he was free to travel to the UK on his American Passport and he will be allowed limited time in the UK. I have a US American Immigration attorney who has given me contact details of a trusted UK based Immigration attorney to find out if this is correct. I thank everyone for your answers.

Edited September 2, 2016 by QueenComley

[Boiler 45,282]

He can visit using a US passport, why does he not get a UK one, you never know.

[JFH 12,189]

Not had a passport for two decades? So he spent twenty years without leaving the country? Not even on holiday?

I couldn't do that...

[JFH 12,189]

Are you saying he can't enter as an American tourist?

I said should. Not must. It's a guarantee of entry. And easier if planning a side trip to an EU country also.

[QueenComley 295]

Not had a passport for two decades? So he spent twenty years without leaving the country? Not even on holiday?

I couldn't do that...

I know right! He has been on vacation throughout the united states but never physically left the USA since he landed at 15 years of age. The vacation to the UK means a huge amount to him. His biological father died when he was just 5 years old and he never got to say goodbye to his father. I have located where his father is buried and we are using this vacation as a chance for him to finally heal some wounds and visit his fathers grave. Thanks again everyone for your advice. From what I understand now he is free to travel to the UK and Back to the USA freely on his US passport.

Edited September 2, 2016 by QueenComley