Traveling outside US after naturalization without a US passport

[Camelot13 63]

I wasn't sure where to post it where it'd be the most use to people, so I'm putting it here. 

 

We had a very stressful situation for my husband's oath ceremony. His oath was at the end of August. That week, his mother fell gravely ill and it was necessary for us to book a flight to the UK as soon as we could, which was basically immediately after his oath. We may hold the record for quickest departure from the US after an oath ceremony. Anyway, I knew you aren't meant to travel outside the US without a US passport, but we were left with little choice. There wasn't even time to get an emergency one at a passport center before we left, which I've heard can be processed anywhere from 12 hours to 2-3 days at best. We flew 2 hours after his oath. Anyway, all was fine leaving the country and then we made an appointment with the local US consulate when we got there. We went in and told them about our emergency, brought the death certificate although that was not required, and they were able to issue an emergency limited use passport for him. We then updated the airlines and used it to go through US immigration on the way back. There were some extra questions about why we didn't get it before we left, but ultimately they were understanding and it was all fine. 

 

When we got back, he filed to convert it to a 10 year passport and there were no issues with doing that. I just wanted to post this in case anyone else has an equally horribly timed emergency. 

[Wuozopo 4,291]

Good information and glad it worked out for you. 

[LotsOfForms 5]

So those people. With dual citizenship can not use their other passports for travel?

I did not know that, is this a mandatory thing or something that the authorities just frown upon.

its just I know numerous people who use their passports as they see fit to get through an immigration line the quickest.

in this case even if the OP had a US passport would they not use his U.K. passport to visit his birthplace country? The lines at Heathrow are a breeze to get through fir a U.K. Passport holder.

 

interested to know if it's illegal or anything like that!

[Lil bear 4,033]

22 minutes ago, LotsOfForms said:

So those people. With dual citizenship can not use their other passports for travel?

I did not know that, is this a mandatory thing or something that the authorities just frown upon.

its just I know numerous people who use their passports as they see fit to get through an immigration line the quickest.

in this case even if the OP had a US passport would they not use his U.K. passport to visit his birthplace country? The lines at Heathrow are a breeze to get through fir a U.K. Passport holder.

 

interested to know if it's illegal or anything like that!

Most countries require their citizens to enter the country using the passport pertaining to that country. US requires USC to use their US passport to enter the USA no matter what other citizenships/ passports they hold. Australia is the same. 

[LotsOfForms 5]

29 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Most countries require their citizens to enter the country using the passport pertaining to that country. US requires USC to use their US passport to enter the USA no matter what other citizenships/ passports they hold. Australia is the same. 

Yes agree with that point when you are entering... maybe I wasn't clear enough. 

I was talking about using a US passport when leaving not entering. I would see the advantage of using a US passport when coming into the States as the lines are shorter and moves faster!

[milimelo 4,412]

But consider this: when entering the country with your home country passport and something happens, local government will only see you as that country’s citizen. They may not even notify US embassy you’re in trouble like they do when you enter the country on your US passport. Something to ponder. 

[Lil bear 4,033]

7 hours ago, LotsOfForms said:

Yes agree with that point when you are entering... maybe I wasn't clear enough. 

I was talking about using a US passport when leaving not entering. I would see the advantage of using a US passport when coming into the States as the lines are shorter and moves faster!

As a US citizen you do not get a choice when entering the US.   You must use your US passport.  A US citizen cannot be issued with a visa to enter the US .. and all people using a non US passport must have either a valid visa to be granted entry or be eligible for Visa Waiver entry. A USC is not eligible for visa Wsiver program use .  

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,291]

9 hours ago, LotsOfForms said:

Yes agree with that point when you are entering... maybe I wasn't clear enough. 

I was talking about using a US passport when leaving not entering. I would see the advantage of using a US passport when coming into the States as the lines are shorter and moves faster!

I have two passports. I book my flight with my US passport and leave as American. At Heathrow, I get out the British passport and my wife and I go through immigration in the UK/EU queue. She's allowed to go with me because we are travelling together. I enter the UK as British. 

 

Departing the UK, I am American again as my ticket is booked with the US passport. And of course arrival in the US is also as American. 

[LotsOfForms 5]

27 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I have two passports. I book my flight with my US passport and leave as American. At Heathrow, I get out the British passport and my wife and I go through immigration in the UK/EU queue. She's allowed to go with me because we are travelling together. I enter the UK as British. 

 

Departing the UK, I am American again as my ticket is booked with the US passport. And of course arrival in the US is also as American. 

This is what I was getting at. If you have had no issues doing this then I guess authorities don't have an issue with it.

Great, thanks for the clarification.

[aaron2020 11,651]

8 hours ago, milimelo said:

But consider this: when entering the country with your home country passport and something happens, local government will only see you as that country’s citizen. They may not even notify US embassy you’re in trouble like they do when you enter the country on your US passport. Something to ponder. 

It doesn't work that way.

 

Regardless of dual citizenship and which passport a person enters on, a citizen is treated as a citizen. 

 

This is why the US treats dual citizens as US citizens without regards to their other citizenships.  There is no legal to notify foreign governments when a country is dealing with one of its citizen.  The country would ignore the foreign citizenships.  

[coloradoman 32]

On 9/5/2019 at 9:16 AM, LotsOfForms said:

This is what I was getting at. If you have had no issues doing this then I guess authorities don't have an issue with it.

Great, thanks for the clarification.

But isn't this really a non-issue anymore since the UK allows USCs to use the automated passport control? I am a dual USC/German citizen and have always waited in long lines with my wife, who is only a USC. Last time we went back in May, and were both able to use automated passport control (she with her US passport, I with my German EU passport). They told us on the plane back then that this had just been made available for USCs.

[LotsOfForms 5]

If that is the case then yes a non issue. I did not know that was the case. A non frequent flyer here!

Thanks for the useful information.

[coloradoman 32]

12 hours ago, LotsOfForms said:

If that is the case then yes a non issue. I did not know that was the case. A non frequent flyer here!

Thanks for the useful information.

No problem. Yes, the US passport works just fine at the automated gates both at Heathrow and Luton. However, a UK citizen might be required to use their UK passport for entry.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

On 9/5/2019 at 12:00 AM, LotsOfForms said:

Yes agree with that point when you are entering... maybe I wasn't clear enough. 

I was talking about using a US passport when leaving not entering. I would see the advantage of using a US passport when coming into the States as the lines are shorter and moves faster!

US law requires USC’s to enter and exit the US on their US passports

 

I am not aware of a penalty for not following that law.

[americanintrainin 20]

I just wanted to say my condolence and thank you so much for this thread.

 

My father who was naturalized a few days ago had his grandmother pass away this morning and he's frantically trying to find solutions. I'm so glad I ran into this problem.