Traveling with two passports different names

[Seven 24]

Hi everyone. Just curious about something.

 

Just say US passport (passport A) has a different name than the passport of origin (passport B). A visa is required with passport A but not with passport B so how to travel to that other country using passport B without running into issues, not being let on the plane etc because the passport A has a different name? 
 

Thank you in advance!

[OldUser 6,979]

Route 1

1. Change the name in passport of origin to match US passport name.

2. Problem solved

 

Route 2

1. If passport of origin has maiden name, carry marriage certificate with you to prove name change if asked any questions by airline

 

Either way, you would have to use both passports for travelling if you need that visa free access.

 

@Mike E gave example below.

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by OldUser

[Mike E 11,741]

10 minutes ago, Seven said:

Hi everyone. Just curious about something.

 

Just say US passport (passport A) has a different name than the passport of origin (passport B). A visa is required with passport A but not with passport B so how to travel to that other country using passport B without running into issues, not being let on the plane etc because the passport A has a different name? 
 

Thank you in advance!

1. Carry on bags only and utilize a country C that

* has an international transit are where passport control is not required for international to international flights.

* does not require a visa for citizens of A or B

 

2. Book a round trip between A and C in name of passport A on airline X

 

3. Book a round trip between C and B in name of passport B on airline Y

 

4. When arriving at C, go to transit desk of airline Y to get boarding pass.

 

5. For the return, do the converse.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by Mike E

[Chancy 6,242]

*** Moved from US Citizenship General Discussion to Passports, etc sub-forum ***

 

[Seven 24]

4 hours ago, Mike E said:

1. Carry on bags only and utilize a country C that

* has an international transit are where passport control is not required for international to international flights.

* does not require a visa for citizens of A or B

 

2. Book a round trip between A and C in name of passport A on airline X

 

3. Book a round trip between C and B in name of passport B on airline Y

 

4. When arriving at C, go to transit desk of airline Y to get boarding pass.

 

5. For the return, do the converse.

 

 

 

 

I am a bit confused: why carry on only? Then maybe with the A and B it got confused but for example the Spanish passport would allow me to go just say Vietnam without a visa. The American needs a visa to go to Vietnam. So how that’d be? What name on the tickets? Would the airline in the US have a problem that the US passport is in another name?

 

I thought all countries had a border security where you show the passport.

 

I got really lost at the multiple round trips bookings for so many countries. Sorry ! 

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by Seven

[Seven 24]

7 hours ago, OldUser said:

Route 1

1. Change the name in passport of origin to match US passport name.

2. Problem solved

 

Route 2

1. If passport of origin has maiden name, carry marriage certificate with you to prove name change if asked any questions by airline

 

Either way, you would have to use both passports for travelling if you need that visa free access.

 

@Mike E gave example below.

 

The law of the passport of origin prohibits any name changes

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

What's the name difference? Maiden vs. married?

 

And the easiest way would be buying tickets separately in order to match each passport. 

Edited March 14, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[OldUser 6,979]

22 minutes ago, Seven said:

The law of the passport of origin prohibits any name changes

That's unfortunate. I would have not changed name in the US if I was intending to keep my country of origin's citizenship and they don't allow name changes. This is somewhat gray / undefined area.

 

Perhaps the easiest solution is to use US passport solely to enter 3rd country. Yes, it means applying for visa. But there's not so many countries requiring visa for US citizens. Unless you're talking China / Russia / Iran and similar.

 

The problem with airline tickets is that you need to provide name. And if the names don't match this will haunt you for the rest of your life. As long as air travel rules don't change to be more liberal, which I don't think they will anytime soon.

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by OldUser

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

2 minutes ago, OldUser said:

That's unfortunate. I would have not changed name in the US if I was intending to keep my country of origin's citizenship and they don't allow name changes. This is somewhat gray / undefined area.

 

Perhaps the easiest solution is to use US passport solely to enter 3rd country. Yes, it means applying for visa. But there's not so many countries requiring visa for US citizens. Unless you're talking China / Russia / Iran and similar.

 

 

The Spanish passport allows entry visa free to more countries than the US one. 

[OldUser 6,979]

21 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

The Spanish passport allows entry visa free to more countries than the US one. 

Just compared US passport and Spanish passport on https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=us&p2=es

 

The advantages of Spanish passport over US passport are in following countries:

 

Belarus, Bolivia, Gambia, Iran, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Spain of course.

 

Unless you travel to these countries or EU, US passport will give you same or better access to all other countries. 

 

If you travel to Spain / EU only, book under your US passport. You can show US passport to airline and use Spanish passport when entering Spain / EU at passport control in Europe.

 

E.g.:

 

1. Book direct flight to EU / Spain using name in US passport.

2. Board the plane from US airport using US passport.

3. When in EU or Spain, go through passport control using Spanish passport.

4. Show US passport to airline in EU / Spain when checking in for the flight.

5. Show Spanish passport on bordet control leaving Spain / EU

6. Show US passport when arriving at US and going through border.

 

Also, if I was you and I was going to Europe, say France for vacation for 2 weeks only, without visiting Spain, I'd just book everything using US passport. 90 days is enough for short visit and it makes things easy.

Edited March 14, 2023 by OldUser

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

8 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Just compared US passport and Spanish passport on https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=us&p2=es

 

The advantages of Spanish passport over US passport are in following countries:

 

Belarus, Bolivia, Gambia, Iran, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Spain of course.

 

Unless you travel to these countries, US passport will give you same or better access to all other countries. 

Beginning next year, every US traveler will need an ETIAS to travel through the Schengen area, which means 20 visa/passport free European countries less than the Spanish passport. 

Edited March 14, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[OldUser 6,979]

4 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Beginning next year, every US traveler will need an ETIAS to travel through the Schengen area, which means 20 visa free European countries less than the Spanish passport. 

OK, it will cost 7 EUR and valid for 3 years, multiple entries.

 

Is savings worth the hassle of dealing with airlines and border agents?

Edited March 14, 2023 by OldUser

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Just now, OldUser said:

OK, it will cost 7 EUR and valid for 3 years. You're going to go through stress and potential issues at border just for 7 EUR? Your choice of course.

Unsure at what do you mean with potential issues at the border? 

[Lemonslice 4,918]

Just now, OldUser said:

OK, it will cost 7 EUR and valid for 3 years. You're going to go through stress and potential issues at border just for 7 EUR? Your choice of course.

EU citizens will have no worries at these borders.  And (usually) zero queue to get in.

[OldUser 6,979]

2 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Unsure at what do you mean with potential issues at the border? 

You have the algorithm for travelling to EU on both passports, as I described above. Feel free using it if you don't mind carrying both passports all the time.