Exiting the US with two passports - recording i94 exit date properly

[E_RA 0]

Hello!

 

I have two passports as I have dual citizenship.  I have a UK (British) passport which has my current, US visa, and I have a New Zealand passport.

 

I am visiting my family in New Zealand very soon and I had a question on exiting the US!  

 

I want to make sure that my exit date from the US is recorded for the i-94 details.  Do I check in for my flight and give the airline my UK passport details?   I entered the US on my UK passport (with the US visa), so this would make sense to exit on the SAME passport, especially as it has the US visa.  I would then only use the New Zealand passport when going through boarder security when I have arrived in NZ.  I am a little worried that the airline might insist on me checking in with NZ passport, as it shows my ability to enter NZ, but I am worried if that happens it won't record my exit date from the US.  

 

Is the i94 information linked to a person's name, or is it linked to their passport details?

 

Thanks ever SO much in advance for your help!!! :-)

Cheers!

Liz

 

 

[PGA 230]

49 minutes ago, Liz Arcus said:

Hello!

 

I have two passports as I have dual citizenship.  I have a UK (British) passport which has my current, US visa, and I have a New Zealand passport.

 

I am visiting my family in New Zealand very soon and I had a question on exiting the US!  

 

I want to make sure that my exit date from the US is recorded for the i-94 details.  Do I check in for my flight and give the airline my UK passport details?   I entered the US on my UK passport (with the US visa), so this would make sense to exit on the SAME passport, especially as it has the US visa.  I would then only use the New Zealand passport when going through boarder security when I have arrived in NZ.  I am a little worried that the airline might insist on me checking in with NZ passport, as it shows my ability to enter NZ, but I am worried if that happens it won't record my exit date from the US.  

 

Is the i94 information linked to a person's name, or is it linked to their passport details?

 

Thanks ever SO much in advance for your help!!! 🙂

Cheers!

Liz

 

 

When you leave the US you go through immigration -  usually right before the bag screening - there you use your UK/US visa passport. I don't think it matters what passport you use to check in for the airline but I usually use my Peru passport (when I am going to Peru) or else the system sometimes tells me I need to check in at the airport counter (which I absolutely hate). Of course, when you get to NZ, you'll use your NZ passport. 

Edited 16 hours ago by PGA

[Crazy Cat 41,651]

4 minutes ago, PGA said:

When you leave the US you go through immigration

That is not correct. There are no immigration checks when exiting the US for anyone. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[PGA 230]

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

That is not correct. There are no immigration checks when exiting the US. 

Maybe I should have said TSA - there is someone from TSA checking my passport and entering information in a computer when I'm leaving. 

[Dashinka 24,419]

13 minutes ago, PGA said:

Maybe I should have said TSA - there is someone from TSA checking my passport and entering information in a computer when I'm leaving. 

That is correct, and also the airline agent or kiosk scans the passport when checking in.  I am not sure which communicates with CBP to generate an exit date, maybe both.

 

To the OP, use your same passport that you used for entering (UK I believe you mentioned), also make sure you purchase the tickets in the name on the UK passport especially if you have different names on both passports.

 

Good Luck!

[top_secret 2,383]

It is the airline that is giving CBP their passenger manifests, since checking-in or passing security is meaningless for I-94.  The passenger must be confirmed by the airline to have actually boarded the flight.  I think theoretically CBP should be able to figure it out based on just name and birth date so no special action is required.  But in reality I could see how that might be something they could screw up.  I would probably use the same passport I came in on unless the airline had any objection and also double check your I94 online afterwards just to make sure no mixup occurred.

[NorthByNorthwest 331]

27 minutes ago, top_secret said:

It is the airline that is giving CBP their passenger manifests, since checking-in or passing security is meaningless for I-94.  The passenger must be confirmed by the airline to have actually boarded the flight.  I think theoretically CBP should be able to figure it out based on just name and birth date so no special action is required.  But in reality I could see how that might be something they could screw up.  I would probably use the same passport I came in on unless the airline had any objection and also double check your I94 online afterwards just to make sure no mixup occurred.

 

Yep, this is a common and ongoing problem, those interested can read a bit more here: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/18a5fdb2dc144d619a8c10dc1472ae80/api-guidelines.en.final.pdf

 

For people coming and going on round-trip tickets, the airline PNR can and is used in the matching, folks coming in on one-way tickets already face added scrutiny. There's also the biometric exit pilot program in play that is improving exit data.

[Lil bear 4,161]

1 hour ago, PGA said:

Maybe I should have said TSA - there is someone from TSA checking my passport and entering information in a computer when I'm leaving. 

No they are not checking or “entering” anything. Simply matching ID with name on the boarding pass 

[Lil bear 4,161]

32 minutes ago, top_secret said:

It is the airline that is giving CBP their passenger manifests, since checking-in or passing security is meaningless for I-94.  The passenger must be confirmed by the airline to have actually boarded the flight.  I think theoretically CBP should be able to figure it out based on just name and birth date so no special action is required.  But in reality I could see how that might be something they could screw up.  I would probably use the same passport I came in on unless the airline had any objection and also double check your I94 online afterwards just to make sure no mixup occurred.

You cant check in on a passport which doesnt automatically give you the right to enter your destination country unless you have the required visa. And being a citizen of the destination country you cannot get a visa. Check  in is about matching ID and having documentation that  allows you to enter your destination. The US CBP has no formal process for exiting passengers. You will have to check in on the passport that gives you entry into the destination.  
My flight to Aus from Us is always on my Aust passport otherwise i wont nt able to board. . On the return trip I check in on my US passport but give both US and Aus passports at the exit Border control desk .. smartgate cant be used as the system doesn't link the 2 passports 
 

Keep you boarding passes as evidence of the outgoing flight 

[randomstairs 295]

6 hours ago, Liz Arcus said:

Hello!

 

I have two passports as I have dual citizenship.  I have a UK (British) passport which has my current, US visa, and I have a New Zealand passport.

 

I am visiting my family in New Zealand very soon and I had a question on exiting the US!  

 

I want to make sure that my exit date from the US is recorded for the i-94 details.  Do I check in for my flight and give the airline my UK passport details?   I entered the US on my UK passport (with the US visa), so this would make sense to exit on the SAME passport, especially as it has the US visa.  I would then only use the New Zealand passport when going through boarder security when I have arrived in NZ.  I am a little worried that the airline might insist on me checking in with NZ passport, as it shows my ability to enter NZ, but I am worried if that happens it won't record my exit date from the US.  

 

Is the i94 information linked to a person's name, or is it linked to their passport details?

 

Thanks ever SO much in advance for your help!!! 🙂

Cheers!

Liz

 

 

That's almost exactly the problem with US/EU dual citizens now with the ETIAS. We are supposed to exit the US with the US passport and enter the EU with the EU one. The airlines will demand to see the ETIAS for US citizens but dual citizens aren't eligible. My proposed solution: check in/buy the ticket with the UK passport bc that's in the CBP system! If the airline asks for NZ electronic authorization (or whatever the equivalent is) show them your NZ passport at the check in. 

[randomstairs 295]

4 hours ago, Lil bear said:

You cant check in on a passport which doesnt automatically give you the right to enter your destination country unless you have the required visa. And being a citizen of the destination country you cannot get a visa. Check  in is about matching ID and having documentation that  allows you to enter your destination. The US CBP has no formal process for exiting passengers. You will have to check in on the passport that gives you entry into the destination.  
My flight to Aus from Us is always on my Aust passport otherwise i wont nt able to board. . On the return trip I check in on my US passport but give both US and Aus passports at the exit Border control desk .. smartgate cant be used as the system doesn't link the 2 passports 
 

Keep you boarding passes as evidence of the outgoing flight 

The risk is much higher if you're on a visa, though. I would buy the ticket with the passport that has the US visa, skip the electronic check-in, and do it in person, showing the passport of the destination country as a proof of entry authorization. CBP might not catch their departure otherwise, which is a huge risk. 

[NorthByNorthwest 331]

39 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

That's almost exactly the problem with US/EU dual citizens now with the ETIAS. We are supposed to exit the US with the US passport and enter the EU with the EU one. The airlines will demand to see the ETIAS for US citizens but dual citizens aren't eligible. My proposed solution: check in/buy the ticket with the UK passport bc that's in the CBP system! If the airline asks for NZ electronic authorization (or whatever the equivalent is) show them your NZ passport at the check in. 

 

I don't think it will be a problem - there is already a field in APIS for Other document and it /should/ just be a matter of presenting both passports. For example while you are still US LPR you always travel with your foreign passport, but your green card info is added as other document, often even when you depart from the US even if it's not used until you return.

[Lil bear 4,161]

5 minutes ago, NorthByNorthwest said:

 

I don't think it will be a problem - there is already a field in APIS for Other document and it /should/ just be a matter of presenting both passports. For example while you are still US LPR you always travel with your foreign passport, but your green card info is added as other document, often even when you depart from the US even if it's not used until you return.

The other document option is limited to visa number or GC number.  Both for entry into US only 

 

[NorthByNorthwest 331]

50 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

The other document option is limited to visa number or GC number.  Both for entry into US only 

 

Ah, I've been out of the industry for years now, but in the early days of ETIAS discussions the plan was to use the same PAXLST format and as I recall there was no issue using a passport as other document. With all the delays for ETIAS I have no idea what they'll put in production next year though... If it indeed happens next year...

[Lil bear 4,161]

44 minutes ago, NorthByNorthwest said:

 

Ah, I've been out of the industry for years now, but in the early days of ETIAS discussions the plan was to use the same PAXLST format and as I recall there was no issue using a passport as other document. With all the delays for ETIAS I have no idea what they'll put in production next year though... If it indeed happens next year...

yes i encounter this every time i fly to aust. Was actually simple as an lpr with GE. But I’ve finally worked a way around both ends of the entry.