Dual Citizen. Exited the US on Italian passport recently
I'm a dual US/Italian citizen and before my most recent trip to the US I had always used my US passport to enter the US when going there. When exiting, I would use my US passport and then also show my Italian ID card to Dutch authorities when arriving there to prove my EU citizenship (I live there).
This year I decided to also get an Italian passport as proof of my EU citizenship since the ID card was starting to wear and Dutch customs officials were pointing this out each time. Now not being familiar with how to travel with two passports, when I checked-in at the self-service kiosks at the airport in the US on my date of departure I used my Italian passport instead of my US one (which made sense to me at the time). I did use my US one to get in the country, but I've read that one must use their US passport to both enter and leave the country.
Are there consequences I am going to face for this? Is there any way to correct my departure information from the US with the authorities?
Best Answer
Don't worry about it. I have been doing this for years. The only reason to be concerned about having your US departure recorded correctly is to ensure that the US does not record you as an overstayer. But since you're a US citizen, you cannot overstay.
The law concerning US citizens entering and leaving the US does not actually require you to use a US passport. It requires you to bear it. Furthermore, there is no penalty for failing to comply with that law.
There are some future developments you may want to keep your eye on. The EU is planning to implement ETIAS in a couple of years. This is a pre-boarding authorization system similar to ESTA in the US. I have seen a couple of documents saying that EU citizens will be required to use their EU passports to enter the Schengen area after the system is implemented, though most documents, including the actual regulation, are silent on this. Additionally, the US is tightening its exit controls, controversially including plans to collect biometrics from US citizens on exit. Either one of these could remove the ability of a dual US/EU citizen to choose which passport to present at check-in when flying from the US to the Schengen area, and, taken together, they would require such travelers to present both passports.
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Can dual citizens leave US on foreign passport?
Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship.Can I have dual US and Italy passport?
You can get dual citizenship in USA and Italy if you can prove you have Italian ancestry with a demonstrable unbroken line of citizenship. Since 1992, Italy has allowed dual citizenship with the United States, and you will not need to renounce your American citizenship during the process of applying.Do you have to renounce Italian citizenship to become American?
In the United States, prior to the mid 1960's when an Italian national became a naturalized United States citizen, he or she was required to renounce and give up their Italian citizenship as a part of the naturalization process.Can an Italian citizen have dual citizenship?
Yes. Italy passed a law in 1992 allowing those of Italian descent to lawfully obtain dual citizenship. Italy requires you to prove your Italian ancestry and apply for citizenship through your local Italian consulate. Italy does not require you to renounce your current citizenship(s) when claiming dual citizenship.Traveling with two passports - I almost got arrested | Jure Sanguinis Italian Dual Citizenship
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Answer 2
I've read that one must use their US passport to both enter and leave the country.
Let's read 8 USC § 1185(b) (Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, § 215(b)), “Travel Control of Aliens and Citizens":
Except as otherwise provided by the President and subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may authorize and prescribe, it shall be unlawful for any citizen of the United States to depart from or enter, or attempt to depart from or enter, the United States unless he bears a valid United States passport.
That doesn't say anything about using one, only bearing one and that's hardly a surprise because there are no exit checks. You are checking in to a flight but that is not an exit check conducted by the authorities. But this legal wrangling is pointless because the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1979 have removed all penalties. This is a crime you can commit without consequences. Yay, laws.
Now that's cleaned up, head over to I have two passports/nationalities. How do I use them when I travel? and reda how to use your passports. Bon voyage!
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