US Citizen Departing on a non-US Passport [duplicate]
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I am a US citizen holding multiple passports. The problem is that my US passport is getting very full despite having 6 more years on it. There are Visas on my passport which I do not want to lose when I get a new passport. I will be traveling to few countries and was thinking of using my non-US passport to exit the country. My intent is to ration my US passport usage. I also know a US Citizen must have US passport to enter and exit the country. Entering is a "no duh". Exiting.. well, we don't have exit checks in the US so I consider that a gray area. see para (b) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1185
Question 1. Can I use this non US passport to exit the country? Does the airline even care I as a US citizen am not using a passport to travel as long as the destinations are valid for entry with this non-US passport? This passport has no US visa on it to allow me to enter. Therefore, I cannot enter or reside in the US with this passport.
The first leg of my trip includes a 1 day layover in Japan which I plant to exit the airport and walk around tokyo. My non-US passport will allow me into Japan visa free.
The next leg is from Japan to Vietnam. Vietnam requires a visa authorization letter (from both my passports) and then they will issue a visa on arrival (which takes up an entire page on my passport plus half a page for entry/exit stamps). My intent is to obtain a visa authorization and arrival on this non-US passport.
Question 2: When I check to my flight leaving the US. Can I just show my non-US passport with the visa authorization for vietnam? Or will I will I be rejected as I don't have an authorization for my US passport?
Alternatively, I was thinking of getting visa authorization letter for both passports. They are cheap. I can just show US passport at check in with visa authorization. This will clear the airline to let me board. when I arrive in Japan I can whip out my non US passport. When I arrive in Vietnam I can whip out my non-US passport with the visa authorization letter. this way I have avoided losing 2-3 pages in my US passport.
The next leg is to the country of my non-US passport. This is inconsequential to my issues.
The final leg is back to the US and I will enter using US passport. No stamps on entry.
Best Answer
Regarding Vietnam, to save pages, at least as a US citizen (what is your other citizenship?) you can simply get an e-visa instead of an authorisation to get a visa on arrival. You will then only get entry and exit stamps in the passport.
Also, airlines don't usually care about your immigration status, and as you said the US doesn't do border control on exit. So when checking in for the flight to Japan, you can show either passport and it won't make any difference regarding the space in your US passport.
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Can a US citizen travel with a foreign passport?
No. U.S. Citizens must enter and leave the United States on valid U.S. Passports, even if they hold a passport from another country.What is the penalty for US citizens entering leaving the US on a foreign passport?
There is none. The law originally provided for a fairly stiff penalty, but it also originally applied in times of war.Can I travel to U.S. with visa on old passport?
No. If your visa is still valid you can travel to the United States with your two passports (old and new), as long as the visa is valid, not damaged, and is the appropriate type of visa required for your principal purpose of travel. (Example: tourist visa, when your principal purpose of travel is tourism).How can I leave the country without a passport?
In most countries, you can travel anywhere within your nation's borders without a passport. The only exception is when you leave your home country to enter a foreign nation. However, even if you travel nationally, you will always need photo ID, such as a driver's license or National ID card to board a flight.Traveling with two passports - I almost got arrested | Jure Sanguinis Italian Dual Citizenship
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