2 passport travel question

[Oasis 0]

I am traveling to Brazil next week and I have a passport question.

Since I am dual Citizen Germany - USA can I leave the US with my US Passport - enter Brazil with my German passport( since Germany does not require Visa ) ?

Leave Brazil with German passport and enter US with US Passport. Will that work or are they going to ask me questions.. why I travel with 2 passports ?

[jeangab75 0]

It seems to me that this would work.

the only question you might get is at the airline counter on the way out of Brazil, they will ask for proper documentation for entry into the US (you show them your US passport ) but you show the German one at the Brazilian police control.

My son is a dual national and he leaves and enters the US with its US passport and enter and leaves France with its French one. We never had any problem.

Good luck

Edited July 10, 2009 by jeangab75

[jsnearline 2]

The only thing I can think of is that coming back into the US you might get questions on why there are no stamps from the trip in your US passport.

[jsnearline 2]

I know if my wife were to go to the Philippines on her Philippine passport, they would stamp both her US and Philippine passports. I don't know how Brazil would handle it.

Edited July 10, 2009 by jsnearline

[Oasis 0]

Should I just show my 2 passports.. ? I thought US does not really like when someone has 2 passports.

This is all new to me

[antda 13]

Hi Oasis,

Likewise, as posted in another message thread, I plan to do the following too:

When I become a US Citizen though...I plan to travel with my US Passport Card, EDL/Enhanced Driver's License, and Canadian Passport when I travel by land to Canada and back to the USA. Lol...I'll just present all 3 documents at the same time on both sides of the border (lol..there's no rule against this, after all)...and let them decide which travel documents that they want to process...I don't care...I have nothing to hide....And hopefully I won't have any problems crossing the border..."Better safe than sorry", by presenting all the travel documents that I will have, right?

So if I were you, I would bring the two passports, show them both, and let them decide which they want....As long as you show the US one when you come back to the USA, then you're covered there American-wise.

Hope this helps. Good luck on your travels and good luck with your journeys too.

Ant

Should I just show my 2 passports.. ? I thought US does not really like when someone has 2 passports.

This is all new to me

[daveh 0]

I am traveling to Brazil next week and I have a passport question.

Since I am dual Citizen Germany - USA can I leave the US with my US Passport - enter Brazil with my German passport( since Germany does not require Visa ) ?

Leave Brazil with German passport and enter US with US Passport. Will that work or are they going to ask me questions.. why I travel with 2 passports ?

When leaving the US, you don't really go through immigration. You have to show your passport to the airline. I'm not sure what happens with this data. Are you showing the airline you have the right to enter the destination (so they don't have to bring you back in case you cannot get in) or are you giving this information to the airline who will then send it to the US Government to note that you have "left the country". If it's the former, you may want to show the passport you plan on using to enter Brazil (BTW, do US passport holders need visas to Brazil?). If it's the latter, then you probably want to show your US passport.

If I were you, I'd ask at the airline counter when they ask for your passport.

[lucyrich 19]

I am traveling to Brazil next week and I have a passport question.

Since I am dual Citizen Germany - USA can I leave the US with my US Passport - enter Brazil with my German passport( since Germany does not require Visa ) ?

Leave Brazil with German passport and enter US with US Passport. Will that work or are they going to ask me questions.. why I travel with 2 passports ?

When leaving the US, you don't really go through immigration. You have to show your passport to the airline. I'm not sure what happens with this data. Are you showing the airline you have the right to enter the destination (so they don't have to bring you back in case you cannot get in) or are you giving this information to the airline who will then send it to the US Government to note that you have "left the country". If it's the former, you may want to show the passport you plan on using to enter Brazil (BTW, do US passport holders need visas to Brazil?). If it's the latter, then you probably want to show your US passport.

If I were you, I'd ask at the airline counter when they ask for your passport.

I agree with your analysis, and I'll add that US passport holders DO need an expensive visa to enter Brazil. Brazil has a "reciprocity policy", so if country X requires Brazilian citizens to get a visa to visit, then citizens of country X must get a visa (and pay an equivalent fee) to visit Brazil. Therefore, many dual citizens find it easier and/or cheaper to visit Brazil on a non-US passport.

[AusCal 3]

This was my experience travelling recently - dual Australian/US citizen - flying US to Australia, then return.

At the airline check-in at the US airport I handed over my US passport (based on the info - when in US, use your US passport) - when the attendant realised I was an Australian citizen, she asked for my Australian passport instead - but, told me to use my US passport going through security. When landing in Sydney, I used my Australian passport to go through immigration there.

Coming back to the US, I handed over my Australian passport at the airline counter - she asked for my US passsport instead, but, told my to use my Australian passport when going out through immigration. When I arrived in the US, I used my US passport at US immigration.

To my understanding, the reason the airlines asked for the passport of "where I was going to" was becasue, if I was travelling on the "local" passport, the problem was I did not have a visa (even an electronic visa) for my destination. There were no "why di you have two passports questions" - dual citizen ship seemed well understood. I avoided any situation where I handed two passports to immigration officials. At no point during the trip did I receive any stamps in my passport - and that was never even mentioned/noticed/nor an issue.

To the OP - I think your original plan is sound, legal, and a good financial decision.

[Oasis 0]

Yes but here is the thing..

I leave US with US passport - enter Brazil with German ( Germany is not required a visa )

Leave Brazil with German passport and enter US with US passport.

They are going to ask where I am coming from ? I say Brazil - then they look in my passport and say: Where was your visa ? Then what ?

[AusCal 3]

They are going to ask where I am coming from ? I say Brazil - then they look in my passport and say: Where was your visa ? Then what ?

Then you tell them you are a dual US/German citizen, and that you used your German passport to enter Brazil. It's perfectly legal. If you are dual passport holder, it is your choice whether to use your US or other passport to enter a country other than the US.

[bruno12 0]

Oasis,

did you travel there? How did it work out? I am in the same boat German US dual citizen and I am going to Brazil this summer leaving from the US. I would love to hear your story, and I would love to save the visa fee using my German Passport. Wuerde mich freuen von Dir zu hoeren.