What does leaving the US on a US passport actually entail?

[Elphaba 3]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html says

 

Quote

U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

 

I understand the entering part, but how do dual citizens "use" a passport to leave the US? There's no exit immigration control.

[milimelo 4,503]

You check in with your US passport? 

[Mike E 11,741]

6 hours ago, Elphaba said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html says

 

 

I understand the entering part, but how do dual citizens "use" a passport to leave the US? There's no exit immigration control.

The state department website is one riddled with bluster and no bite.  
 

You only have to use a USA passport to leave the USA when using an aircraft.  As anyone who travels by cruise ship knows, USA citizens routinely and without issue use a USA birth certificate to leave and  enter the USA each day in a cruise ship by the hundreds if not thousands.  
 

You use your USA passport when you check in for your flight.  There are no penalties if USA citizens don’t present their USA passport to the airline.  It’s just against a law that has no penalties.  This law is broken by people with multiple citizenships each day, both exit and entrance.  However some times CBP does staff airline jetways and there if a USA citizen doesn’t have a USA passport, I presume the citizen would be denied boarding.  
 

If you happen to have multiple citizenships, and another passport gives you an advantage over your USA passport to enter the country, such as giving you a visa waiver, then you also present your other passport.  
 

The airlines send manifests to CBP for each exiting flight and thus CBP knows which passengers are USA citizens that used their USA passport.  
 

When I travel to Canada, I present my USA passport at check in.  When I land in Canada, I present my Canadian passport to the immigration officer so that I my stay is not recorded as limited to 6 months.  
 

On return I just present my USA passport to the airline, and then 5 minutes later to CBP at the preclearance desk.  
 

If Canada had formal exit controls like the Schengen Area then I would present both passports to the airline, my Canadian passport to CBSA, and my USA passport to CBP.  

Edited February 18, 2022 by Mike E

[ImmiGeek 59]

This question also let me to do some research on the diff between US Citizen and US National : https://www.stilt.com/blog/2020/03/u-s-national/

[Elphaba 3]

8 hours ago, ImmiGeek said:

This question also let me to do some research on the diff between US Citizen and US National : https://www.stilt.com/blog/2020/03/u-s-national/

US Nationals are such a tiny minority many people have never heard of them.

 

I wonder how they manage everyday tasks like opening bank accounts. I feel like I've seen tons of online forms that let people select "citizen" or "permanent resident" but have no option for "national".

[STO Overland 137]

2 hours ago, Elphaba said:

US Nationals are such a tiny minority many people have never heard of them.

 

I wonder how they manage everyday tasks like opening bank accounts. I feel like I've seen tons of online forms that let people select "citizen" or "permanent resident" but have no option for "national".

If you read the article, the majority of rights are the same including access to jobs, right to live in the US, can’t be deported (while a green card holder can be). Major difference is not being able to vote or run for elect office. 

[Mike E 11,741]

2 hours ago, Elphaba said:

US Nationals are such a tiny minority many people have never heard of them.

 

I wonder how they manage everyday tasks like opening bank accounts. I feel like I've seen tons of online forms that let people select "citizen" or "permanent resident" but have no option for "national".

Well over 99.9 percent of US nationals alive today are citizens of American Samoa.  Most American Samoans live in America Samoa and so will have no problem opening accounts and such in their own country.  
 

Any US National  who is age 18 and has spent 3 continuous months in  a USCIS service district or US state is eligible to apply for USA citizenship … no green card needed.  
 

So the playbook for an American Samoan who wants to open a bank account in Hawaii or the mainland is pretty simple. Apply USA citizen as soon as they reach age 18, wait year, take oath.  Done. 

[Mike E 11,741]

Note that a US passport is a sufficient list A document for I-9 meaning all USA nationals can live and work in the USA. And yes I-9 has a check box for them.  I really have my doubts that American Samoans have problems opening bank accounts and such.  

Edited February 19, 2022 by Mike E