AusCal

there will definitely be no "taking" of my Aussie licence. It is the property of Australia and the US government has no rights to it, as well as not having the right to damage it.

yeah!

When I applied for my CA DL, I don't recall ever being asked if I had a foreign license. There may be have been a question about whether I held anothe "US" drivers license.I applied for my learners permit, did the written exam - then scheduled for a driving test a few days later. I actually drove myself (alone)to the DMV to take the test for my DL - not that "they" knew that. I was worried about how bad I would feel if I failed my DL test after having held an Aussie license for 15 years or so. The instructor, from her comments, seemed aware I had been driving for a while.

Though, Vanessa, I will admit that having been here in the US for nearly 10 years now, paying the Aussie renewal is starting to feel an unnecessary expense. I do have vague recollectino about reading something where if you arenot an Australian resident you should surrender your Aussie license - heard anything about that?

It's all a bit of a hassle, eh?

Yes, it is, but, with planning at least it's really only bureaucracy & paperwork - nothing like the trauma ofwaiting for visa's etc to be granted when you are both on opposite parts of the world.

So, Mexico for your honeymoon? Enjoy!

You need to do a legal name change through BDM in your home state now. A few years ago, you could just do it with a foreign marriage certificate, but not anymore. I found this out when I was speaking to the passport section of the Los Angeles Consulate.

Thanks for the "history" info. I was lucky then that I married & changed my passport details before the BDIM requirement was introduced. I was wondering if the requirements had changed, or I had just managed to somehow sneak through.

You can always renew your passport in your maiden name very easily, it's all online now. It's only when you need it in a new name that it gets complicated.

Yes, but, if you choose to renew in your maiden name - make sure any international travel with your Australian passport is also ticketed in your maiden name - then, if your US green card is in your married name, always carry your marriage certificate as one of your travel doc's also.

Also, if anyone is thinking along the lines of "I'll fly to Australian on my "maiden name" passport, then apply for a name change & change my passport while I am there" - you will have difficulty on the return leg of your flight as your airline ticket will not match your new passport. You should probably be able to work it all out with the airport with all the documentation you will have, but, I'd either want to sort it out before I turned up at the airport, or, leave myself lots of time for the check-in, in case of being delayed.

Can't she enter as a visitor on her US passport and then get her Aussie one updated while she is there?

No - Australian Law requires all Australian citizens to enter (and leave) Australia using an Australian passport.

On top of this, I am now in the 90 day window to file for removal of conditional status. I saw the $500 something fee and wondered if I am now stuck paying that - not sure when I can file for naturalization and if it could save me anything if I started now.

I can't speak to the "earlier for military spouse" part of your question.

Other than that"

You MUST apply to remove conditions in the 90 day window immediately preceeding two years of PR status.

providing you meet other residency requirements you MAY choose to apply for naturalisation after three years of PR status - this is counted form the "resident since" sate on your green card. You can apply anytime after 90 days preceeding this three year anniversary. (Note: you must have been married to your US citizen spouse for three full years to qualify for this time frame).

Even if your Removal of Conditons is still being processed, if you become eligible you can apply for citizenship.

There is no getting around all the fees, you need to pay the appropriate amount to remove conditions, them more money if you choose to apply for citizenship.

I tried to figure out how to change my name in Australia without actually physically going there, and it's all too complicated for me... I haven't travelled anywhere since I was married five years ago, and I can't afford to anyway. My Australian passport expires later this year, and I just won't have one until I get citizenship and can get a US passport. It's not the way I would have chosen to do things, but they essentially tied my hands because of their irrational fear of the evildoers who were flooding the system with marriage-related name-change requests (NOT!)

You do realise, that, even after your are naturalised and have a US passport, you still need to use an Australian passport to enter Australia? You remain an Australian citizen, and can't use your US passport to enter aus. Your US passport will list Australia as your place of birth, so , there is no "I'll just use my US passport, and "they" won't know".

I don't have the link to where I saw it, but, I think it was somewhere much earlier in this thread,where is states something along the lines of "if your can't apply for name change, the Aust. consulate can choose to accept the "foreign" marriage certificate as a name change document. I'd be interested to read of the experience of anyone here in the US who triues to do a passport name change just using their US marriage certificate. I was able to, but, it was back in 2002, and I'm unsure if the regulations changed since then. The need to do a "name-change" was never mentioned.

That's a 5-Star response, so good it deserves 5 + ratings.

Why, Thankyou, nioce of you to say so ;-)

But now change some facts of YOUR scenario.

Now you are Chinese, traveling to China. You do have a US passport and a Chinese passport, yet since China does not allow dual citizenship, the former one is "iffy." China also requires a visa from US citizens, so now try your trip to China with a US and Chinese passport and entertain all of us. You can do it!

i think I'll pass on that option, but, thanks for offering.....you were paying for the tickets, weren't you?

I would think that in the above scenerio, it would be appropriate to use the US passport, and apply for a Chinese visa - and leave the Chinese passport totally out of it? But, I only guessing - not being Chinese, their immigration laws are not of interest to me... I also accept to someone who is from China, Australian laws aren't relevant to them either.

When you are coming back to America at the customs, does the officer ask you a lotta questions? What I don't understand is I won't have a visa or proof or anything in my American passport to show that I left the country and entered another country. What are they gonna think? Are they just gona ask to see my Taiwanese passport?

My experiences have been that the US immigration officer scans the passport, look at me, stamps the customs declaration form, and send me on my way. Normally the conversation is limited to " hello", & "thankyou" :-) If you are worried, have your Taiwan passport handy, if he asks any question, answer honestly, and show him the passport if he asks. The great thing about doing everything legally and correctly is that you have nothing to hide, and, nothing to worry about.

You know I've looked and looked and looked and I can't find anything on it which makes me think not to worry about it.

Thanks, that's somewhat re-assuring.

So, I have:

UK birth certificate - maiden name (obviously)

Aussie Naturalisation cert - maiden name

US marriage certificate

US naturalisation certificate - married name

US passport - married name

Australian passport - married name

Sigh, maybe I should apply for a UK passport too - just for the hell of it LOL. But seriously, I would be interested in finding out if I am actually still a UK citizen. I was born in Scotland, lived there for three years before immigrating to Australia. Interestingly, I grew up in Australia giving absolutely no thought to nationality/immigration status. I naturalised with my family around at around 20, but, have little recollection of the process, other than a brief interview and the local ceremony (where we were all given a little wattle tree). It wasn't until I moved to the US and began dealing with the USCIS here that I realised how complicated it could all be.

I'm wondering if you didn't experience a fluke. When I went to Australia, I wasn't questioned at all if I had a tourist visa or not. Booking the ticket, there was no information bubble saying I might even need a tourist visa.

When I traveled with my US husband, the check-in clerk at Los Angeles requested to see the printed confirmation of his e-visa (Applied online, almost instantaneous, and , from memory, $20). I don't really recall, but,have a vague recollection that there was a reference & link to obtaining this on the Qantas website at the time I booked the ticket.

I am a US/Australian/UK citizen. I understand the law that states a US citizen must leave & enter the US on a US passport. As an Australian citizen, Australian law also requires me to enter and leave Australia on my Australian passport.

My experience, on numerous occasions has been:

*Approach Los Angeles ticket counter, hand over US passport. Am asked "Do you have an Australian visa". I reply that I have an Australian passport. The ticket clerk invariably returns my US passport, and asks for the Australian passport. I use my US passport to pass through security (though, i don't believe that is registered anywhere).

*Arrive in Sydney, use Australian passport to pass through immigration.

When returning

*Approach ticket counter in Sydney - hand over Aussie passport, am asked - do you have e-visa? Reply "I have US passport." Ticket clerk returns Aussie passport & uses US details. When passing through immigration departure in Australia, use Aussie passport.

*Arrive in Los Angeles, use US passport to pass through immigration.

So, my experience mirrors Vanessa's - the ticket clerk is interested in the eligibility of the country you are visiting. As there is no US departure immigration, there is no opportunity to show the US passport.

Apologies for the slow response.

Interesting and thanks

The only issue I see with the naturalisation certificate is if later in life you want any children to be Aus citizens you'd have to change it. I don't think you'd get into trouble for waiting... but I can't be sure.

well, there are not going to be any children, so, that is a non-issue :-)

I can't find a whole heap of information on it, but I did notice that you'll have no ID documents in your maiden name for when you DO want to change it.. so how do they prove that the Jane Doe applying for it is the Jane Smith who's name is on it?

Well, I will always have my (UK)birth certificate with my maiden name. And, my Australian Naturalisation certificate.

I would assume that since you have your passport you should be okay but personally I'd've changed it with the rest just to be sure.

I hadn't even given any thought at all to changing the name on my naturalisation certificate - until this thread.

Also, out of interest, how long ago did you do this?

It was quite a few years ago - early 2002.

We do have plans for my husband and myself to move back to Asutralia - but, that's still a few years down the track. Although I'm just a little concerned about the Aussie naturalisation certificate name issue, I feel reasonably confident that an Australian passport in my married name should be adequate poof of citizenship.....I hope.

Interesting thread - I'm going to add my personal experience.

I am a foreign born naturalised Australian, I married in the US and am now there residing there.

I changed my name on my Australian passport at the LA Consulate using my US marriage certificate - absolutely no mention was made of any type of formal name change requirement- nor any mention of the requirement to change my naturalisation certificate. Now this thread has me wondering. Just a FYI - the photo's I tool in a few years later for my passport renewal were unacceptable (mouth needs to be closed). I was able to go next door to Kinko's to have them retaken - they weer very familiar with the Aussie requirements.

I changed my NSW Drivers licence name in person, and did an early renewal, using my US marriage certificate.

I changed my name on ST George Bank accounts also using my US marriage certificate.

The only item I still have in my maiden name is my Medicare card - and, my Aust Naturalisation certificate.

Unless there becomes some need to, I have no plans to do a "formal" name change. Can anyone see any repercussions of this?

I'm not sure whether you're agreeing with me or not but in reference to us giving neg's to living in Australia... music for one is kind of "filtered" in that we only hear the stuff that's gone commercial in the US (s'pose that could be bad or good). Stuff is EXPENSIVE! It doesn't snow over Xmas, have to admit that's pretty cool. It get crazy hot over summer. Possums are protected so even if they're in your roof you aren't allowed to kill them.. such a pain! If your neighbour wants a new fence you have to pay for 1/2 (as long as the fence NEEDS to be changed.. but even if you don't have the money, if a new fence is needed you MUST pay). You MUST enrol to vote at 18. That's bad because at 18 I didn't care, or pay attention. I know more now but then I just asked mum 'cause I didn't care. I think it should be a choice not a "must".

That's about all I can think of for now

I'll play LOL

*not only compulsory electoral enrollment - but, this comes with compulsory voting at all local/state/federal elections. (though as an overseas resident you have the option to be excempt from this)

*long overseas flight for a lot of travel.

*no 12 lane freeways (not sure if this is bad or good!)

If you change your AUSTRALIAN passport within a year of being married it's free. You'll actually "gain" 2 years I suppose because the new passport will be 10 years AND it's free.

Yep, that's what I did :-) thanks for providing the link. Although, the expiry date on my new passport was still the same as the one on the old passport - so, no free years LOL.

Hello,

My husband & I are traveling abroad later this year. I have an Australian Passport, which has my maiden name on it, I now have a Conditional Green Card/Permanent Residency Card, which has my married name on it.

cheers

Since you are not traveling till later this year, why not get your passport changed into your married name? From memory, I was able to do this through the Australian consulate inLA, by mail, for no charge. Admittedly, that was quite a few years ago, and things may have changed. There is a website for Australian passport application with all the info you will need. I no longer have the website address, but I'm sure you can google for the link as well as I can LOL.

Not saying you can't travel with your "maiden" name passport and "married" name GC (with marriage certificate) - but, why make life difficult? JMHO

I know that the US is one of the very few countries in the world who require their citizens to pay tax if they are non resident. For instance, I don't pay UK tax on my UK income as I am LPR in the US.

Interesting. As an Australian Citizen, even as a non-resident of the country, I am still required to pay Australian tax on Australian investment income. (Then, I need to also declare this income on my US tax return, but, receive tax credits for the tax paid to the Australian government).

I know that the US is one of the very few countries in the world who require their citizens to pay tax if they are non resident. For instance, I don't pay UK tax on my UK income as I am LPR in the US.

Interesting. As an Australian Citizen, even as a non-resident of the country, I am still required to pas Australian tax on Australian investment income. (Then, I need to also declare this income on my US tax return, but, receive tax credits for the tax paied to the Australian government).

Lansbury,

But here's a solution for an Aussie flying down under: show US passport when leaving US, then, 20 seconds later, pull out Aussie passport to show authorization to enter Kangarooland, So everybody's happy . . .

Even though Australia is a VWP country, it is not a free pass for a USC. Now an ETA (electronic authorization) is required to enter. I understand the US is starting this too for visitors from European VWP countries too. Have to go online and register your information including your passport number and pay about $20. You receive an electronic visa, just a number. The airline will require this info if you are traveling on a US passport to Australia. If you are an Aussie then you show your Aussie passport and you are fine. The airlines are the only ones that check when leaving the US. There is no immigration exit check.

Thanks Neonred - you saved my having to type that exact info :-)

Just Bob - I actually did that on my first trip(and so far only) back to Australia after receiving US citizenship. I handed over US passport at US airline check-in, was asked "do you have an electronic visa waiver". I reply "No, I am an Australian citizen",Check-in clerk "then I need to see your Australian passport". I handed over my Aussie passport, and she returned my US one to me. She used my Australian passport details for my check-in.

I see no alternative way to handle this situation.

I have just naturalized in the U.S. but the laws of my country of origin still regard me as a citizen. In other words, I am now a dual citizen. I would like to keep enjoying the privileges of freely traveling back to my family. Any other dual citizen traveling back to their country of origin? My questions:

1. What Passport to use for the travel (the flight out). I plan using U.S. passport (P1)

Since my home country (Australia) requires a visa from US travelers, the airline at US check-in needs to see my Australian passport - at Los Angeles airport, you don't pass through US immigration at exit s0, I don;t use my US passport when I leave). If your home country requires a visa from US visitors, you may find a similar situation.

When I return (US to Aus) I give my US passport at the airline check-in (as needed to show eligibility to enter US), then use my Aust passport to clear immigration there - then the US passport when I hit US soil.

Hmmm.... I didn't know that dual citizens might be required to use their non US passports to enter their home countries. How can I find out which countries require it? I tried googling, but I'm not using the right search words - I'm getting all kinds of weird stuff....

venusfire

Most EU countries require that. Russia also for sure, Mexico too.

Australia also requires it's citizen to enter/leave Australia on an Australian passport

You do realise that a US citizen leaving the US without a passport is breaking the law?

I know that, but what am I supposed to do?

postpone the oath until after you return (unless you can get it done on the 13th)

Worse comes to worse, I'll leave with my italian passport and certificate of naturalization and apply for a US passport at the US Embassy in Cairo. If that doesn't work, I'll just come back with my italian passport and certificate of naturalization and they will see that I got naturalized the very same day as I was leaving.

One thing is for sure: I will NOT cancel or postpone my vacation for that.

You do realise that a US citizen leaving the US without a passport is breaking the law? I totally understand not wanting to cancel or postpone your vacation for the oath ceremony. However, I would strongly suggest your trip will go much more smoothly if you postpone the oath until after you return (unless you can get it done on the 13th)

Firstly, I sympathise :-)

Tell your employer you can definitely make the trip - whether you choose to make alternative career plans for the future is up to you.

In your situation, I would go to the interview, and at it's conclusion request an oath date that suits your travel plans - the IO may or may not be able to help you.

Wait until you get your oath letter, if it is before 10th November, go to your oath. But, as soon as you get the interview letter, make an appointment for the day following your oath at a passport office (an actual office where they issue passports, not a post office or similar that just collects applications.)

Go to your oath, then passport office the next day with travel documents, and they can issue a passport within a day or two. - your boss will simply need to give you a few hours off, to get this done.

IF your oath date is during travel period (or the day or two preceeding it) follow the directions on your oath letter and request to have it rescheduled. Anticipate a one or two month delay.

If your oath letter has not arrived before you leave for your trip, if possible, have someone checking your mail for it during your absence. Even if you simply don't turn up at your oath, without notifying in advance, you can still reschedule.

Overall, don't panic, since you have no immediate urgency for your citizenship, you can definitely work this out without having to resign.

Oh wow, I didn't know this about secured card. I'll call and ask them. Thanks for the warning!!!

It won't hurt to check,but, my secured card was reported to the three major credit agencies automatically.

Also, after 12 months, my $300 secured card (no annual fee) magically became a $2000 unsecured card :-)

To those who are in the process of having to start a credit rating, a secured card is the easiest way to start. Just look online for one without an annual fee.