Which Passport Do You Use

US leaving and entering the States. French entering and leaving France, as well as any internal European travel.

Last week, I used my US passport checking in for a flight from Armenia to the States because that’s what Air France had in its computers, but for passport control five minutes later, I had to use the French because that’s what I had used crossing into Armenia from Georgia. Just have to keep it straight in the head—not always easy. The more I juggle the two, the more comfortable I feel, and I thank my lucky stars for the privilege of being allowed to carry the two. ( And yes, outside the US or Schengen both are in my purse everyday when out and about.)

You really should have both of them with you. My daughter has dual German and American and when we go to the US, she is supposed to use her American passport. Yet, when she shows it, they question when she entered Germany, or where is her residency stamp, etc. so then she needs to show her German passport which then explains away those issues.

Don't worry about it too much. There are tons of people out there with dual citizenship and sometimes even triple.

I always use my Israeli passport, no option there. I have to leave and reenter the country with it. Whether I take my US passport as well depends on visas. For Europe and a lot of other places, all I need is the Israeli one, but there've been instances when it was easier/cheaper to get a visa using the US passport. Of course, going to the US I must use that passport. Sometimes when I leave Israel I'm asked if I have another passport, I have no idea why.

I used to take my US passport to Europe, but at some point I realized the US embassies/consulates are no help and the Israeli ones are, so why bother.

I've decided to get a new Israeli passport, 2 years before it expires, because I'm tired of standing in line at passport control here. A year or so after I got my latest passport, Israel began issuing biometric passports. Holders just go to a machine at the airport and there are enough that there's never a line. I don't even need to get passport photos, they take them on the spot when you apply - and even ask if you like the photo. If you don't, they take another one!

Sounds like a good system Chani. What biometric do they use?

When I travel alone, I enter other countries on my Italian passport. The lines always seem to be shorter for EU passport holders. When I travel with my mom who only has a US passport, I use my US passport so we can go through the lines together. I always take both passports when I travel. Honestly, it took several years and a lot of work to get my Italian passport, so I enjoy using it whenever I can! 😊

I agree with the sentiment that you should travel with both. If you choose to take only one, it should be your country of residence if it matches one of the passports. The main issue is Immigration requirements. So if you have US/French for example, show the US passport when leaving the US, show the French Passport when arriving in the Schengen or EU zones, regardless of which Country, the French again when leaving the Schengen/Euro Zone, then the US when arriving in the US. You could get away with just using your US passport if time in Country is not a concern, though some countries sort of insist you use for example your French passport if entering France.

I agree with the sentiment that you should travel with both

In some cases it’s a requirement, not a sentiment. I have firsthand knowledge of a dual US-Canadian woman coming to my town for a 3-day conference. Her residence is in Canada. However, when she brought only her Canadian passport to the airport, she was denied US clearance for not having her US, also. You have to have both if you are US-Canadian.

Brad - here's the government website with all the explanations for a biometric passport (and a lot of other stuff too). It's a photo and prints of both index fingers, but you have the option to not keep the prints in the government
data base (just on the chip in the passport, I guess).

It's very similar to both US Global Entry and the European biometric passport : fingerprints, photo.

It is the law in most countries that if you are a citizen, you must enter using its own passport. For 30 years living in Canada, I always entered U.S. on the U.S. passport and vice versa. Last month, I entered the U.S. for the first time after renouncing my citizenship. The agent looked at my Canadian passport showing a U.S. birthplace and asked me to confirm I had officially renounced before letting me in. So, yes, you need to be conscientious about which passport you use at entry.