Non touristy question

I have friends that have dual citizenship (U.S. and U.K.). They carry both passports with them. When they enter the UK, they use the EU line and show U.K. immigration their U.K. passport. When they enter the U.S., they use the U.S. citizen line and show immigration their U.S. passport.

Hi Susan, thanks for your reply. :) Even if I travel on my Australian passport I don't need a visa to enter the UK, and I just checked - my passport is due to expire next month, so I have the option of paying a couple of hundred dollars to get it renewed, or just use my Oz passport. But if I take my UK birth certificate I shouldn't face any problems. Hope!! :)

Hi Laura... Well I guess that makes me a dual citizen too...lol. I'm an Australian Citizen and a British subject too, but am not a US citizen - just a permanent resident. As I just posted (at the same time as you posted.lol), just found my UK passport about to expire, but from what I gather - being an Australian passport holder I dont need a visa to enter the UK, and as a US permanent resident I don't need a re-entry visa to come back to the US...that is if I want to come back after being in the land of my birth..lol :D

Not an answer to your question, but why not use your UK passport?

You are a citizen. You can work and live legally in the UK anytime you want, for however long you want. If you get offered a job there, then you take it and start living there. You may wish to have your UK passport there as proof of citizenship (and to skip the lines for tourists entering the country), but that's about it.

Hi Nancy and Nicholas, I didn't think it would be complicated, but thought I'd ask..lol. I thought it would just confuse the issue using my UK passport because the first thing they do is look inside for a visa to the USA and then I show my permanent resident card to explain that and then they wonder why I'm using a UK passport when it obviously hasn't been used before ( I used my Australian passport for other travel). I didn't anyone to think I was trying to sneak into the country to work..lol

Hi, i don't know the official position, so i'd check ... but if you're British can't see a visa problem. There are diff types of uk passport but it sounds as if you're a full citizen.
S

Hi linzi Prob help if you took your out of date passport too. They can always work out technicalities. Note - check visa position beforehand, but i'd be stunned if you had serious problems. Sounds like getting back to the US may be more of an issue ...
S :0)) and welcome back !!

If you do elect to use your Australian passport, you do still receive an entry stamp that is your visa for visiting the UK, valid for 90 days. General advice is that you need a passport that will be valid for the length of your stay, which means if you will be traveling on a passport that requires a stamp and expires before the end of the validity of the stamp, you may face some hassle. As for the UK passport, a passport is the single best and most convenient evidence of citizenship that you have. You should absolutely get it renewed, especially if you are considering living or working there. As for the American visa, that doesn't matter and you will not face any questions about it. You are more likely to face questions about why you, as a UK citizen, are using a non-UK passport to enter the UK.

Thank you Susan. : I must admit I'm getting very excited..lol :) Thanks Nicholas...I would have thought my UK birth certificate would have been a good proof of citizenship too? I didn't think they would realize I'm a UK subject if I used my Australian passport? I presumed they would just think I was an Australian tourist..lol, but maybe I'm wrong?? It's got me thinking for sure as to whether to actually consider the expense of getting a new UK passport or just sticking to my Australian one, especially as it's valid for another couple of years and if I get a stamp in it saying I can be there for 90 days that should be okay. Of course that 90 day visa doesn't allow me to work, and even though this trip is purely for vacation purposes I'm not adverse to being offered a job. :)

There are forums that are specifically geared to people in your situation. http://britishexpats.com is one, and I'm sure there are others. Be sure to check official regulations about which passport to use when entering and leaving each country, and do not merely go on what an unofficial source like a travel or expat board says. I know someone who is a dual US and Brazilian citizen, and she said that for her situation, each country demands that she enter and leave on that country's passport. She has to "shuffle" them on the plane, and to be very careful, as each one gets quite upset if she tries to enter on the "wrong" one (even inadvertently). I have no knowledge of England's rules, but you should find them out before making any plans.

The certified copy of my UK birth certificate says "Warning: A certificate is not evidence of identity" And the rules governing the issue, and identity requirements, of full UK passports have been tightened up considerably in the past few years.

Thanks to all for the wonderful advice. :). My birth certificate (dating back to 1963) is the original and not a certified copy lol. I have other UK friends who live in Australia and who are Oz citizens who regularly visit the UK on their Australian passports as they're visiting as a tourist. I guess I'm just debating about the $220 cost of getting a new UK passport lol. This upcoming trip while not totally on a budget, I would prefer not to use any of my allocated spending money for a UK passport.
But I will definitely do some research just to make sure I don't face any problems upon my arrival at Heathrow. The last thing I want is to be turned away :(

If you are a permanent resident in USA (Green card) you need clearance from the USA Internal Revenue Service to leave the country. You have to show that you are up to date on filing your tax returns and on payments for the current year. Often the clearance yjey give you is fora limited time (eg you would have to return by X date. According to IRS, they are also in cahoots with ICE. You supposedly will have problems returning to USA if you arent back in time. (Check with an IRS office). As a Geen card owner you are expected to know this You shouldnt have problems with the UK end of it (you are a citizen), your problem will come when you try and come back

Hi Brian, Nobody has told me that bit of information before, not even Immigration. I was told that I can leave the country whenever I like so long as I am not gone for 12 mths or longer. If I plan on being gone that amount of time I have to apply for a re-entry permit before I leave. The only thing that does is extend the amount of time I have to continuously live here before I can become a citizen. I went to Australia in 2009 without any problems and again in 2010.

Hi linzi Do not try to enter uk if you do not have a valid passport for any country - sounds as if you'll be carrying a valid ozzie passport and will enter on such. Once you are in the uk, if you have your old passport and birth certificate, i'm sure the uk passport office will help. I can forsee problems if you just pitch up with a birth certificate ... An old uk passport will be of help to the passport office once you're in the country. I would think you'll need to travel on a valid passport (to get on a plane). Also, check you can get back into US. UK can sort out passports very quickly in UK (before you travel) - if you're near an Embassey they'll almost certainly be very helpful. The UK border is very well checked and policed. Passports are enforced rigorously. The visa position will probably be sorted if you're a full british citizen. Check with the nearest Embassey.
S : 0)

Linzi Check the IRS site for IRS Form 2063 (colloquilly called "Alien Sailing Permit"- I dont think thats its official name any more). Or more safely, go and talk to an agent at your local IRS office. This is too important to take either my or anyone else's word. You can be denied boarding in USA (if the airline checks) and definitely could be denied re-entry back to USA. The Immigration officilas check you out on their computer when you return
Brian

Linzi Your IRS agent will probably also hand you a copy of "Publication 519 Alien Clearance" ed quotes from this IRS publication(if you are not a USA citizen): You are required to obtain a departure permit You are required to file Form 2063.
You should get your sailing or departure permit at least two weeks before you plan to leave As I said before, Form 2063, which you hand in at your IRS office requires a list of income tax forms and information, so you need to find out in advance so you can have it with you Brian

You are entitled to work in the UK. My husband has dual citizenship with Ireland & the US. I believe he is legally required to present both passports. When you land, I would check to see if you need an equivalent to the US Social Security number in order to work.