Travelling on 2 passports

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tchart

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#303217 25-Jan-2023 09:01

Hey Travellers

I travel on my UK passport but gained NZ citizenship last year. On my last trip to the US I had some trouble at the checkin since I didnt have the "citizen" endorsement in my UK passport (and didnt have my NZ passport yet).

Anyhoo, Im off to the US again in March.

Now that I have my NZ passport I was going to enter the US on my UK passport as I have a business visa in that passport.

Ive checked the NZ immigration site and it states that there are no issues travelling on multiple passports as long as you leave/enter NZ on the same passport (so that they can see you return).

The NZ side is pretty clear; exit on NZ and enter on NZ, all electronic so no issues.

What Im not sure about is on the US side. Obviously when you enter you get a physical stamp in the passport but I dont see any exit stamps in my passports.

So...

Do I check in at the US with my NZ passport or UK passport?

Do TSA simply check the name matches a passport or do they check the passport number?

Im guessing I need to check in with the UK passport but show them my NZ passport?

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#3026859 25-Jan-2023 09:31

If you have a business visa in your UK passport and going for business then use that.

You need to leave the country on the same passport you entered.

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lxsw20

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#3026866 25-Jan-2023 09:49

Yeap its as simple as above. I once tried to enter Hong Kong on an NZ passport and leave on my UK passport, they were not very happy with me!

Your ESTA is probably tied to your UK passport, also.

Senecio

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#3026868 25-Jan-2023 09:54

I did this for many years. Only ever had one issue when I came upon a relatively inexperienced immigration officer. As soon as they called their supervisor it was all sorted pretty quickly.

As you've said. Exit and leave NZ using your NZ Passport. Enter and leave the US using your UK Passport. Make sure you have your NZ Passport with you as they may query your right to reside in NZ without any endorsement in your UK Passport.

nztim

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#3026890 25-Jan-2023 10:28

Travel on your UK Passport in/out

Show your NZ Password as proof of NZ Citizenship both at check in to return to NZ in the US and at Immigration clearance in NZ - go see an officer and don't use a smart gate

If you want to use a smart gate, then get a citizenship endorsement in your UK passport.

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

tchart

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#3026894 25-Jan-2023 10:32

Thanks everyone!

afe66

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#3026963 25-Jan-2023 13:42

I have both and travel everywhere on my nz passport and only use UK for entering UK. (we have annoyed far fewer/no ppl in comparison to UK)

So for us leg I would have esta on nz passport so use that.

Also used to used UK passport when in Europe but that ship has sailed.. My partner has no issues traveling with me in Europe on her nz passport. Flying inside Europe was so lax we occasionally walked right through airport with no one asking anything.

When my UK passport expires I won't renew it as there is little point in me fast tracking through UK queue when partner and kids have to queue for an hour in non UK line...

Ie I one had my infant nz child and when I carried her to UK passport que they wouldn't let me carry her through with me...

roobarb

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#3026968 25-Jan-2023 13:50

afe66: Flying inside Europe was so lax we occasionally walked right through airport with no one asking anything.

That isn't lax, that is by design. Once inside the Schengen Area you can normally move freely. Flights within the Schengen Area are like a domestic flight in other countries.

afe66

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#3027217 26-Jan-2023 07:47

roobarb:
afe66: Flying inside Europe was so lax we occasionally walked right through airport with no one asking anything.

That isn't lax, that is by design. Once inside the Schengen Area you can normally move freely. Flights within the Schengen Area are like a domestic flight in other countries.

Except for some reason, some countries insisted on stamping my partners nz passport. Ie got called back to security desk

Rickles

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#3027729 27-Jan-2023 08:43

I have two passports due to dual nationality, being NZ and American.

AirNZ ticketing required me to leave NZ with US passport nominated as the one I'd use to enter the USA.

Returning to NZ, the AirNZ ticketing counter at LAX changed it to the NZ passport details as that is the one I use to enter NZ.

That process apparently covers the airline's responsibility to ensure passenger has correct documentation.

As for Immigration, there were no problems at either end!

tchart

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#3027737 27-Jan-2023 09:00

Rickles:

Returning to NZ, the AirNZ ticketing counter at LAX changed it to the NZ passport details as that is the one I use to enter NZ.

Thanks @Rickles, so no problems with going through TSA when exiting the US? Did you show them your NZ passport?

Im just not sure how they know youve left.

Rickles

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#3027742 27-Jan-2023 09:10

@tchart ... I think I just flashed the US passport for leaving the US, and used the NZ one for boarding ID.

Just looked at both passports and neither have any stamps of any kind.

Rules may have changed of course.

tchart

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#3027755 27-Jan-2023 09:39

Rickles:

@tchart ... I think I just flashed the US passport for leaving the US, and used the NZ one for boarding ID.

Just looked at both passports and neither have any stamps of any kind.

Rules may have changed of course.

Thanks. Yes I dont have any exit stamps either. Its pretty cut and dry with NZ given you either go through a gate or see a border officer on entry/exit.

Probably not an issue for you (given you're a US citizen) but Im concerned that US Immigration wont realise Ive left and think Ive over stayed.

Kyanar

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#3034583 10-Feb-2023 14:15

tchart:

Thanks @Rickles, so no problems with going through TSA when exiting the US? Did you show them your NZ passport?

Im just not sure how they know youve left.

The US does not have exit controls. They mark you as left based on APIS records provided by the airline, which can sometimes result in the I-94 record not showing that you've left, and you effectively getting "lost in the system".

tchart

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#3052369 20-Mar-2023 14:33

Just to update this thread. I returned from the US on the weekend.

Travel went like this;

1. Scanned UK passport (with USA Visa) in Wellington when checking in at Air NZ.

2. Scanned NZ passport in Auckland at e-gate - DID NOT WORK

3. Had to go to counter, agent asked if I had a different passport.

4. Handed over UK passport, agent said all good. I did confirm with him that I could enter on my NZ passport.

5. I did get pulled over at the gate in Auckland (since I dont have ESTA) but all good after sighting visa. Was surprised it was only at this point usually this is sighted in Wellington but the self-checkin worked for a change. BTW the new departure wing is a heck of a trek compared to the old gates.

6. Had no issues entering US in LAX on UK passport.

7. For return flight checked in at LAX using NZ passport.

8. No issues in LAX (at TSA, gate etc).

9. No issues at e-gate in Auckland (although some of the gates were acting a bit odd - kept rejecting mine and others passports, mine worked on the third try).

10. I confirmed this morning on the CBP website that the departure had indeed been recorded - useful site BTW https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/history-search

They must be matching based on name, birthday etc

Kyanar

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#3052470 20-Mar-2023 19:26

Auckland gates are the worst, honestly. Not surprised you had issues. I've been on a flight where over half an entire A321neo got bounced to the two(!) officers on duty for processing.

You can actually apply for a new ESTA with your new NZ passport, during the application process it asks for all your passports and links all of them meaning you should be able to travel to the US on whatever passport you please (it's unclear whether it links them for I-94 purposes, so I'd use the same one for entry as for exit). If you have an actual visa though, I could see that being a lot more complication. I don't think they have a process to apply the foil to multiple passports for one person.

You may find an NZ citizen endorsement worth doing. That way can you can enter NZ on your UK passport, without having to faff about with multiple passports.

The data matching is I believe based on full name, birth date, and place of birth.

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