dual passports

[canadianatheart]

Has anyone been in a similiar situation?  If so I would like to know what you have done.  My cousin is a canadian citizen but now she is in the states.  I had inquired for her before if she could have her green card and her canadian passport at the same time and the answer was yes.
Now she is an american citizen.  They told her that she should clip her Canadian Passport now.  So if she were to keep both and travel to Canada when she shows her passport at the Canadian border they obviously stamp the Canadian Passport and when she arrives in the States and presents an American passport they will stamp the American passport and when they do that they will know she used a Canadian passport to enter Canada.  So what would happen in regards to American citizenship?

THanks

[AllisonVSC]

The US doesn't stamp my US passport when I enter the country. Canada doesn't stamp my Canadian partner's passport (France doesn't stamp his French passport either) upon entry. They just look at it.

But it doesn't matter if she gets stamps or not. Citizens of the US and Canada are free to come and go as they please. Holding dual citizenship and travelling does not pose any risk to citizenship. She can hold dual US/CAN citizenship; many people do. It will not be a problem.

Generally speaking though, I have heard that it is better to use only one passport per trip. For example, going to Canada, use your Canadian one both ways. Going somewhere else, choose one passport (probably the US one if that is where she lives) and use it for both entry and exit. Maybe others could comment on the use of multiple passports.

[canadianatheart]

But what do you do if you are traveling between Canada and the U.S.  since she has both?

[Leon]

The US requires US citizens to use their US passport when leaving and entering the US. 

What she has been doing, using the US passport when leaving and entering the US and the Canadian passport when arriving and leaving Canada, is correct.  She is allowed to be a dual citizen of these countries and she is allowed to have 2 passports.

US citizens entering Canada often don't get a stamp in their passport so that might not raise any questions at the US border but if it does, she can tell them she is dual and show them her Canadian passport too.  The US does not forbid you to be a dual citizen and many people are.

[AllisonVSC]

The US requires US citizens to use their US passport when leaving and entering the US. 

Thanks, Leon, for the info. Do you happen to know if Canada has the same requirement?

[steaky]

Thanks, Leon, for the info. Do you happen to know if Canada has the same requirement?

Canada does not has the same requirement.  They only recommend to use Canadian passport entering Canada.

[canadianatheart]

This is what i heard from the Canadian border services in Canada:  recommends that you use the passport of the country you reside in.


 But the US says to use US passport while leaving and entering the US.  So if you enter Canada with an American passport then you are considered American and you don't get any exemptions or rights as a Canadian. 
But if you enter as a Canadian then there is no stamp on your passport and when crossing the American border they will come to know that you have used another passport and then what?

[steaky]

No, this is not true.

After many arrivals to Canada, I find it is up to the BSO to stamp the foreign passport regardless whether you enter Canada as a Canadian or foreigner.

[aussiepete]

But what do you do if you are traveling between Canada and the U.S.  since she has both?

Sorry but are you stupid? Some people ask the most stupid questions that it's beyond belief. Common sense will answer your questions!