The use of a Canadian or American passport for travel...

[h3a3j6]

Hello everyone,

A little off topic but I'm curious if anyone with a dual US or Canadian nationality can comment on the below:

One of my good friends who's a dual national of France and the US (US by naturalisation) claims that he has to use his US passport for all travel outside the US (except for France) or else it may be perceived as wanting to relinquish their US citizenship.

I've done some research online but couldn't find any confirmation of the above statement (quite the contrary actually)... Curious if any of you have come across something similar? Do we as Canadians have such a constraint?

Thanks for your comments.

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

Hello everyone,

A little off topic but I'm curious if anyone with a dual US or Canadian nationality can comment on the below:

One of my good friends who's a dual national of France and the US (US by naturalisation) claims that he has to use his US passport for all travel outside the US (except for France) or else it may be perceived as wanting to relinquish their US citizenship.

I've done some research online but couldn't find any confirmation of the above statement (quite the contrary actually)... Curious if any of you have come across something similar? Do we as Canadians have such a constraint?

Thanks for your comments.

To answer your question "Do we as Canadians have such a constraint?"
Absolutely not!

 

[spyfy]

Hello everyone,

A little off topic but I'm curious if anyone with a dual US or Canadian nationality can comment on the below:

One of my good friends who's a dual national of France and the US (US by naturalisation) claims that he has to use his US passport for all travel outside the US (except for France) or else it may be perceived as wanting to relinquish their US citizenship.

I've done some research online but couldn't find any confirmation of the above statement (quite the contrary actually)... Curious if any of you have come across something similar? Do we as Canadians have such a constraint?

Thanks for your comments.

What your friend says is not correct. He has to use his US passport to enter the US, but apart from that he can use either passport.

Sometimes I wonder why there are so many urban myths about US citizenship...

 

[hfinkel]

What your friend says is not correct. He has to use his US passport to enter the US, but apart from that he can use either passport.

yes, every country generally has the same rule. You need to use the native passport, if you have one, when entering a country.
Use any passport for other countries.

 

[Natan]

Hello everyone,

A little off topic but I'm curious if anyone with a dual US or Canadian nationality can comment on the below:

One of my good friends who's a dual national of France and the US (US by naturalisation) claims that he has to use his US passport for all travel outside the US (except for France) or else it may be perceived as wanting to relinquish their US citizenship.

I've done some research online but couldn't find any confirmation of the above statement (quite the contrary actually)... Curious if any of you have come across something similar? Do we as Canadians have such a constraint?

Thanks for your comments.

If a dual, or multinational, U.S. citizen commits (i) an expatriating act (e.g., taking a policy making position with a foreign government), (ii) a potentially expatriating act with an intent to relinquish citizenship (e.g., naturalizing as a citizen of another country with the intent to cease being an American citizen thereby), or (iii) an act or acts wholly inconsistent with an intent to maintain U.S. citizenship (e.g., taking up arms against the U.S.); then presenting a foreign travel document to American authorities (e.g., police, customs officers) may be construed as evidence of intent to relinquish citizenship. Note, one must have committed one of the above mentioned three acts and be a multinational citizen, in order for this to apply. (Naturalized citizens are generally required to renounce, as opposed to relinquish, their citizenship in-person before an official authorized to accept such declarations.)

An advantage of traveling on a U.S. passport is the protection afforded by the Dept. of State, which is often far greater, and more effective, than the protection afforded by Canadian, and other, authorities. Travelling on a non-U.S. passport has its advantages too. (Btw, U.S. citizens are restricted from travelling to certain countries. Travelling to one of these countries on a non-U.S. passport, as a way to get around the restrictions, is still illegal -- even if a citizen of the restricted country. Doing so, as a multinational who has committed one of the three acts mentioned above, may be construed as evidence of intent to relinquish citizenship.)

 

[Natan]

yes, every country generally has the same rule. You need to use the native passport, if you have one, when entering a country.
Use any passport for other countries.

Many countries allow their citizens to use foreign passports to cross their borders. Some countries encourage multinational citizenship.