First time using US passport traveling back to Canada.

[König]

1. US law/regulations are, IMHO, a bit more strict. The USA requires that its citizens, including dual citizens, use a US passport to enter/leave. Canada is a bit less strict in only recommending the use of a Canadian passport.

You pointed at the right reference, but IMO you interpreted it wrongly. Here is the full quote:

Canadians Returning Home

Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to assist in confirming your legal right to enter Canada.

The Government of Canada recommends that Canadian citizens travel with a valid Canadian passport because it is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel.

International transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a passport. Therefore, Canadian citizens may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance if they present other documents such as those noted below.

• Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)/Enhanced Identification Card (EIC)
• NEXUS card (used where the program is available)
• Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card used in FAST lanes
• Canadian citizenship card
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Birth certificate in combination with either a driver's licence or a government-issued photo identification

It is my understanding that the CBSA recommends Canadians to have Canadian passport because it is the only universally accepted travel and identification document compared to other limited-validity documents such as NEXUS card or enhanced driving licence which may not be valid for entering Canada by air. I really did not get any impression that the CBSA even hinted at the dual citizen scenario in this entire section. I think the main point that the CBSA was trying to convey is to have a passport without the explicit emphasis that it should be Canadian passport because it is assumed by default that Canadians will travel with Canadian passport. I hope I did not confuse you with my long-winded explanation

 

[cafeconleche]

I feel similarly to Koenig. I guess my initial post here that it was REQUIRED by the Canadians to have a Canadian passport isn't correct, though. My mistake.

 

[easybay]

Well, we took our trip and used our US passports exclusively. We were asked by a Canadian immigration officer what our citizenship was and we replied US, to which she responded you are still Canadian. Which we understand, but since we were using our US passports, we wanted to answer truthfully. We took our Canadian passports with us on the trip, but didn't use them. I'm not entirely convinced as to what we should travel on, but since we are living in the US and are citizens of the USA for now we are using our US passports.

 

[König]

We were asked by a Canadian immigration officer what our citizenship was and we replied US, to which she responded you are still Canadian. Which we understand, but since we were using our US passports, we wanted to answer truthfully.

To answer truthfully would require mentioning both US and Canadian citizenships. It does not depend on the fact which passport you have with you at the moment.

 

[Triple Citizen]

That does not change the fact that you are still Canadian citizens and CIC officials will still consider you as such until you formally renounce your Canadian citizenship. I am just very surprised that you carried your Canadian passports and still identified yourself as US citizens at a Canadian POE. I will never do that. I guess we are all programmed differently.

I'm not entirely convinced as to what we should travel on, but since we are living in the US and are citizens of the USA for now we are using our US passports.

 

[cafeconleche]

If you didn't show your Canadian passports, how did the officer know you're Canadian?

 

[König]

That does not change the fact that you are still Canadian citizens and CIC officials will still consider you as such until you formally renounce your Canadian citizenship. I am just very surprised that you carried your Canadian passports and still identified yourself as US citizens at a Canadian POE.

If the OP happened to wind up in a Canadian jail, she would quickly realise that the US Department of State also considers her to be a Canadian citizen while on Canadian soil by not providing any legal help as a part of consular assistance. Some people realise that having and using multiple passports open new possibilities for them, but some choose to put their own constraints on themselves. If she tried to do this trick with Russian border guards while holding Russian citizenship, she would be detained, fined and not permitted to leave the country on anything other than the appropriate passport. Canadians are too lenient, IMHO.