GC holder traveling outside the US with a different passport

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Filipok

Registered Users (C)
I am a GC holder, currently in the United States. I would like to go traveling to Central and South America for a few months (less than 6 in total). At the time I received my Green Card I was living and working in Western Europe as a citizen of Ukraine. The Green Card has Ukraine as my place of Birth; the entry visa is in my Ukrainian passport. I also have a European (EU) passport.

I would like to use my EU passport for the trip to avoid having to get visas in advance, but I am concerned about using it to exit/enter the US, particularly if I come back with a 3rd country passport and get extra scrutiny regarding my intention to stay in the US.

After receiving my GC (DV lottery), I spent over 2 years in Europe before finally settling in the US, visiting the US from time to time and using a Reentry Permit (already expired), even getting a verbal warning at one point at the airport. I have only been in the US 4 months since I settled here so there is a history of long term absence, although partially covered by the Reentry Permit.

Should I use my Ukrainian passport to register for the flight from the US and then to come back and my European passport to travel within Central/South America? Or should I use the EU passport everywhere? Does it make any difference or perhaps I'm just worrying about something unimportant?
 
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At check in use your EU passport and if asked about your status in the US show your GC and Ukrainian passport. When you return to the US, show your GC and Ukrainian passport, and if asked about stamps, show your EU passport. It isn't illegal. Use your EU passport everywhere else.
 
I am flying from one Central American country to another via Atlanta. I have registered for the flight with my European passport. The connection is about 2.5 hours. Which passport should I show at in the US border? Can I show the Ukrainian one if I'm registered for the flight with the European one? Shall I re-register with the other passport?

I'm nervous because I'm flying in and out with a history of absences from the US before. Is it a good idea to fly via the US? The ticket is refundable so I can cancel or change it to fly via a different country, but it would be much more expensive.
 
Your pattern of trips are recorded against your green card, not your passport. It does not matter which passport you use in the US, your travel history will be available for the immigration inspector.
 
When you buy tickets leaving or connecting in the US, you are required to provide in advance your passport number, country of nationality, date of birth, and expiry date. You are not normally asked to provide your GC number. You only give the GC to the officer when you enter the country. I think the trips are recorded against the passport and sometimes the green card.
 
I agree. I would also think that your travel history is linked with your passport.

Now there comes a question. When your national passport expires and you get a new one from your country, should you somehow keep the old passport? I am saying "somehow" because, in my country, you are required to surrender old passport when you apply for a new one - the only way to keep it is to claim its lost ...
 
Hannah7 said:
I agree. I would also think that your travel history is linked with your passport.
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And in your travel history your green card is linked to your passport(s), if you have previously used the green card and passport at the same time at the POE, or used the passport during the green card process. There was a poster here who showed their passport at the POE, and was reaching into their pockets/wallet/whatever to search for the green card, but before they took out the green card the officer swiped the passport and said something to acknowledge his status like "I see you are a permanent resident, welcome back!"

Now there comes a question. When your national passport expires and you get a new one from your country, should you somehow keep the old passport? I am saying "somehow" because, in my country, you are required to surrender old passport when you apply for a new one - the only way to keep it is to claim its lost ...
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If your country keeps the old passport after renewal, then you just have to let them keep it. But you should write down the old passport number and take copies of the most important pages for future reference, just in case you need that information for a future immigration process or dispute.
 
Does it mean that if i am registered on a flight via the US with a European passport, it's best to show it at the border with my GC or can I still show the Ukrainian one?
 
Show either passport at the US POE along with the green card, and you'll be let in either way. But if you've used one passport before to enter the US or in the green card process, it might be less of a surprise to the POE officer to show that one again since they already have that one in the system.
 
Hi all,

I am in a similar situation except that the passport that my GC is linked to is expired. I have an EU passport also, and could travel into Europe with that, but will the US let me leave and COME BACK with a EU passport if my GC is "linked" to a different citizenship? Is this an issue- is the GC linked to a particular passport?

Do you know where I would find out this information for sure?

Thank you for your help!
 
Sure you can. Take your expired passport with you just in case. I don't have any links for you, but your GC by itself is sufficient to let you in to the US. They will likely ask for a passport because one can't fly without one.
 
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