Travel to Canada with dual citizenship

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RVWinkle

Registered Users (C)
We acquired Canadian citizenship in 2000 and then acquired US citizenship this year, both through naturalization. We have both Canadian and US passports now.

We plan to travel to Canada later this year to visit friends and family.

From what I understand, you lose your US citizenship only if you 'acquire' another citizenship by applying for naturalization, but not if you were previously granted such citizenship through birth or naturalization. And Canadians do not lose their citizenship if they acquire another.

So when traveling to Canada, should we present our Canadian passports to the Canadian authorities? And when returning, should we present US passport to the US authorities? Or can/should we present only Canadian or US passports both ways - the entry/re-entry stamps will end up on separate passports if we use one going one way and the other coming back.

Any suggestions or advice would be helpful. Thanks
 
You lose US citizenship only if you voluntarily renounce it in front of a US government official. (Or if a US court strips you off your citizenship because your application for US citizenship was made under fraudulent circumstances like failure to disclose crimes, etc.)

For travel to Canada present your Canadian passport to Canadian authorities and US passport to US immigration on return to US.
 
Thanks, I also found several other posts that were very helpful on the subject.

A slight variance -

What if I and my spouse have US and Canadian passports? We have applied for US passports for our Canadian born kids since they derive US citizenship from our naturalization. But while waiting for their passports, can they travel to Canada using their Canadian passports (yes of course) but return based on their green cards? Would that jeopardize their claim on US citizenship or create problems with their US passport application?
 
RVWinkle said:
Thanks, I also found several other posts that were very helpful on the subject.

A slight variance -

What if I and my spouse have US and Canadian passports? We have applied for US passports for our Canadian born kids since they derive US citizenship from our naturalization. But while waiting for their passports, can they travel to Canada using their Canadian passports (yes of course) but return based on their green cards? Would that jeopardize their claim on US citizenship or create problems with their US passport application?
Click to expand...

US law requires that ALL US citizens need a US passport to re-enter US. Your child will be in violation of this law if you don't first obtain a US passport before traveling overseas.
 
nkm-oct23 said:
You lose US citizenship only if you voluntarily renounce it in front of a US government official. (Or if a US court strips you off your citizenship because your application for US citizenship was made under fraudulent circumstances like failure to disclose crimes, etc.)

For travel to Canada present your Canadian passport to Canadian authorities and US passport to US immigration on return to US.
Click to expand...

I have a related question concerning dual citizen's entry and exit procedures. Say if you're a citizen of X and enter that country with your X passport, and return to the US and present your US passport at the airport, wouldn't the US Border officer look for a stamp& visa in your US passport indicating entry into the foreign country X? Would the lack of such a stamp create a problem and subject you to questioning on dual citizenship?
 
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