Practical Travel Safety Issues - entering the US w/expired US passport - Swedish/US dual citizen

I'm a dual US /Swedish citizen. I'm scheduled to leave Sweden (where I live) for the US in a few hours, just realized my US passport has expired. I have a valid Swedish passport I can use to board and to leave the US with, but I understand entering the US with a Swedish passport if I am also a US citizen is a bad idea.

Should I show up with my expired passport and beg forgiveness? Should I bring anything else with me, birth certificates etc?

Any advice?

Thanks!

I would change the date and get an emergency replacement of the US passport. US citizens are required to enter and leave on valid US documents.

Whilst Americans are required to leave on a valid US passport they can re-enter the US on expired US passports as they have a right to live in the US.

You should be fine coming in on the expired US passport.

As others have said, entering shouldn't be your problem. After entering, just go to a local federal office building that does passports and get your new one. They will do it on the spot as long as you show them your outbound ticket.

Thanks guys, I'll give it a shot and report back...fingers crossed.

Thanks guys, I'll give it a shot and report back...fingers crossed.

Sounds good; you'll be fine.

Also, if you didn't take this option and used your Swedish passport instead, wouldn't you have to have completed ESTA 2 days ago? Or do you have a US visa in it?

Also, if you didn't take this option and used your Swedish passport instead, wouldn't you have to have completed ESTA 2 days ago? Or do you have a US visa in it?

Why do you believe that the OP may even be entitled to have a valid US visa in the Swedish passport?

ESTA applications may be approved in way less than 48 hours/2 days before travel. If the ESTA application were to be denied then getting a visa is a pain for those who may be granted a visa -- that's why the general US recommendation is to apply for an ESTA 3 days or more prior to travel.

As others have said, entering shouldn't be your problem. After entering, just go to a local federal office building that does passports and get your new one. They will do it on the spot as long as you show them your outbound ticket.

You will want to check that information, as most passport offices require you to have an appointment to be seen, and may or may not issue you a same day passport (probably not). I would not just show up at one of the passport offices and expect to get service without making an appointment first.

Requirements to be seen in person are here
http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/schedule/schedule_852.html

Locations are here
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_4312.html

Also, if you didn't take this option and used your Swedish passport instead, wouldn't you have to have completed ESTA 2 days ago? Or do you have a US visa in it?

A US Citizen cannot get a visa to 'visit' the US. :rolleyes:

Furthermore, it is unlawful for a US Citizen to enter on another passport, so this would be a stupid and bad idea.

So, I entered and exited the US, legally and without too much hassle. This is what I did:


Completed ETSA online using Swedish passport details. Was instantly approved (I mean instantly, not even a 30 second delay)
Boarded using my Swedish passport
Showed my expired US passport to immigration agent at LAX with a heartfelt apology for showing up with an expired passport. He looked me up in his system and asked me if I had a Swedish passport as well (assume he could see the ETSA data using my name and DOB to search). I said yes, he asked to see the passport and asked if I had any others, for example Afghanistan or Pakistan (seriously). He sent me off for secondary screening.
Secondary screening took my passorts and checked them for authenticity and sent me on my way, took about 15 mins
Went directly to the Federal Building in LA to get a new passport since my return flight was in 3 days. They asked to see my tickets and let me through directly. However, since it was 15 mins to closing time on a Friday, I was asked to come back for an appointment at 7 am on monday.
I couldn't make the 7am apt because of meetings, so went to LAX for my flight directly.
Checked in using my Swedish passport. The check-in agent asked if I had a green card, I said that I am a dual US/Swedish citizen. She asked for my US passport, saw that it was expired and went away for a few minutes. She returned and entered my details from the Swedish passport. I assume this could have been hit or miss, the rulebook probably says she should not have let me on, or is at best fuzzy here. Ideally I would have sorted out a new US passport while in LA.

In summary, I did alot of worrying for nothing, had very little hassle. Please do not take this as advice, your mileage may vary and I won't be doing this again, feels like there could have been alot more trouble, especially exiting the US.

next time just choose one or the other. using two passports caused you to have to go through a secondary.

you are allowed to enter and leave the US using either passport.

you are allowed to enter and leave the US using either passport.This is C:eek:MPLETELY wrong. If you are a US citizen you are REQUIRED to use your US passport to enter and leave the country. The same is true of most countries -- if you are a citizen you are required to use that passport at the country's border. The US does not recognize dual citizenship, but it does not forbid it either. If you are a US citizen on US soil your other citizenship will not matter to US authorities.

So, I entered and exited the US, legally and without too much hassle. This is what I did:


Completed ETSA online using Swedish passport details. Was instantly approved (I mean instantly, not even a 30 second delay)
Boarded using my Swedish passport
Showed my expired US passport to immigration agent at LAX with a heartfelt apology for showing up with an expired passport. He looked me up in his system and asked me if I had a Swedish passport as well (assume he could see the ETSA data using my name and DOB to search). I said yes, he asked to see the passport and asked if I had any others, for example Afghanistan or Pakistan (seriously). He sent me off for secondary screening.
Secondary screening took my passorts and checked them for authenticity and sent me on my way, took about 15 mins
Went directly to the Federal Building in LA to get a new passport since my return flight was in 3 days. They asked to see my tickets and let me through directly. However, since it was 15 mins to closing time on a Friday, I was asked to come back for an appointment at 7 am on monday.
I couldn't make the 7am apt because of meetings, so went to LAX for my flight directly.
Checked in using my Swedish passport. The check-in agent asked if I had a green card, I said that I am a dual US/Swedish citizen. She asked for my US passport, saw that it was expired and went away for a few minutes. She returned and entered my details from the Swedish passport. I assume this could have been hit or miss, the rulebook probably says she should not have let me on, or is at best fuzzy here. Ideally I would have sorted out a new US passport while in LA.

In summary, I did alot of worrying for nothing, had very little hassle. Please do not take this as advice, your mileage may vary and I won't be doing this again, feels like there could have been alot more trouble, especially exiting the US.

Nice trip report. For domestic US flights you are allowed to use the Swedish passport even as a US citizen.

next time just choose one or the other. using two passports caused you to have to go through a secondary.

you are allowed to enter and leave the US using either passport.

As mentioned above, that is incorrect.

What caused the OP to be sent to secondary by CBP was most probably the use of an expired US passport.

next time just choose one or the other.

Advocating breaking the law is always nice to see around here.

[U]sing two passports caused you to have to go through a secondary.

No, the secondary was most likely caused by using an expired passport, but it is nice to know that you have the ability to know exactly what caused a secondary in a given case. I'll tell you my story and ask you for that information next time I get a secondary. :rolleyes:

you are allowed to enter and leave the US using either passport.

WRONG! You must enter the US using your US Passport if you are a US Citizen, end of story. Giving advice to the contrary is very irresponsible, but why should I expect anything less?

Nice trip report. For domestic US flights you are allowed to use the Swedish passport even as a US citizen.

Yup. Just hope you don't get some 'crackerjack' TSO who decides to page through the passport looking for your I-94. :rolleyes:

As mentioned above, that is incorrect.

What caused the OP to be sent to secondary by CBP was most probably the use of an expired US passport.

+1.

Wasn't there a thread on here that said CBP aren't supposed to ask about dual citizenship?

You will want to check that information, as most passport offices require you to have an appointment to be seen, and may or may not issue you a same day passport (probably not). I would not just show up at one of the passport offices and expect to get service without making an appointment first.

Requirements to be seen in person are here
http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/schedule/schedule_852.html

Locations are here
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_4312.html

An appointment is helpful, but experience with several people going to Westwood specifically suggests that they take walk ins for emergencies like the OP's situation.

Nice trip report. For domestic US flights you are allowed to use the Swedish passport even as a US citizen.

LMAO. You don't need ANY passport for domestic flights, though I'm sure Comrade Smurf would like it to be that way.

LMAO. You don't need ANY passport for domestic flights, though I'm sure Comrade Smurf would like it to be that way.True! I used my CostCo credit card w/pic and my health insurance card last week flying to Denver. :D

Advocating breaking the law is always nice to see around here.

<snip>

Giving advice to the contrary is very irresponsible, but why should I expect anything less?
Wow. That was hostile.

Perhaps the misinformation was borne from ignorance and not malice.

FWIW, the State Dept says most US citizens need enter the US on a US passport. Most is not all. Perhaps you are not as right as you think you are.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

This thread is incredibly similar to one started in October, also from a US/Sweden dual-national with US passport issues:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1005711-can-i-denied-entry-us-dual-citizen.html

How very weird.

This thread is incredibly similar to one started in October, also from a US/Sweden dual-national with US passport issues:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1005711-can-i-denied-entry-us-dual-citizen.html

How very weird.

Dual-nationality was not allowed by Sweden even 9 years ago, and those born around then or before may be becoming more aware of their other claims to citizenship as awareness of that change increases.

Wow. That was hostile.

Perhaps the misinformation was borne from ignorance and not malice.

Then it shouldn't be given as advice. I never give advice unless I know what I am talking about. I give opinion, even things I think are fact, but never advice.

When people come here for information and advice and posters who clearly don't know the rules give advice that is bad, it hurts the credibility of the board. Ignorance is no excuse when giving advice around here; either you know, or you don't tell others what they should do.

Had the poster to whom I replied stated his opinion or his beliefs, I would not have replied the way I did. But he gave instructions for next time that could cause the OP a lot of grief.

FWIW, the State Dept says most US citizens need enter the US on a US passport. Most is not all. Perhaps you are not as right as you think you are.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html

That could mean a million things none of which allows the OP to enter on his Sweedish Passport which is what we are talking about here. I think you know that.

This thread is incredibly similar to one started in October, also from a US/Sweden dual-national with US passport issues:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1005711-can-i-denied-entry-us-dual-citizen.html

How very weird.

Very wierd indeed.