Using 2 Passports in Brazil
Sep 27, 2015, 1:19 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
I'll have to call 4 airlines: United (IAD-GRU); Turkish (GRU-EZE); KLM (EZE-SCL); American (SCL-MIA). If any of these don't accept 2 passports, the whole idea is dead.
Before I call, do you think it's too late to have my ticket name changed from "Joseph" to "Giuseppe"? This would be a lot easier and more comprehensive than getting all the airlines to agree to accept 2 passports. I would have to call several airlines if I went with the latter option (United, American and KLM-- the other airline segments fall under United because they were purchased with their miles. KLM was purchased w/o miles, and would have to be called separately).
Before I call, do you think it's too late to have my ticket name changed from "Joseph" to "Giuseppe"? This would be a lot easier and more comprehensive than getting all the airlines to agree to accept 2 passports. I would have to call several airlines if I went with the latter option (United, American and KLM-- the other airline segments fall under United because they were purchased with their miles. KLM was purchased w/o miles, and would have to be called separately).
You still have to board the AA flight with the US passport in the name of Joseph.
And really, the US bound flight is likely to be the most careful about anything that looks like terrorism (flight purchased by "someone else's" credit card, not Giuseppe, etc; no ESTA or visa for the US for Giuseppe)
Sep 27, 2015, 2:48 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
You still have to board the AA flight with the US passport in the name of Joseph.
And really, the US bound flight is likely to be the most careful about anything that looks like terrorism (flight purchased by "someone else's" credit card, not Giuseppe, etc; no ESTA or visa for the US for Giuseppe)
And really, the US bound flight is likely to be the most careful about anything that looks like terrorism (flight purchased by "someone else's" credit card, not Giuseppe, etc; no ESTA or visa for the US for Giuseppe)
Last edited by joer1212; Sep 28, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Sep 27, 2015, 5:47 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 760
What I implied in my previous post was that immigration is one thing and ticketing is another. Immigration officers do not care if/how you are allowed into the USA, that's an issue US Homeland Security and the airline have to deal with. They only care whether you are allowed into Argentina/Brazil, and when you leave they need your exit data to match the entry records.
At least in Argentina (and I'm pretty confident it's the same in Brazil), you will not be able to enter the country with the Italian passport and to leave it with the US one. However, you can show one passport at the check-in desk (e.g. the US one) and the other one at the immigration counter (e.g. the Italian one). I have done this multiple times in the States, in South America and in Europe and never ever encountered a single problem. Check-in agents and immigration officers are very used to this practice. For instance, when I travel to the USA, I show my EU passport to the check-in agent and my Argentine passport to the immigration officer, which is the one I use to leave Argentina. Yeah, I use the same name in both passports, but they are issued by different countries, have different expiry dates and even differ in my place of birth (one says my hometown, the other just says my country of birth). Immigration officers on arrival rarely check whether your passport name matches the name on the boarding pass, and if they do you have a valid reason, plus Joseph is the translation of Giuseppe, it's not that you are called Mario and your other passport says your name is Vladimir.
I insist you shouldn't worry so much.
At least in Argentina (and I'm pretty confident it's the same in Brazil), you will not be able to enter the country with the Italian passport and to leave it with the US one. However, you can show one passport at the check-in desk (e.g. the US one) and the other one at the immigration counter (e.g. the Italian one). I have done this multiple times in the States, in South America and in Europe and never ever encountered a single problem. Check-in agents and immigration officers are very used to this practice. For instance, when I travel to the USA, I show my EU passport to the check-in agent and my Argentine passport to the immigration officer, which is the one I use to leave Argentina. Yeah, I use the same name in both passports, but they are issued by different countries, have different expiry dates and even differ in my place of birth (one says my hometown, the other just says my country of birth). Immigration officers on arrival rarely check whether your passport name matches the name on the boarding pass, and if they do you have a valid reason, plus Joseph is the translation of Giuseppe, it's not that you are called Mario and your other passport says your name is Vladimir.
I insist you shouldn't worry so much.
Sep 28, 2015, 6:51 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 760
Sep 28, 2015, 9:43 am
#21
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,603
What I implied in my previous post was that immigration is one thing and ticketing is another. Immigration officers do not care if/how you are allowed into the USA, that's an issue US Homeland Security and the airline have to deal with. They only care whether you are allowed into Argentina/Brazil, and when you leave they need your exit data to match the entry records.
At least in Argentina (and I'm pretty confident it's the same in Brazil), you will not be able to enter the country with the Italian passport and to leave it with the US one. However, you can show one passport at the check-in desk (e.g. the US one) and the other one at the immigration counter (e.g. the Italian one). I have done this multiple times in the States, in South America and in Europe and never ever encountered a single problem. Check-in agents and immigration officers are very used to this practice. For instance, when I travel to the USA, I show my EU passport to the check-in agent and my Argentine passport to the immigration officer, which is the one I use to leave Argentina. Yeah, I use the same name in both passports, but they are issued by different countries, have different expiry dates and even differ in my place of birth (one says my hometown, the other just says my country of birth). Immigration officers on arrival rarely check whether your passport name matches the name on the boarding pass, and if they do you have a valid reason, plus Joseph is the translation of Giuseppe, it's not that you are called Mario and your other passport says your name is Vladimir.
I insist you shouldn't worry so much.
At least in Argentina (and I'm pretty confident it's the same in Brazil), you will not be able to enter the country with the Italian passport and to leave it with the US one. However, you can show one passport at the check-in desk (e.g. the US one) and the other one at the immigration counter (e.g. the Italian one). I have done this multiple times in the States, in South America and in Europe and never ever encountered a single problem. Check-in agents and immigration officers are very used to this practice. For instance, when I travel to the USA, I show my EU passport to the check-in agent and my Argentine passport to the immigration officer, which is the one I use to leave Argentina. Yeah, I use the same name in both passports, but they are issued by different countries, have different expiry dates and even differ in my place of birth (one says my hometown, the other just says my country of birth). Immigration officers on arrival rarely check whether your passport name matches the name on the boarding pass, and if they do you have a valid reason, plus Joseph is the translation of Giuseppe, it's not that you are called Mario and your other passport says your name is Vladimir.
I insist you shouldn't worry so much.
Sep 28, 2015, 12:19 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
And, "calling the airline" is not the panacea some would have me believe, because the person I speak to on the phone will not be the same person I will be dealing with upon check in.
Sep 28, 2015, 12:26 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
If I take a chance, and decide to travel without the visa and reciprocity fee, I will be anxious throughout (and leading up to) my trip. It would ruin the experience, which would make the trip pointless. Even worse, there is the very likely possibility that I would actually be denied boarding. The best way to look at it is that the cost of peace of mind is $320, and I think it's worth it.
Another thing that just occurred to me is this: Even if my Italian passport was under the name 'Joseph', I would still be required to leave the U.S. with my American passport. This might create a conflict when I check in for my flight, and the agent sees no visa in my American passport. Showing her my Italian passport may not solve the issue because she may be required to record the visa number, or other such passport info when checking me in. And, she would not be able to record my Italian passport info because only the information of one passport can be officially entered into the record, not two.
Last edited by joer1212; Sep 28, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Sep 29, 2015, 3:17 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
You are waaaay over-thinking things.
You've been told that people fly with two passports pretty commonly, so the last half of your ramblings is your imagination.
Clearly you comfort level would be higher for this trip if you paid the fees and simply used your US passport. Do not delay in applying for the Brazilian visa, as processing times can be long, particularly the closer to NYE and Carnaval it gets.
You've been told that people fly with two passports pretty commonly, so the last half of your ramblings is your imagination.
Clearly you comfort level would be higher for this trip if you paid the fees and simply used your US passport. Do not delay in applying for the Brazilian visa, as processing times can be long, particularly the closer to NYE and Carnaval it gets.
Sep 29, 2015, 10:13 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
You are waaaay over-thinking things.
You've been told that people fly with two passports pretty commonly, so the last half of your ramblings is your imagination.
Clearly you comfort level would be higher for this trip if you paid the fees and simply used your US passport. Do not delay in applying for the Brazilian visa, as processing times can be long, particularly the closer to NYE and Carnaval it gets.
You've been told that people fly with two passports pretty commonly, so the last half of your ramblings is your imagination.
Clearly you comfort level would be higher for this trip if you paid the fees and simply used your US passport. Do not delay in applying for the Brazilian visa, as processing times can be long, particularly the closer to NYE and Carnaval it gets.
Sep 29, 2015, 2:20 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,603
As the designated travel agent in the family, I tried to find a booking for my daughter "Rachel" under her Brazilian name "Raquel", then it occurred to me @:-) that I completely disassociate how I say her name to how I write her name.
Now that you decided to pony up the monies, are you going to change your name so this does not happen again in the future?
Sep 29, 2015, 3:28 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, United, British Airways, Alaska Air
Posts: 250
Another thing that just occurred to me is this: Even if my Italian passport was under the name 'Joseph', I would still be required to leave the U.S. with my American passport. This might create a conflict when I check in for my flight, and the agent sees no visa in my American passport. Showing her my Italian passport may not solve the issue because she may be required to record the visa number, or other such passport info when checking me in. And, she would not be able to record my Italian passport info because only the information of one passport can be officially entered into the record, not two.
Think about the info provided and go with what your gut says. My $0.02.
Sep 29, 2015, 5:06 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
Rah-kell, so the Raquel spelling is by no means "the" Brazilian way.
Sep 29, 2015, 5:58 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
Also, I am named after my grandfather, and anglicizing my name would be a slap in the face to him.
Sep 29, 2015, 6:01 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
Au contraire, I have dual citizenship (USA/Germany) as well, and when I got to the gate to go to Brazil, they asked me why I didn't have the visa - I just told them I am a dual citizen of Germany and the US, the lady asked to see the German passport, she entered in a few things in her computer, and that was the extent of it. It really was not a problem. That said, all of my info on both passports matches... so your situation may be different.
Think about the info provided and go with what your gut says. My $0.02.
Think about the info provided and go with what your gut says. My $0.02.