Important Travel Advisory for Dual Citizens Traveling to the U.S.

If you hold dual citizenship and travel to and from the United States, you must always use your U.S. passport to enter and exit the country.

A recent case highlights the consequences of not following this rule: An Ivorian-American woman was denied entry into the U.S. because she left the country using her Ivorian passport but attempted to re-enter with her U.S. passport. When questioned, she admitted to using her Ivorian passport to enter Côte d'Ivoire. As a result, the immigration officer confiscated her U.S. passport and denied her entry, stating that she did not need it if she was using her Ivorian one.

This enforcement is based on U.S. law, which states: "If you are a U.S. citizen with multiple passports, you must use your American passport to enter and exit the United States."

While this rule has existed for years, enforcement has become stricter, especially under policies targeting immigration compliance. Many people previously ignored this requirement, but now it is being strictly enforced.

What You Should Do:
Always use your U.S. passport to enter and exit the U.S.

If you hold another nationality, you may use that passport when traveling between other countries.

Inform family, friends, or colleagues who have dual citizenship to avoid travel complications.

Please share this information with anyone who might be affected. It can prevent serious travel issues!