Dual Citizenship & Crossing Borders

[schmidtle]

This is a question for anyone with dual citizenship:

I have dual Irish and American citizenship. I'm living in the US and will be traveling to Mexico in the next month. My motorcycle is registered in the US (if that effects the answer). I want to enter Mexico with my Irish passport and return with either my Irish or American passport - doesn't matter. Will I have problems going either way?

I can think of several potential problems, but I don't want to influence anyone's answer.

Thanks,
Smitty

[MyOwnWay]

I personally don't have that precise information about those two borders, I don't see what the problem would be since you don't need to stamp any of those passports out of the States and going back from Mexico you would just need your American passport as prove of your American citizenship.
BUT, It might be different in other countries where they stamp your passport on leaving the country either just you or you and your bike together and the next country you go into requires prove of you exiting the previous country in good order, as part of your "new border" requirements.
I used my French passport to travel from the States up to Ecuador then I swapped to my Ecuadorian passport when I got to the Peruvian border, I did not have any problems but maybe their requirements are different and also, my bike was not stamped on any of my passports.
Sorry if I can't help too much.

[Robertsmits]

I have no knowledge of specifics regarding Ireland and the US but do have some experience using a non European passport in the EU.
I hold both the Australian and Dutch nationality and on a short trip from Holland to England I forgot to pack my Dutch passport and took the Australian one with me instead. Boarding the ferry in France (exiting France) was no problem (no checks) but on arrival in England the British customsofficer wanted to see some form of identification. I expained to him my mistake and he let me enter on my Australian passport....so far so good. A couple of days later when I wanted to re embark for France another British customsofficer warned me that the French customs would not let me enter France on my Australian passport (visa required, non EU) and that they would send me back to England on the next Ferry! I explained to him that France was not my final destination and that I was on my way to Holland. Thanks to the courtesy of the customsman and a few phonecalls later I had to promise I would only transfer through France on the double and certainly not spend any nights there!! This was before all the terrorist-issues so I guess I was lucky..... I think it is safe to say to only use one OR the other on your travels.

[svetlana71]

me serbian and bosnian, but i travel with serbian passport and my car is registered in bosnia, as well my driveing licence. will it be anny problem? thanks, svetlana

[TurboCharger]

Typically the only problem would be when you need a visa or get an entry and exit stamp in your passport.

If you are leaving a country that doesn't require either a visa or exit stamp for the chosen passport then you won't have a problem (assuming you're not a wanted criminal ).

If what MarcoM said is correct then neither Irish nor American passport will have a stamp or visa for Mexico so you will be fine.

[colebatch]

i have british and australian passports and currently ride UK registered vehicles. I cross most borders with my Australian passport.

I have never been questioned about the fact that my passport and bike registration are from different countries

[svetlana71]

thanks colebatch, i was hopeing to get that answer.

[MyOwnWay]

If what MarcoM said is correct then neither Irish nor American passport will have a stamp or visa for Mexico so you will be fine. [/quote]

Just to clarify, from my little experience, passports are usually stamped in and out at Mexican borders (if proper visa not required). My example referred to exiting or entering U.S borders only with any of those two mentioned passports.