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What passport to use traveling to USA with two citizenships? (self.asklemmy)

submitted 9 months ago by Grogon to c/[email protected]

74 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Can I use my german passport to travel to USA or do I use my US passport?

And if I lived and worked in germany my whole life and never in the USA and never filed taxes can I enter USA without problems?

I just found out I am us citizen a few years ago don't ask why but I'm 34 and recently traveled to US with my german passport and they were all like "wtf where is your passport" and I'm like: "Here.." and they "Yeah your american passport?!" and I'm "I'm german" and he is like: "Dude you are born on american ground you are american!"

Well they let me travel in to the states without american passport but told me to go to the embassy as soon as I arrive back in germany or else I won't be able to enter USA again.

That being said, I done that. Now I have my american passport. But do I show both passports or only US passport? And after doing my research I found out americans file taxes every year. I haven't done it the last 18 years of working. Should I just not file? I will never work in the USA and I will never live in the USA. Or will I get problems at the airport? Can they see I don't file?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

US passport. I think the US doesn't recognize dual citizenship, and it's just more convenient to not have to get an ESTA visa to enter. You should probably file taxes, but you don't owe anything if you pay taxes in Germany. US customs will not arrest you for not filing your taxes.

[–] Grogon 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

So the IRS doesn't sit around at the airport?

I pay taxes in germany and in addition I don't earn too much money.

[–] andrewta 2 points 9 months ago

The irs doesn’t sit at the airport. But if you owe taxes and don’t pay, the irs can go to a judge and ask for some sort of penalty. If you don’t pay the penalty, then the judge can issue a warrant for your arrest. Then the authorities can hold you.

I don’t know your situation, so I can’t judge if you do or if you don’t owe taxes.

Contact a tax attorney in the states and have them figure it out.

[–] kiwifoxtrot 1 points 9 months ago

The IRS wont sit in the airport, but if you have an active warrant, you'll be detained at the border crossing.

[–] beerclue 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You never filed for tax return in 18 years - in Germany? Mate, I get back about 1500-2000€ every year, do it.

[–] Grogon 2 points 9 months ago

I do taxes in germany and their is a tax partnership or something what I see. But I get about 700 € back a year too from germany.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The US gives you that money ever year 1re filling fro taxes to the US on your German income?

[–] beerclue 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

No, in Germany you pay taxes every month. At the end of the year you can do a text return where you ask for some of that back. Usually expenses that are work or kids related (traveling for work, job seeking, after school etc). Nothing to do with the US...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

Op is asking about US taxes, not German

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