British/US Passport

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Hi there,

How many UK nurses living in the USA stiil use their UK Passport - I am assumming that you have dual citizenship.. I have a US passport and was debating reactivating my UK one (expired in 1998) but the fee is outrageous and their photo requirement is over the top! I would love your thoughts. I also read somewhere that the US authorities prefer you use your US passport to exit/enter the US then the UK one! Blossom48:nurse:

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if you are agren card holder then you have to use the uk one, after taking american citizenship, you can get an american one and be treated like an american, but theres nothing stopping you from maintaining your uk one. i think i would like to keep both when i become a citizen, next year i become eligible.

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Cariad,

I kept mine for 10 yrs then let it lapse, easy to travel with my hubby and kids on a US passport. I have been thinking about reactivating it but then I don`t know what good it will do me. I have dual nationality and can live and work in the UK (I still have my SEN/Pin but changing it to RN) and US. I`ll take my time and see if it`s worth it, Blossom48

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Hi

If you've already got the US passport I wouldn't bother reinstating the UK one, can't think why you would be needing both (would be nice though!). I only have the UK one but will probably try and keep both when I eventually get my act together to get citizenship. Just one more thing to add to the list of "things to do!!" :-)

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Hi Brighteyes,

It just seems like I throwing money $241 for a passport that will just sit there! I got my US citizenship back in 1996 and have never had any problems going to the UK using my US passport - I go home every 2-3 yrs. I thought about re-activating so it would be easy to work in the UK again as a travel nurse/contract/temp, etc., but from what I`m seeing it will make no difference.

Plus I`ve realize that I could never live there permanently again - I`ve been so blessed living here with my wonderful American hubby, kids family (East Coast) and amazing friends, Blossom

P.S The life I have here I could not replicate there - nice house, the pool, nice car, etc.

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Hi Blossom,

It's $241 for a passport renewal! Wow. Nope, I'd definitely save your hard earned pennies and spend it on something else. :)

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

If you're a dual citizen, you're *supposed* to use your US passport to enter/leave the US and your UK passport to enter/leave the UK; you can use either to enter/leave other countries. I'm eligible for UK citizenship now (and I'll make sure I get it before moving back to the US in a few years), but that's what's expensive - £655!

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Such a rip-off!! I`ve used my US passport everywhere for the past 12 yrs (including enter and exit UK - no problems) and we travel alot so I`m thinking I`ll use my money for a nice day at the Spa or towards the process I`ve started with the NMC to re-activate my registration, LOL, Bloss

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Specializes in Flight RN / ED RN.

Undoubtedly it is personal choice, and there is no right or wrong.

I travel between the US and UK quite frequently and always take both my UK and US passports. I had to renew my UK passport just last month, and yes it was quite expensive. To top it all, I got it sent back unprocessed because...wait for it... my photographs showed me smiling :banghead:

Personally, it suits me to have both.

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Hi Scott,

I did take the pictures for my UK passport and they are awful, no smiling staring straight ahead? I got my doc to sign the picture but I`ve only known him for a yr (I changed my doc) instead of the two yrs required, I just throw up my hands and said "enough already"

Did you have to pay an extra fee to have them process your new pictures? It`s just an aggravating process whereas the US passport is so easy!! Bloss

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if you are agren card holder then you have to use the uk one, after taking american citizenship, you can get an american one and be treated like an american, but theres nothing stopping you from maintaining your uk one. i think i would like to keep both when i become a citizen, next year i become eligible.

i think you will not be allowed to have the two citizenships, :bow: us doesnt allow dual citizenship, :cry:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
i think you will not be allowed to have the two citizenships, :bow: US doesnt aLLOW DUAL CITIZENSHIP, :cry:

US may not but the UK does and not yet seen any issues when using US to enter US and UK to enter UK.Saying that there are some countries and I think Germany is one which doesn't so if you take US citizenship you have to denounce German citizenship

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