Passport Question
 

So here's the deal, I hold dual citizenship and therefore have 2 passports, My U.S. passport and a Hungarian passport. I use the Hungarian one for travel in and around the EU. On this trip I left the US on my US passport and as I always do in Asia only use my US passport. There was however a small problem. When I arrived in Indonesia I apparently did not have enough pages for the VOA. I thought I did but didn't realize that the last few pages are for ammendments and endorsements and to honest I have no idea what that even means.

So there I was at immigration and they were turning me away, until I pulled out my Hungarian passport and said just use this one. So now I head back Wed. I will of course use the Hungarian one out of Indonesia and my US for the rest of the legs back into the US. Heres' my question, when you arrive back in the US they ask where you have been, which countries visited, do I say Indonesia or omit it because I did not travel into Indonesia with my US passport. I'm confused! Thanks for any help.

I have dual citizenship as well and on one occasion I had shown both my US and Thai passport when arrived in the States(LAX) since I use my Thai passport for Thailand and my US passport for the States. The immigration official said he didn't need to see it, my Thai passport, and just asked where I was coming from.

I don't think they even look at the list at the airport (I went to Syria on my last trip & rather expected to be questioned on my return, but nothing - probably in my records, though). I have dual citizenship too, and list all the countries I visited regardless of which passport I used. Which country are you visiting after Indonesia?

The US doesn't care what passports you use to enter other countries. You just have to enter the US with your US passport. That's it.

Good answers all. Now go get pages added to your US passport.

..and when you do have pages added to your US passport, you'll find out what the "amendments and endorsements" page is used for.

Thanks all!! I just have a stop in singapore and a change in Tokyo. I was just worried as 4 of the 6 weeks since I left the US was in Indonesia. Is it possible to have pages added while you wait when I get back or do I have to send it in?

My opinion would be to enter on your U.S. passport but tell the truth about having visited Indonesia. You've done nothing illegal and have nothing to hide. I just don't like to take chances with U.S. Customs.

You can have additional pages inserted in your U.S. passport while traveling. You can do this at any U.S. Embassy. I'm not sure about consulates (as in Denpasar) but you might call them to ask. The process is being changed, though, and going forward the charge will be US$85 for new pages and an appointment is required.

Indonesian customs is quite picky about passport validity and blank pages. They ask for 5 or 6 blank visa pages and only the pages that are marked "VISA" on top are allowable.

They also require that your passport be valid for six months after arrival which is nonsensical since they only allow you to stay in country for 30 days.

Like everything else in this fine country these regulations are often opportunities for money to change hands, and a tip will make the problem go away, but who needs that aggravation?

Nobody is telling the OP not to list all the countries he's visited on the US Customs form when he comes back to the US.

tell the truth and then send your passport to the passport agency---get application for more pages on line....its free if you can believe it...

Thanks again everybody! I appreciate the help.

Hey Marmont, you live in Jakarta if I am correct? Off subject, I have a friend who will be there for three days in June for a conference and he is looking for a place to go for 5 days or so before or after not too far from the capital ( I think he means not by flying) is there somewhere you can recommend? Thanks :)

Until recently you could get additional pages at the US Embassy in Singapore. It used to just take a few minutes, but as I said they're in the process of changing the regulations, at least at overseas embassies. Call first and make sure.

There's not too much within driving distance of Jakarta. Some beautiful scenery to the south. Good mountain climbing and rain forest trekking to the West. Lots of volcanic activity, including Krakatau. But to do that he'd definitely need a guide.

Indonesian people like the Puncak which is the highland area between Jakarta and Bandung and the Westcoast beaches, but I'd warn that they're overdeveloped and may not be appealing to a foreigner.

I would suggest Central Java -- Yogyakarta/Borobudur. Although it's possible to drive there, he'd be better off flying.

Or better yet, just hop on a plane and get to Bali in an hour and a half.

Thank you again for your help marmot, I will pass along the info.