Q: I’m a dual US and Jamaican citizen. Can I travel on my Jamaican passport to and from Jamaica?

A. The short answer is no. While a dual citizen can present a Jamaican passport to immigration authorities when he or she arrives in Jamaica, all US citizens, travelling by air, must return to the United States using a valid US passport.

US federal law generally requires all citizens to travel in and out of the country using a valid US passport or passport card, with limited exceptions such as travel on cruise ships. Failure to comply with this regulation can wreak havoc on travel plans. In addition, airlines that fly to the US have strict policies against boarding US citizens returning to the country without a valid US passport.

The US Embassy Kingston has seen an uptick in the number of dual nationals who find themselves temporarily stranded here because they left their US passports at home or their US passports expired. Again, airlines in Jamaica will not board a passenger on a US-bound jet without a valid US passport. Naturalisation certificates cannot be used.

Fortunately, we offer passport services at the embassy in Kingston as well as our consular agency in Montego Bay. It will, however, take seven to 10 business days for a new passport to be processed in the US and shipped here to the embassy in Jamaica. It can even take longer if a US citizen is applying for a passport for the first time in Jamaica and doesn’t have proper documentation. During this time, the US citizen may incur significant expenses from extra hotel nights and airline rebooking fees.

Likewise, legal permanent residents who arrive in Jamaica without a valid green card may also find themselves without a quick way home to the US. They will have to contact the Immigrant Visa section of the US Embassy for assistance and this, too, is a lengthy process and can take more than two weeks.

It is very important that before making any travel plans — to or from Jamaica — you ensure your passport or green card is current.

For additional information about applying for a passport in Jamaica and other American citizen services, please visit the US Embassy Kingston’s website at: kingston.usembassy.gov.

For information about replacing a green card or obtaining a travel letter, please contact KingstonIV@state.gov.

You can find more information about how to travel to the US on the embassy’s website at kingston.usembassy.gov and the website of our authorised service provider at usvisa-info.com.

Keep on top of embassy news on our Facebook page, facebook.com/pages/USEmbassy- Jamaica, and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter. We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

You may also send your questions to: editorial@jamaicaobserver.com to be forwarded to the embassy.

Reminder: Your appointment time is your arrival time, NOT your interview time. Do not show up earlier than your appointment time.