Why You Must Turn In Your Old Passport When Renewing in the USA

Renewing your passport in the USA might require you to submit your old passport, but this step is essential for several reasons. This article will explore the key reasons behind this requirement and provide insights into the process of turning in your old passport.

Verification of Identity

The primary reason for submitting your old passport is to verify your identity. The old passport serves as a crucial document that can help confirm that the passport being renewed belongs to the correct individual. This process ensures that you are who you claim to be and reduces the risk of identity fraud.

Preventing Fraud

By turning in your old passport, the government takes a significant step to prevent identity theft and fraudulent activities. Submitting the old passport guarantees that only one valid passport is issued to one person at a time. This practice helps deter the use of multiple passports for illegal purposes, such as multiple international travels or illegal access to different countries.

Updating Information

Your old passport contains vital information, including your photograph, signature, and personal details. When submitting the old passport, the passport agency can verify and update any necessary information in your new passport. This ensures that your new passport is accurate and up-to-date, minimizing the risk of errors or outdated information on your travel documents.

Record Keeping

The government maintains a comprehensive record of issued passports. By collecting the old passport, the government can easily keep track of issued documents and ensure that the old passports are canceled and no longer valid for travel. This system helps maintain accurate and up-to-date records for easier access and verification.

Streamlining the Process

The requirement to submit your old passport streamlines the renewal process. It makes it easier for the passport agency to process applications and issue new passports efficiently. The current system ensures that the renewal process is smooth and reduces delays, which is beneficial for all individuals seeking to renew their passports.

Handling of Old Passports

When you submit your old passport, it is typically canceled and returned to you. This process usually involves punching holes through the pages to make the passport unusable. The old passport is then stamped with "CANCELLED" and returned to you with the top right-hand corner of the cover cut off. This marking ensures that the old passport is no longer valid for travel but remains a legal document you can keep for reference.

If your old passport is lost, damaged, or stolen, you may need to provide additional documentation to verify your identity. However, for most renewals, the old passport serves as a primary form of identification.

Other Countries and Passport Renewal Practices

It's important to note that not all countries require the submission of an old passport when renewing. For instance, both the USA and Canada do not mandate the surrender of old passports. Instead, they return them to you once the processing is complete. However, the cancellation marks are still applied to ensure the old passport cannot be used.

Based on personal experience, many individuals keep their old passports for various reasons, including historical records or architectural details. In my case, I have been collecting old passports since 1980, and they continue to be returned to me with the top right-hand corner cut off and prominently stamped "CANCELLED."

While some may have had to turn in their old passports in different parts of the world, you cannot assume that the same process applies universally. Therefore, it's always best to check the specific requirements of the passport office in your country before renewing your passport.