is a name-changed passport blank?

June 13, 2009 12:22 AM

when you change your name, and send in for a new passport, do they send you a completely new passport with no stamps in it? do you get the old one back? or do they insert a new identity page? it would be a shame to lose all the stamps and used visa's in my current passport....
posted by karl88 to law & government (12 comments total)

See the FAQs. They send you the old book back, invalidated.
posted by disillusioned at 12:43 AM on June 13

Relevant text from the site above (it's the last question of the FAQ):
"14. Will my old passport be returned if I apply for a replacement?
Yes. Except for passports submitted due to printing errors, your old passport will be invalidated and returned to you with your new, replacement passport if it is not damaged or mutilated."
posted by blueberry at 1:45 AM on June 13

My wife just got a new passport to reflect her new name, and they send the old one back with a load of holes punched in the cover and 'CANCELLED' stamped across the first page. It's not usable as a passport anymore, but you can always keep it in a drawer for sentiment's sake.
posted by Happy Dave at 3:00 AM on June 13

I got married two years ago and when my wife changed her name they never sent the old one back. We lost alot of the cool visas and such we had gotten from our honeymoon.
posted by scrutiny at 5:13 AM on June 13

I never received my old one back, and I applied for my passport just a few months ago. Very sad...

You're supposed to include your old one... but don't have to to get a new passport. You could always say you *lost* it it and include other supporting paperwork instead.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 5:44 AM on June 13

Yeah, I'd say I lost it if I were you. Or I think you can get it cancelled in person (they snipped a large corner from mine).
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:09 AM on June 13

Weird---when I changed my name, they just put an addendum page in the passport saying what my new name was and I kept using it until it expired several years later.
posted by leahwrenn at 6:45 AM on June 13

I've always gotten a new one, and then a few weeks later get the old one back. I have all of my old passports.
posted by nax at 6:59 AM on June 13

I also got my old passport back with an addendum page stating my new name (this was in 2005).
posted by get off of my cloud at 8:47 AM on June 13

What happened to Leahwrenn is what happened to me when I changed my name. Same passport with a change on the back - same thing for when I had to correct my birth date. I think you only get a brand new passport when the old one expires.
posted by Salamandrous at 8:55 AM on June 13

Like leahwrenn and Salamandrous, they just amended my wife's original passport after we were married.

I'll also add that we both now wish they'd just issued a new one, because officials in other countries — and sometimes even in the US — seem confused by the amendment. It's common for them to complain that the name on the laminated page does not match the name on the plane ticket. Even after pointing out the amendment (which is on the back page) to them, they usually give some doubtful stare followed by a minute or so of additional eyeballing before sending us on our way.
posted by tomwheeler at 11:21 AM on June 13

For those suggesting that you say you "lost" it: this means you can't renew by mail, where you just send in your old passport and new photos. Instead, you need to follow all the steps for a first-time passport, including providing a birth certificate. You also need to pay $25 more ($100 instead of $75).
posted by smackfu at 7:19 AM on June 15