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Hi all, I am a US citizen applying for ILR on the 10-year continuous legal residence route. My wife has ILR and my daughter is a UK citizen. My US passport with all my travel stamps in and out of the UK expired a few weeks ago, but if I apply for a new US passport, naturally I'll have to turn this one in and will of course be given a new blank passport with no record of previous travels. My biometric residence permit is still valid. What should I do? Send in my old, recently expired US passport showing travel dates, (along with my still-valid BRP) for my ILR app, or lose my old passport (scanning in all pages first) when I apply for a new blank one, and send in a brand new passport with no previous travel info? Seems like a typical catch-22 as a US passport has a ten year validity, but obviously applying for ILR on the basis of ten years legal residence means the Home Office or UKVI etc must see a lot of shiny new passports because many have just expired?? Cheers for any solid advice - send in the old expired or scan it and lose it when renewing through US consulate? I tried ringing them, no joy.

You need a valid passport to apply for ILR.

Do the US authorities not return your expired passport??

Scan it in preparation for the ILR application as all docs are scanned and uploaded.

Then I would also suggest photocopy your entire current passport and have the copies certified should the US authorities not return it to you as you will need it for citizenship.

Hi, thank you for the prompt response. I don't know if the consulate returns my old passport - I doubt it for some reason - I spent a long time going through the consulate phone menu and couldn't reach anyone, so will have to try again. Sending in my expired US passport is probably a great way to get my ILR application immediately rejected and lose thousands of pounds I don't really have, but then again, who knows!! If I can get my old passport back, then we're in business. Shall call the consulate again, but not holding breath for return of old passport... I will update when I find out. Many thanks.

It is very few countries that do not return the old expired passports. I don't believe the US is one that keeps it.

Quick update - US Dept of State website says 'In most cases we will return the old passport, possibly separately if not sent with the new one' - that's crystal clear! So probably, maybe, haha. I'll phone the consulate again.

I doubt they keep it to be honest. You will definitely need it for citizenship if you plan on applying.

An example of a country that doesn't give expired passports back is Malaysia or Philippines.

CR001 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:06 am

It is very few countries that do not return the old expired passports. I don't believe the US is one that keeps it.

Thank you, I hope this works! I will definitely photocopy old one and have those copies certified in case it goes missing.

ID4744578567 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:14 am

CR001 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:06 am

It is very few countries that do not return the old expired passports. I don't believe the US is one that keeps it.

Thank you, I hope this works! I will definitely photocopy old one and have those copies certified in case it goes missing.

Yes, good plan as you never know what might happen.