Do I need an up to date passport?

[Oosie 1]

I'm just about to apply for citizenship and when I looked at my old passport I found out it is out of date. It expired in October this year. Do I need to renew it before I apply or can I just let it go.

[jkelly07 120]

is it a u.s passport then yes get a new one, you will need to make a copy of your passport for the n-400 application, if it's a passport from another country if your not plaining to traval any time soon, i don't know how you go about that ,

[Oosie 1]

is it a u.s passport then yes get a new one, you will need to make a copy of your passport for the n-400 application, if it's a passport from another country if your not plaining to traval any time soon, i don't know how you go about that ,

I am applying for US citizenship - I don't have a US passport - I need to know if my out of date passport from home will affect my citizenship application.

[Inky 1,110]

I am applying for US citizenship - I don't have a US passport - I need to know if my out of date passport from home will affect my citizenship application.

Do you have a valid state ID or valid drivers license?

Generally you need a valid government photo ID to get into the service centers.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You don't need to get a new passport. You can pm Just Bob, he has stated his passport has been expired for years, all through his immigration process.

[jkelly07 120]

on the n-400 you have to list all your trips outside of the u.s how long and the dates thay may want to look at your passport for entrance stamps.when you become a citizen,you go and get your new u.s passport,

[JA Tam 7]

You don’t need a new passport. When I applied for my citizenship, my passport had expired years before that. I just took it with me to prove the trips I took at the time that it was valid.

All the best to you.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Do you have a valid state ID or valid drivers license?

Generally you need a valid government photo ID to get into the service centers.

I'm pretty sure USCIS locations will accept a valid Greencard as ID!

[Inky 1,110]

I'm pretty sure USCIS locations will accept a valid Greencard as ID!

while i was there ( at mine ) they were requesting state ID or driver license from people that had green cards.

[Oosie 1]

Looks like I can just take my driving license and green card when I go for interview. I can worry about renewing my passport later. That is assuming I don't misplace it again. It took me two years to find the thing.

[NickD 202]

Stepdaughter couldn't renew her passport to save her soul, her biological father refused to sign for her, but loved to ###### that we wouldn't let her leave the country to go visit him. Only purpose of having a foreign passport at your US citizenship interview is to verify your trips out of the USA. But if it is expired, naturally, you couldn't make any of these trips. But bring in your expired passport anyway, especially if you did make trips outside of the USA lasting over 24 hours while you were a lawful permanent resident with a valid green card.

Regarding entering a field office, I have entered them all the time without any form of photo identification, just say my wife or stepdaughter is inside. As long as I don't have a camera or a cell phone, fine to go in. But my wife and stepdaughter need to show their whatever appointment letter and green card, I think they want to see their green cards to make sure they are still here legally. They are also searched for cameras and cell phones, never tried to bring in my 30.06, really nothing to hunt in there anyway.

Yeah I hear some field offices are requiring a secondary form of photo identification like a state ID or a drivers' license. Obviously they need psychiatric help in that they are paranoid as you can only get this form of ID if you have a green card to show. Or a born in the USA birth certificate. Wife did get a probationary drivers' license that expired the same day as her EAD card, then another when until her conditional green card expired, then a permanent one with her ten year card. Now all she has to do is to state she is a US citizen, but I gather that varies from state to state. One country, 50 different states, 50 different laws to abide by. Crazy.

[Oosie 1]

Stepdaughter couldn't renew her passport to save her soul, her biological father refused to sign for her, but loved to ###### that we wouldn't let her leave the country to go visit him. Only purpose of having a foreign passport at your US citizenship interview is to verify your trips out of the USA. But if it is expired, naturally, you couldn't make any of these trips. But bring in your expired passport anyway, especially if you did make trips outside of the USA lasting over 24 hours while you were a lawful permanent resident with a valid green card.

Regarding entering a field office, I have entered them all the time without any form of photo identification, just say my wife or stepdaughter is inside. As long as I don't have a camera or a cell phone, fine to go in. But my wife and stepdaughter need to show their whatever appointment letter and green card, I think they want to see their green cards to make sure they are still here legally. They are also searched for cameras and cell phones, never tried to bring in my 30.06, really nothing to hunt in there anyway.

Yeah I hear some field offices are requiring a secondary form of photo identification like a state ID or a drivers' license. Obviously they need psychiatric help in that they are paranoid as you can only get this form of ID if you have a green card to show. Or a born in the USA birth certificate. Wife did get a probationary drivers' license that expired the same day as her EAD card, then another when until her conditional green card expired, then a permanent one with her ten year card. Now all she has to do is to state she is a US citizen, but I gather that varies from state to state. One country, 50 different states, 50 different laws to abide by. Crazy.

I have a valid driving license - they gave me a 4 year one when my conditional green card arrived, I did explain to the nice man who issued it that it was supposed to expire in 2 years not 4 but he said it was fine as it was. Now I know to go to that office 3 minutes before they are due to close My husband always gets asked for ID at field offices but he has DoD ID so they accept that. We are planning a trip back home to introduce him to my family sometime next year. If I have a US passport for that it will be fine otherwise I can always renew the British one.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The passport of an immigrant serves as proof on how often and when he or she entered the United States since becoming a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder). Therefore, it's a good thing that you didn't lose your now expired passport.

If you did not apply for a new one, that's a good thing as well as that too proves that you didn't leave the US since it expired, as you wouldn't have been able to come back. Keep also in mind that you'll be taking an oath to tell the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God, before sitting down at the N-400 interview.

Hence, your expired passport is all you need until you plan on traveling back to Scotland, at which point you'll need a valid one in order to enter your old country.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am applying for US citizenship - I don't have a US passport - I need to know if my out of date passport from home will affect my citizenship application.

No, you do not need to renew your passport in order to apply for US citizenship. You will need to bring your passport with you to the interview even if it is expired, especially if you have travelled on that passport and have stamps or visas. The interviewer may or may not look at it. Since you have a Driver's License you will also need to bring that as your ID. If someone has no other form of government issued ID then even the expired passport will be accepted. If that is the case, though, it would be good to apply for a State ID

As the UK recognizes dual citizenship you may wish to renew your Scottish passport anyway.

Edited December 9, 2010 by Kathryn41