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I am a French citizen domiciled in California and with US permanent residency (US green card). I exited the US using my French passport, and and got a new French passport when outside the US (because the old French passport's condition wasn't satisfying some airline's employee, not because of it had expired and were about to).

When I enter the US (by plane), should I show my old or new passport to the US immigration? Or does the US immigration only look at my US green card? Note that my stay outside the US may be between 6 months and 1 year, in case this changes what the US immigration will look at. I'm not sure yet where I'll be flying from but likely somewhere in Asia.

Franck Dernoncourt
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    Normally the only reason to show an old passport is if it contains the visa you're using to enter, and that wouldn't apply to you. There shouldn't be any problem with entering on a different passport from the one you used when leaving; that must be extremely common. Is there some other reason you think you might need the old one? – Nate Eldredge Jul 08 '20 at 23:27
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    @NateEldredge Thanks. I have given up trying to use my common sense when facing governmental agencies. I just try my best to follow whatever rules they may have come up with. I personally don't see why a passport is needed at all. – Franck Dernoncourt Jul 08 '20 at 23:30
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    From what country will you be entering? If you will be coming from elsewhere in North America, you only need to show your green card; otherwise a passport is required (i.e. your new one, as your old one is no longer valid). See https://www.usa.gov/enter-us. – Nate Eldredge Jul 08 '20 at 23:31
  • @NateEldredge thanks for the information. I'm not sure yet but I'll likely fly from somewhere in Asia to the US. – Franck Dernoncourt Jul 08 '20 at 23:33
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    "I personally don't see why a passport is needed at all": in fact, it isn't. The only document that the law requires you to have is your green card. – phoog Jul 09 '20 at 02:08
  • @phoog Thanks, that's good to know, but does the practice follow the law in that case? (genuine question, motivated by Why would airlines not let a US citizen with an expired passport board a plane back to the US?) – Franck Dernoncourt Jul 09 '20 at 02:36
  • @phoog You are definitely correct concerning the law, as Nate said above. Anecdotally, I have at times been asked by the officer (not the airline) for my passport in addition to my green card, and have received a stamp. I have no good explanation for why. However, I of course would not question the officer in order to not delay the process. – Matthew FitzGerald-Chamberlain Jul 09 '20 at 03:18
  • @FranckDernoncourt , you simply use the new one. There's no "association" to the PP you entered on. – Fattie Jul 09 '20 at 12:11
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    "I have given up trying to use my common sense when facing governmental agencies" this should be applied to all governmental agencies of all countries. They thrive on thwarting common sense at any and every turn! – FreeMan Jul 09 '20 at 14:18
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    @FreeMan indeed definitely didn't mean to be US specific. – Franck Dernoncourt Jul 09 '20 at 14:25
  • Since I got Global Entry I have not even had an opportunity to show my passport on arrival in the US. The kiosk only looks at my green card. – Patricia Shanahan Jul 09 '20 at 18:15
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    Why is it weird to need a passport? You need to have a passport to even be in a foreign country. You need a passport to exit a foreign country if they have exit controls. What is weird about expecting you to have what you’re required to have? Franck’s exception is flying betw. France and US, since Franck doesn’t need a passport to be in either location. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Jul 09 '20 at 19:03
  • This whole argument about whether you need a passport or not is entirely academic, because the airline won't let you on the plane without a passport. They don't look at your green card. Indeed, Franck got himself into this situation of needing a new passport because the airline refused to accept the old one. – Greg Hewgill Jul 09 '20 at 22:13
  • @GregHewgill (I wasn't flying to the US though when the airline refused to accept my old passport. I forgot if airline employees require passport when flying to the US with a green card.) – Franck Dernoncourt Jul 09 '20 at 22:18
  • @GregHewgill I think the situation is a bit more complicated than that. As a US permanent resident, I am permitted to be in the US without any passport. I renew my British passport to be able to travel outside the US. – Patricia Shanahan Jul 09 '20 at 23:18
  • @PatriciaShanahan Interestingly, according to Timatic, a green card is not a valid exemption for the passport requirement, though an advance parole card is. But CBP says you should be able to: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-program-background/docs-air-travel – Matthew FitzGerald-Chamberlain Jul 10 '20 at 00:45
  • @MatthewFitzGerald-Chamberlain A green card is not a guarantee of being able to enter the US, because there are issues of how long the person has been away, and whether they have abandoned residence. The airlines, and therefore Timatic, may need to be sure the person has a passport in case they are denied entry. Those issues do not apply to the situation I was discussing, being in the US without a valid passport. – Patricia Shanahan Jul 10 '20 at 00:54

2 Answers2

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Because you have been issued a new passport, your previous passport is no longer valid. When your consulate issues you a new passport, they should do something to the old passport to indicate this:

  • keep it and not return it to you
  • clip a corner of the cover
  • punch holes in it
  • stamp it as "invalid" somewhere
  • give you a "cancelled" sticker to put on the old passport

Always use your newest passport to enter any country. It may be worthwhile to carry your old passport until its original expiration date, in case the question ever comes up of some document linking to a passport number.

A second valid passport may be issued under some circumstances. However, there is generally a special application process for this, and you would probably know whether you had done this. In the case of France:

En principe, vous ne pouvez pas avoir plusieurs passeports français. Toutefois, un second passeport peut exceptionnellement être délivré dans 2 situations : si votre passeport est immobilisé pendant une période de voyage ou si le passeport risque de faire apparaître des destinations incompatibles. ... Attention: la délivrance d'un second passeport n'est pas un droit, mais une faculté et c'est l'administration qui fixe ses critères d'attribution.

In general, you cannot have multiple French passports. However, in rare cases a second passport can be obtained in 2 situations: if your passport is unavailable during a period of travel [e.g. being held by a consulate for a different visa–ed.], or if the passport will show incompatible destinations [e.g. Israel & Iran—ed.] Note: obtaining a second passport is not a right, but a privilege and the administration sets the criteria for granting it.

Michael Seifert
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Greg Hewgill
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    +1 - It may be worth noting that some countries that process renewals online never see the old passport, so it is possible that none of the above bullets may apply. When I renewed my (New Zealand) passport recently I just received a "Cancelled" sticker and instructions to affix to the front cover of the old passport (although I guess this kinda fits the last bullet point). – Midavalo Jul 09 '20 at 00:21
  • @Midavalo: Good point, I've added that option. – Greg Hewgill Jul 09 '20 at 00:45
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    This same is true for passports reported lost or stolen. Assume that the usage of a invalidated passport can cause an alert. – Mark Johnson Jul 09 '20 at 04:40
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    +1 for keeping the old passport just in case, I once had a valid visa stamped on my old passport making the old passport necessary to travel. – everyone Jul 09 '20 at 07:26
  • @everyone Agreed. That's why I let them stamp holes through the old one yet insist I get it back. Sometimes it makes conversations with border agents a lot easier showing the old document next to the new one regardless of whether it's still valid. They've seen a lot, they know how it works, if it looks clear enough it can cut a long conversation short. – Mast Jul 09 '20 at 08:45
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    Some countries (for example Ukraine) allow to have two passports that are both valid at the same time. When I got my new passport I asked to keep my old passport as it had non expired USA visa and now I have two valid passports. Here's the quote from wikipedia: Two passports can be issued to those who frequently travel abroad – Roman-Stop RU aggression in UA Jul 09 '20 at 11:08
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    It's commonplace that you get the old passport back because most people need the old (or perhaps new) visas in it, either literally to use or as reference. This is a common question on here. – Fattie Jul 09 '20 at 12:14
  • I edited your answer to include information about the circumstances under which you can have a second valid passport (per @RomanKonoval's comment.) Feel free to roll back if you feel it distracts from the main thrust of your answer. – Michael Seifert Jul 09 '20 at 18:33
  • @MichaelSeifert: Thanks, that additional information about French passports is useful and relevant to the original question. – Greg Hewgill Jul 09 '20 at 22:08
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The US governmental websites are contradicting themselves on whether presenting a passport is required.

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-820?language=en_US (mirror) says no:

If you are a green card holder and you do not stay outside the U.S. for 1 year or more, you should have either your green card (I-551) or your returning resident visa to re-enter the United States. You are not required to present your unexpired passport, however it is not a bad idea to carry it with you.

https://www.usa.gov/enter-us#item-34787 (mirror) says yes (if arriving from a country that isn't Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda):

Arrival From Other Countries: All travelers entering the United States from all other countries need a passport upon arrival (regardless of their country of citizenship). Permanent residents and foreign nationals may also need a U.S. visa. You must apply for a visa before you start your trip.

Unless someone here can provide a clear, authoritative answer, I recommend taking the new passport to be on the safe side and also to try to appease over-zealous airline employees (obviously take your old passport too if your valid US visa is on it, but the OP has a US permanent residency so no visa).

Franck Dernoncourt
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