It was time to get a new passport as my current one is running out in January next year. I am of course sad to see the old passport "go" as it has lots of stamps and good memories. Now I guess I have to continue travelling to get some new stuff in the passport The new passport cost me 1000 kroner (about 160 dollars)
I hate the fact that passports don't get stamped like they used to. On my first trip to Germany they seemed to stamp every 3rd passport, or every 5th, or whenever they felt like it. I was almost arrested when I asked for my passport to be stamped! I was pleased to receive my old passport back in the mail along with my new one. And $160 for a renewal....ouch!!!
Yes I wish my passport actually reflected the places I've been to. So *do* you get the old one back when you renew? It is a treasure to me, and I love thumbing through it, remembering various trips. I'd hate to give it up in 2011 when I have to renew. And considering I paid $100 for that Russian visa, I for sure want to keep it!
In Canada you can request to have your old passport returned to you. It arrives with a hole punched through it.
Same here in the USA. I have every passport I've ever used. I love the old Visas for Egypt with the stamps in them (physical, paper stamps.) Just include a note that you want the old one returned with the new one. Actually I think they do it automatically.
They returned ours to us...and if you want your pages stamped, all you have to do is ask the agent that checks it in each country...they are happy to stamp away...Of course, we're usually in a hurry, but it really only takes a minute.
Have you seen the news stories about the dangers of ID theft with the new US passports? Apparently the new RFID chips that are required as of August 2006 are very hackable.
I do get to keep the old passport...they just cut the corners of the front page to indicate that this is not a valid passport anymore. I looked through it and these are that stamps that I can find in there (in order of apperance): Malaysia, Malaysia again, Singapore, South Africa, Singapore, Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, Scotland, South Africa, Denmark, Mexico, Thailand, South Africa, Holland, USA, China, Hong Kong, Maldives, Holland, Holland, USA, Tanzania, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Japan, Austria and finally Aserbaijan
One thing that infuriated me when getting my new (Canadian) passport was that we were no longer allowed to smile (for facial recognition). I have a nice smile on all of my old passports but had to have several photos taken for the latest one so as not to have a pic that made me look like someone the authorities wouldn't want in their country!
Ours are only good for 5 years; yes, we can ask to keep the old ones and I always do. I figure they help in proving one's identity, as I don't drive, and how on earth are they going to prove who I am from my birth certificate?
Posts: 868 | Location: Montréal | Registered: 29 January 2006
Yes, it is the same here. In my old passport I have a BIG smile on my face...this time the picture looks like a mug shot. And when I took the picture I got six identical...it is not really the picture that I want to distribute to the family
Topic Closed
The new passport cost me 1000 kroner (about 160 dollars) 
