Passport Please

Passport Please

May 31, 2023

Passing through customs at Heathrow Airport in London, the agent scanned my passport and then took some time reading the results of their computer records.  My son had just passed through quickly so this delay was concerning.  

“Your records show that this passport has been reported lost,” he finally reported.  “Did you lose a passport?” he asked.  

“Yes,” I replied.  Several years ago I could not find my passport, so I obtained a new one.” 

“Well, this passport is no longer valid.  Can you explain how it is that you are using it now?”

Now I was beginning to be a little nervous,  I replied “When I was preparing to leave home on this trip, I searched for my US Passport and found this one.  I checked the dates, and was convinced that it was still valid.”  

“Well, it is not valid, so by law, we must confiscate it,” said the agent.

Having to return home on the next available flight without the opportunity to enjoy the company of several family members in Scotland, crossed my mind.

“But,” I argued, “when I got my boarding pass at United Airlines in Houston, they scanned my passport and didn’t report any problem.  And, how will I be able to pass through US Customs when I return, without a passport?” I asked. 

“You can pass through US Customs with a valid ID such as a driver’s license,” he said,

“So, we plan to visit Scotland from here.  Without a passport, Scottish Airlines may not let me board.  What do I do now?” I inquired.

The agent looked at my jet-lagged, 86-year-old face, and I saw just a slight trace of sympathy.

“Let me check with my supervisor,” he said.

A few minutes later he returned, and asked: “Can you show evidence that Scotland is your final destination?”

My son showed him our Scottish Airlines boarding passes from his smartphone and added that we plan to spend several days in Scotland before returning home.

“OK,” he said.  “You can keep your old passport, but it will be confiscated by US Customs when you re-enter the USA.  And, do not try to use this passport to enter any other country. 

It all made no sense to me.  At some time in the past, I had searched my home for several days to find that old passport, but could not find it anywhere.  Then, it was necessary to go through all the trouble of ordering a new one.  Somehow, when searching for the new passport before the start of this trip, I accidentally found the old, lost passport that caused this problem — without realizing that it was the lost one and no longer valid.

Anyway, with considerable relief, I thanked the agent and told him that I would be very happy if the US Customs confiscate that damned passport so that I cannot find it again before some other trip.

He smiled.