Second U.S. Passports (4-Year Duplicate Books) & Dual Citizenship Protocols

1. Did You Know You Can Legally Hold Two Valid U.S. Passports at Once?

Under 8 FAM 504.1, the U.S. Department of State authorizes the issuance of a second, concurrently valid 4-year U.S. passport book to U.S. citizens who demonstrate one of two concrete operational needs:

• ▸Foreign Visa Processing Overlap: You must fly internationally while your primary 10-year passport is held at a foreign embassy or consulate for visa processing (e.g., applying for a Chinese, Indian, or Brazilian visa while needing to fly to London next week).
• ▸Restrictive Entry Stamp Conflicts: You travel between countries that deny entry to travelers displaying entry stamps or visas from specific other nations.

2. How to Apply for a Second Valid U.S. Passport Book at an Agency

Bring Form DS-82 (if your primary 10-year passport is eligible for renewal/endorsement) or Form DS-11, your primary U.S. passport (or proof it is currently lodged at a consulate), a signed written statement explaining why a second valid passport is required, your imminent flight itinerary, one 2x2 photo, and the $190 ($130 + $60 expedite) fee.

3. Dual Citizenship & CBI Program Statutory Compliance (8 U.S.C. § 1185(b))

For U.S. citizens holding dual nationality (through ancestry in Ireland, Italy, Poland, or Germany, or via naturalized residency/investment programs): Federal statute 8 U.S.C. § 1185(b) mandates that every U.S. citizen must bear a valid U.S. passport to depart from or enter the United States. Present your foreign passport to foreign border control upon arrival abroad, but always present your valid U.S. passport to the airline gate agent on your return flight to the U.S. and to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).