I just renewed my passport a year before it was due to expire as I will be getting a number of visas this year and thought it easier to have them in one passport rather than carry around an expired passport with still valid visas.

I paid to expedite it and received my new passport in 9 days. The overnight envelope contained only my new passport. They did not cancel out and return my old one. Is this a new procedure?? I have all of my previous passports and my last one has a visa for Brazil which is valid for another 9+ years. Not only do I not have the use of that, but old passports are fun to look at and remember past travel (especially when you have to search through for a stamp because you can't remember when you were actually there).

Anyone have any recent experience? Did they just forget it, is it coming in a separate mailing (yeah, sure) or do they now retain them upon renewal?

You will get the old passport in a few days by separate mail.

That is normal passport office procedure.

Oh goodie!

Thanks Ralph!

I'm with you Suzanne, my expired passports are one of my favorite souvenirs!

I've always got my old passports returned after getting new one. I've used Brazil visa twice from old passport and will use it again later this month - glad to get my money's worth.