I first got a passport in 1999 and have used it for I-9 ID for the 4 jobs I've had since then. I've had more experience with that use of a passport than I wish I had. Now, if his passport is expired ...
I don't mean to make the itching carpenter primitive's story even more convoluted, but while I don't remember the circumstances, an expired passport of mine was accepted as valid identification.
I wish to God I could remember for what reasons, but I can't.
One time, I even used a passport 25 years old and long expired for something, but I forget for what. No malicious reason; it just happened to be the identification handy at the time.
(later) The itching carpenter primitive insists his passport is "almost worthless" for identification.
One might suspect something's fishy about the passport then, but probably not.
I think he's angling for sympathy as a prelude for a fund-raiser.