Reply #59: I'm trying to get one now under the wire without this RFID... [View All]

[cascadiance]

I'm looking at a PDF document of the DS-11 Application for a passport here:

http://www.abriggs.com/passports/new_passport.php

and there is a disturbing paragraph that would indicate that they are already issuing these passports now. Note the following section on the fourth page of this document which says:

------------------------------------------------------

ELECTRONIC PASSPORT STATEMEHT

Early in 2005, the State Department will begin issuing a new type of passport containing an embedded electronic chip and called an "Electronic Passport". The new passport will continue to be proof of the bearer's United States Citizenship and identity, and will look and function in the same way as a passport without a chip. The addition of an electronic chip in the back cover will enable the new passport to carry a duplicate electronic copy of all information from the data page. The new passport will be usable at all ports-of-entry, including those that do not yet have electronic chip readers.

Use of the electronic format will provide the traveler the additional security protections inherent in chip technology. Moreover, when used at ports-of-entry equipped with electronic chip readers, the new passport will provide for faster clearance through some of the port-of-entry processes.

Issuance of this new passport will be phased in during an 18-month period. It is epected that by mid-2006 nearly all US passports will be issued in the new format. The new passport will not require special handling or treatment, but like previous versions should be protected from extreme bending and from immersion in water. The electronic chip must be read using specially formatted readers, and is not susceptible to unauthorized reading.

The cover of the new passport will be printed with a special symbol representing the embedded chip. The symbol "LOGO IMAGE" will appear in port-of-entry areas where the electronic passport can be read.

------------------------------------------------------


This would seem to indicate that this transition has started earlier this year and that many folks are already getting this newer type of passport.

Is this something that was erroneously printed and since the time of its printing there has been a delay in making these kind of passports?

Anyone have one of these newer passports yet?

The form indicates that for higher fees one can get your passport "expedited", which I'm tempted to do to get them before the December date mentioned in the article above. However, if they are already issuing these now, I might be just wasting my money. Also, there's mixed info I'm reading of you needing to "prove" you need it before a given date to get expediting. Part of me feels I should just be able to say something like "I'm thinking of taking a trip in early December to Canada before the holidays when I want to be back home for Christmas here. I need this passport before the end of November.

Just checking in what others think on what would be the best way to go about it. I'm tempted to go into the one stop shopping post office tomorrow morning and just get it over now. But I'd like to make sure I'm not going to waste money on expediting it, if there's not much chance at getting a "non-chipped" passport anyway. I also am born overseas by American parents, which might hold up my application if I go the "normal" time route too.

Getting this passport now isn't just motivated by this RFID thing. It is also motivated by us needing passports now to go over the border to either Mexico or Canada soon at the beginning of the year I think. Living in San Diego, I want to have the option to go into Mexico and will need a passport to do that shortly.