New passport has a chip in it?

[Lizzy 0]

As the title says is this normal? I got it from the Washington DC Embassy (Passport Agency), came in a FED EX package this morning, only took a week.

Its blue inside and has birds on the pages!! Bit different from the one i got a year ago.

I am a UK Citizen, thanks:))

Edited February 8, 2007 by Lizzy

[Robor007 0]

Is it a 'chip' or a magnetic strip? My passport is about 3.5 years old but my wife just got a new Philippine passport in her married name. I'll have to ask her what hers looks like.

[hoping2cher 0]

What you have is called an E-Passport, all new passports issued by the US Govt will have a chip.

"An Electronic Passport is the same as a traditional passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit (or “chip”) embedded in the back cover. The chip will store the same data visually displayed on the data page of the passport, a biometric identifier in the form of a digital image of the passport photograph, which will facilitate the use of face recognition technology at ports-of-entry, the unique chip identification number and a digital signature to protect the stored data from alteration." - http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2788.html

Other related link:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123246-page,1/article.html

[Anna C. 4]

Same in Germany, it's a biometric passport. It's a RFID chip that stores (the German one at least) a digital picture of the passholder. Within the next years they want to add fingerprints and other vital information for identification on these chips.

[Lizzy 0]

Thank you:))))

[Savanphil 3]

Thank you:))))

[DelcoCouple 1]

What you have is called an E-Passport, all new passports issued by the US Govt will have a chip.

"An Electronic Passport is the same as a traditional passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit (or “chip”) embedded in the back cover. The chip will store the same data visually displayed on the data page of the passport, a biometric identifier in the form of a digital image of the passport photograph, which will facilitate the use of face recognition technology at ports-of-entry, the unique chip identification number and a digital signature to protect the stored data from alteration." - http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2788.html

Other related link:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123246-page,1/article.html

I doubt it somehow as the OP stated they are a UK Citizen and obtained presumably a UK passport from the Washington Embassy.

If you look under the word passport on the front cover you will see the biometric symbol if you have one of the new biometric passports

You can see an example by clicking HERE

I am just curious as to why you are having a new passport after only a year

Edited February 8, 2007 by DelcoCouple

[YuAndDan 153]

If the passport has a symbol like this on the cover it has an RFID Chip in it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rfid_passport

[DelcoCouple 1]

If the passport has a symbol like this on the cover it has an RFID Chip in it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rfid_passport

OH SURE USE A BIGGER PICTURE THAN MINE

You can of course disable the RFID feature by wrapping your passport in aluminium foil

[YuAndDan 153]

OH SURE USE A BIGGER PICTURE THAN MINE

You can of course disable the RFID feature by wrapping your passport in aluminium foil

Better yet get a passport wallet that shields the RFID, the passport can be easily removed from the wallet at the POE for them to scan it.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/rfidblo...case-160702.php

http://www.difrwear.com/purchase.shtml

Edited February 8, 2007 by YuAndDan

[mmb 0]

There was something on the news here the other day about the new biometric passports. Seems the chips only comes with a 2 year guarantee. Tried to find a link but no luck.

I'm a little miffed at the fact I'll need a new passport after I'm married and it might not last as long as my old one.

[DeadPoolX 9]

What concerns me about the RFID chip in the new passports is that these chips are supposedly readable from quite a distance away. So theoretically, someone could scan your chip and get your information without you ever knowing about it.

Fortunately, I won't have to worry about that until 2015 (or a little before that, since I'll have to renew before my passport actually expires).

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

What concerns me about the RFID chip in the new passports is that these chips are supposedly readable from quite a distance away. So theoretically, someone could scan your chip and get your information without you ever knowing about it.

Fortunately, I won't have to worry about that until 2015 (or a little before that, since I'll have to renew before my passport actually expires).

Hackers clone E-passports

use something like this to block it

http://www.idstronghold.com/securesleeve.php?s=2

[Robor007 0]

What concerns me about the RFID chip in the new passports is that these chips are supposedly readable from quite a distance away. So theoretically, someone could scan your chip and get your information without you ever knowing about it.

Fortunately, I won't have to worry about that until 2015 (or a little before that, since I'll have to renew before my passport actually expires).

Hackers clone E-passports

use something like this to block it

http://www.idstronghold.com/securesleeve.php?s=2

Wow, that's pretty scary. After reading that article I'm also glad my passport doesn't expire for another 6 1/2 years. One thing technology history has shown us is if it can be hacked it will be hacked.

[sereia 0]

i'll be getting my renewed passport anyday now.

when i marry my fiance this year (i hope) i have to apply for a whole new one after i change my name?????