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US Government To Release Electronic Passport

Posted by samzenpus on from the all-the-better-to-track-you-with dept.

XueCast writes "The federal government has announced that they will release new electronic Passport cards in either April or May 2008. The cards could be read wirelessly from up to 20 feet away, which could reduce the waiting time at border checkpoints. Deputy Assistant Secretary Of State For Passport Services, Ann Barrett said, "As people are approaching a port of inspection, they can show the card to the reader, and by the time they get to the inspector, all the information will have been verified and they can be waved on through.""

1 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Awesome by jimicus · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Complete BS. The requirements to remain in the US Visa Waiver programme are a Machine Readable Zone and a digital photograph, both of which have been standard in Australian Passports for over a decade. It says so right on the page you've linked.

    Did you read the article properly?

    The ePassport will meet new US requirements to be introduced on 26 October 2006. Amd from the Waiver Programme page:

    Depending on when VWP travelers' passports were issued, other passport requirements will apply:

            * Machine-readable passport (MRP) issued before 26 October 2005 - no further requirements
            * MRP issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 - digitized photograph on data page or integrated chip with information from the data page
            * MRP issued on or after 26 October 2006 - integrated chip with information from the data page (note: Australian passports issued in Australia from 2006 onwards comply with this requirement)