The new electronic passport or e-passport has an integrated
circuit embedded in the back cover which an immigration agent will scan
when the passport is presented at international borders. The purpose of
the chip is to provide better security measures at border crossings and
facilitate the flow of traffic.
The data stored on the passport chip is the same as that which is displayed on the inside front cover or data page. What is the data that is recorded there? First, there is the passport number and type. Next, the holder's full name, sex, date of birth and place of birth are included. Finally, the passport's date of issuance and expiration are recorded. There is also a unique identification number and a digital photo of the passport holder on the chip that is used to compare biometric features through facial recognition.
A couple of things that are not stored on the data page or on the chip are a person's address and social security number. That being the case, there is no need for a passport to be updated every time the holder moves to a new address.
If an agent scans the passport and discovers a faulty chip, then the document still remains valid until the date of expiration. Instead of reading the data via a scan, the information will have to be checked from the data page.
Due to the use of these chips, no longer can passports be amended. Those who apply for a name change, replacement of a limited-validity passport or data error corrections, will be issued a new passport. If the application is submitted within one year of the current passport's issuance date, there is no fee.
The data stored on the passport chip is the same as that which is displayed on the inside front cover or data page. What is the data that is recorded there? First, there is the passport number and type. Next, the holder's full name, sex, date of birth and place of birth are included. Finally, the passport's date of issuance and expiration are recorded. There is also a unique identification number and a digital photo of the passport holder on the chip that is used to compare biometric features through facial recognition.
A couple of things that are not stored on the data page or on the chip are a person's address and social security number. That being the case, there is no need for a passport to be updated every time the holder moves to a new address.
If an agent scans the passport and discovers a faulty chip, then the document still remains valid until the date of expiration. Instead of reading the data via a scan, the information will have to be checked from the data page.
Due to the use of these chips, no longer can passports be amended. Those who apply for a name change, replacement of a limited-validity passport or data error corrections, will be issued a new passport. If the application is submitted within one year of the current passport's issuance date, there is no fee.
Visit U.S. Passport Service Guide for a complete list of new passport requirements and to learn how to expedite a passport.
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