On 2005-10-29T21:17:25-0700, Gregory Hicks wrote:
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 03:05:25 +0000 From: Justin <justin-cypherpunks@soze.net>
If I apply for a new one now, and then apply for a another one once the gov starts RFID-enabling them, will the first one be invalidated? Or can I have two passports, the one without RFID to use, and the one with RFID to play with?
I am not a State Dept person, but my experiences in this are...
As for applying for one now, I think the deadline for the non-RFID passwords is about 3 days away (31 Oct 2005), but I could be wrong. (In other words, if your application is not in processing by 31 Oct, then you get the new, improved, RFID passport.)
"The Department intends to begin the electronic passport program in December 2005. The first stage will be a pilot program in which the electronic passports will be issued to U.S. Government employees who use Official or Diplomatic passports for government travel. This pilot program will permit a limited number of passports to be issued and field tested prior to the first issuance to the American traveling public, slated for early 2006. By October 2006, all U.S. passports, with the exception of a small number of emergency passports issued by U.S. embassies or consulates, will be electronic passports." http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-21284.htm (2005-10-25 Fed. Reg.) It sounds like it's fairly safe to get a new passport after Halloween... at least until January. -- The six phases of a project: I. Enthusiasm. IV. Search for the Guilty. II. Disillusionment. V. Punishment of the Innocent. III. Panic. VI. Praise & Honor for the Nonparticipants.