Why ask for 'date of issue' on passport
Nov 4, 2005 | 6:16 am
#2
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It could help them decide if it's a valid passport or not, for example when the colors were different for the covers for those issued in these years, things like that. It also confirms the expiration date, and identifies how old the picture in them is.
Nov 8, 2005 | 4:31 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2003
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But as the date of issue is recorded on the passport itself, which is submitted along with any application, surely it's a little redundant to make the traveller fill it out too?
Then again, in these days of barcode readers and swipeable passports, making the traveller fill out anything at all is pointless
Then again, in these days of barcode readers and swipeable passports, making the traveller fill out anything at all is pointless
Nov 8, 2005 | 1:12 pm
#4
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Originally Posted by jpatokal
But as the date of issue is recorded on the passport itself, which is submitted along with any application, surely it's a little redundant to make the traveller fill it out too?
Then again, in these days of barcode readers and swipeable passports, making the traveller fill out anything at all is pointless
Then again, in these days of barcode readers and swipeable passports, making the traveller fill out anything at all is pointless
Nov 8, 2005 | 1:48 pm
#5
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What about those immigration forms in foreign countries where they ask you to repeat just about all the information on your passport like DOB, gender, place of issue, date of issue, date of expiry? Even super-efficient Singapore where passports are machine-read asks for these redundant data on the arrival card which the immigration officer never even bother to look at.
I think the reason for this is inertia.
I think the reason for this is inertia.
Nov 9, 2005 | 5:44 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
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The problem is not all countries have machine-readable passports. The fact that the US now (de facto) requires these and other countries have to follow suit is, quite possibly, the only good thing to come out of the terrorism brouhaha...
Nov 9, 2005 | 7:24 am
#7
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Originally Posted by AAaLot
I guess this is my real point...why fill out anything at all!!
Nov 9, 2005 | 8:10 am
#8
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Some countries want to know date of issue to make sure that your passport will not expire within the duration you are legally entitled to stay. Have been challenged on this once when my passport was due to expire in 79 days - presenting a copy of my return ticket which was in 3 days seemed to mollify the immigration agent.
Nov 9, 2005 | 8:56 am
#9
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Originally Posted by HeathrowGuy
Because it's a document that can be brought into court and readily used against a foreigner for perjury/false declarations to a government official if the need so arises.
Nov 9, 2005 | 9:09 am
#10
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Originally Posted by jpatokal
The problem is not all countries have machine-readable passports. The fact that the US now (de facto) requires these and other countries have to follow suit is, quite possibly, the only good thing to come out of the terrorism brouhaha...
Besides, even some passports from European countries aren't machine readable. There are so-called last-minute passports for people who don't bother to check their passport's expiration date until three days before they fly, and these don't work terribly well with the passport readers.