when is the new "e-passport" expected to come out?
 

when is the new "e-passport" expected to come out?

I could swear I read somewhere that it was supposed to be out by now(end of 2005). Apparently this is not the case, according to the State Depts' passport site.

As I only have a few months of to go before my passport expires, I'd rather wait for the new one. Or is it possible to extend my current passport and wait for the new one to come out? I rather now pay the $$ to get a renewal now and having to pay for the new e-passport again when it comes out...

Thanks for any info!

There has been some "slippage". A key deadline (26-Oct-2005) from the USA Patriot Act has been "re-interpreted" to mean that visa waiver program (VWP) countries must have passports with digitally printed photos by this date (rather than pasted in photographs). The new date is 26-Oct-2006 for e-passports. The United States Government intends to adhere to this date, however contracting and technology challenges have conspired to make it interesting as to whether or not they will actually meet it. I expect at least a small number of US e-Passports to be issued in advance of the deadline, probably to diplomats and other government employees.
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13F

Why not get a renewal passport now? It's not like the new "e-passports" are going to do anything for you that the currently issued renewal passports won't also do. The only risk -- and a very minor one at that -- is some country/bloc decides they want reciprocity. But for most all visa-waiver and visa-on-arrival countries, that is highly unlikely.

I'd get my renewal now instead of risk paying more as part of "user fees".

Your assumption that the prices will increase is likely the correct one. The US laws (Patriot Act and Visa Reform Act) say to the VWP countries that as long as they are issuing e-passports by the 26-Oct-2006, citizens holding ppts issued before the date will not be refused entry. Reciprocity would imply that US non-e-ppts issued prior to the deadline would be accepted, as long as the US has begun issuing e-ppts by that date,
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13F

I just received my new passport this past Friday. I needed a new one because of my marital name change. I didn't want to be one of the first with the new digital passport because I assume there will be snafus galore in the beginning. Someone else can be the guinea pig.

I have to say, I was impressed with them. It took only 2 weeks to receive a new one.