The new USA passports are embarrassing.....
Apr 13, 2008, 9:08 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
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At the risk of sounding patriotic....a passport is pretty meaningful document and proof to the "world" that I am a USA citizen. In my mind..it is more symbolic than just
"stamps and is read by a machine".
Apr 13, 2008, 9:31 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Apr 13, 2008, 11:10 am
#34
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As a Brit who doesn't like the whole 'America's the best country in entire universe' concept I'm surprised to say I don't think it is that bad.
It could be worse. It could like one of those birthday cards where the immigration officer opens it and it plays 'The Star Spangled Banner'.
It could be worse. It could like one of those birthday cards where the immigration officer opens it and it plays 'The Star Spangled Banner'.
Apr 13, 2008, 11:14 am
#35
Join Date: Jan 2005
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My sister and I applied to renew our passports a while ago. Mine was processed one day earlier and I got the old one (valid till 2017) and my sister got the new one. I was so happy! 
Cheers,
Cheers,
Apr 13, 2008, 11:20 am
#36
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Apr 13, 2008, 11:32 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bay Area
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Posts: 150
There is a benefit to the unattractive new US passport. It makes other people feel better!
I have always been rather disappointed with my rather shoddy-looking (the cover started fraying during my 2nd overseas trip - not even a long trip) Australian passport with the rather hideous national coat of arms with emu and kangaroo (the passport version looks even worse than the 'official' version). But now there is an even worse-looking passport.
I have always been rather disappointed with my rather shoddy-looking (the cover started fraying during my 2nd overseas trip - not even a long trip) Australian passport with the rather hideous national coat of arms with emu and kangaroo (the passport version looks even worse than the 'official' version). But now there is an even worse-looking passport.
Last edited by diving4gold; Apr 13, 2008 at 11:34 am Reason: ETA: I happen to like both of them.
Apr 13, 2008, 11:37 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Atlanta/DC
Posts: 297
I wish the State Department offered the option to select the country listed on the cover. I find it a security threat to carry a passport that states United States of America. I travel to areas of the world that are not friendly to Americans, but who still need medical help. I've resorted to carrying a leather British passport cover.
Apr 13, 2008, 12:07 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I have always been rather disappointed with my rather shoddy-looking (the cover started fraying during my 2nd overseas trip - not even a long trip) Australian passport with the rather hideous national coat of arms with emu and kangaroo (the passport version looks even worse than the 'official' version). But now there is an even worse-looking passport.
http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/passports/press/index.html
Apr 13, 2008, 12:42 pm
#40
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Apr 13, 2008, 2:03 pm
#41
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I wish the State Department offered the option to select the country listed on the cover. I find it a security threat to carry a passport that states United States of America. I travel to areas of the world that are not friendly to Americans, but who still need medical help. I've resorted to carrying a leather British passport cover.
Apr 13, 2008, 2:09 pm
#42
Join Date: Apr 2006
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I wish the State Department offered the option to select the country listed on the cover. I find it a security threat to carry a passport that states United States of America. I travel to areas of the world that are not friendly to Americans, but who still need medical help. I've resorted to carrying a leather British passport cover.
Think this might violate a few treaties perhaps?
Apr 13, 2008, 3:44 pm
#43
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,275
The ID page on the cover was good because it was stiff. However, sliding it through a scanner might damage the chip hence moving the ID page inward.
I like the lines/squares on the visa page which are like training wheels for customs officials.
I tend to favor the old design because the new photos may obscure some passport stamps. The quotes detract from the design. However, having quotes opens the door to future quotes. Why not "Death to the Great Satan Iran and may they know that they will be flattened if they give the Bomb to Hizbollah" and "Death to bin Laden. If we find you, you will be tortured then eaten" and "Pay to the order of Israel. You are our #1 recipient of foreign aid. Can you spare a dime?" and "Bruce Springsteen...Born in the U.S.A., American patriot".
I like the lines/squares on the visa page which are like training wheels for customs officials.
I tend to favor the old design because the new photos may obscure some passport stamps. The quotes detract from the design. However, having quotes opens the door to future quotes. Why not "Death to the Great Satan Iran and may they know that they will be flattened if they give the Bomb to Hizbollah" and "Death to bin Laden. If we find you, you will be tortured then eaten" and "Pay to the order of Israel. You are our #1 recipient of foreign aid. Can you spare a dime?" and "Bruce Springsteen...Born in the U.S.A., American patriot".
Apr 13, 2008, 4:21 pm
#44
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- Stiff cover; can't bend like the old one << actually, the "bendy" ones wear/tear much faster, so I'm pleased with the current iteration that is like earlier ones (c.1983 for me)
- Flimsy, thin data page; no backing like the old cover; prone to tear/damage by scanner << too true
- No 48-page version << Any reports of success having a 48-pager issued when applying in person?
- Dark background picture obscures an entire paragraph in info section << good point
- Dark gloomy color pages << The moon-landing *was* conducted in relative darkness, after all
- Random inane/vacuous propaganda-style sayings << agreed
- GAUDY gratuitous garish superpatriotic graphics - SOPHOMORIC, cheap look << I wouldn't deem it cheap, just over the top
- Flimsy, thin data page; no backing like the old cover; prone to tear/damage by scanner << too true
- No 48-page version << Any reports of success having a 48-pager issued when applying in person?
- Dark background picture obscures an entire paragraph in info section << good point
- Dark gloomy color pages << The moon-landing *was* conducted in relative darkness, after all
- Random inane/vacuous propaganda-style sayings << agreed
- GAUDY gratuitous garish superpatriotic graphics - SOPHOMORIC, cheap look << I wouldn't deem it cheap, just over the top
In your package for the new passport, they assure you not to worry if for some reason your RFID is damaged in transit. You will still be able to travel. It will be handled just like any passport that has no RFID. Or so they say, and I guess I have no reason to doubt it.
Sounds like you've already found a happy solution to a particular problem. Good tip for those who face similar, exceptional circumstances while traveling on a U.S. passport.
Apr 13, 2008, 4:36 pm
#45
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http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/add/add_850.html