US passport chip not working
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold
Posts: 480
US passport chip not working
I think the chip in my passport is not working properly. Machines in 4 countries now have been unable to read it and I always have to stand in long lines. Has that happened to anyone? How do I go about getting a new one, is it treated as a damaged passport?
#2




Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: DL Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,777
From the State Department website: "The chip in the passport is just one of the many security features of the passport. If the chip fails, the passport remains a valid travel document until its expiration date. You will continue to be processed by the port-of-entry officer as if you had a passport without a chip."
Upside is that the document is still valid until expiry. Downside is the additional wait time and potentially extra scrutiny.
This page talks a bit about the chip itself and that you'd have to state the failure of the chip to work to validate the "damaged" claim. https://www.us-passport-service-guid...placement.html
Upside is that the document is still valid until expiry. Downside is the additional wait time and potentially extra scrutiny.
This page talks a bit about the chip itself and that you'd have to state the failure of the chip to work to validate the "damaged" claim. https://www.us-passport-service-guid...placement.html
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
At least one of my US passports has a broken chip of sort, and I have had no problems with it when using staffed counters at least. And at least one of my passports has a functioning chip and yet Ive been told its not working even as I knew it was functional at the time of such claim by some passport control agents.
The USG does not generally treat US passports as being invalid for use just because an RFID chip or reader is not working.

