New Biometric Australian Passports

[danielh]

Well in todays AFR (Thursday 6th Oct 2005) Page 9 they were talking about the new e-passports and how they have a stockpile of 300,000 blank passports with 10,000 extra a day being created.

The release date is has not been released yet though which is really annoying.

[Some selected paraphrases]

"The e-passports will be issued only to new passport applicants and those replacing out-of-date documents (thats me)."

"About 1 million e-passports are expected to be released in the first year."

"The cost of an adult passport will increase by $19."

Regards
Daniel

 

[NM]

"The e-passports will be issued only to new passport applicants and those replacing out-of-date documents (thats me)."

I wonder where that leaves people like me? My passport does not expire until April 2007, but its almost full now and is not going to last me more than one or two more RTW trips. And as I only have one unused page remaining, any paper/stamp/sticker Visa requirements will mean my passport is effectively full (I have 3 full page Ukraine Visas already in it).

So a new passport for me will not be a new application nor replacing an out-of-date document.

Next time I am going to get the 100 page version.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

NM - I'm in the same situation for NZ passport (well, minus the ukranian visas). Made worse by the new passports only being valid for 5 years - yet I have nearly 8 years to run on my existing one.

So far no one has been able to give me an answer. :?

 

[NM]

So far no one has been able to give me an answer. :?

I am just going to keep handing over my current one until an immigration agent makes a comment about needing to get a new one. I have no current plans to visit anywhere that needs a full-page Visa, so hopefully won't get caught out a short notice.

 

[danielh]

Just called the Passport ppl (131 232) and was told the date it is going to start is 22nd Oct 2005. It's a Sat so maybe she meant 21st or the 24th but she also advised that I should call a few days in advance to double check.

They are apparantly going to have the ePassport training next week.

I told her that my OS travel date was 15th Dec and she said I would be fine as it takes about 3 weeks to process.

Regards
Daniel

 

[dgruber]

Release Dates

According to the DFAT e-mail I got, the launch date is the 24 October 2005 for e-passports.

 

[danielh]

Well I can also confirm that Monday October 24 is the date.

What I need to do is:
- Get my picture taken x 2
- Fill out my special renewal form in black ink
- Print my name on the back of one of the photos
- Find an Aussie Post and make an appointment with them for a passport (some don't require appointments)
- Have $172 for my 32 page passport.

Gonna have to dress nicely some day and get my passport photo taken.

Also, you can contact 13 13 18 for Aussie Post to tell you the nearest Post Office that does Passports (with and without appointments).

I'll let you know if there are any issues.

Regards
Daniel

 

[cssaus]

Taking a look at the Australian Passport Renewal Application form that I downloaded, it has an interesting statement:

"if you have changed your name or sex you will need to complete an Application for an Australian passport"

Here's the link on the passport site that discusses the new e-passport:

https://www.passports.gov.au/web/new/passports01.aspx

 

[infoworks]

I have been using smart gate and it's great, even though it's an immigration thing 9not customs). In fact many of the people in customs get worried when I come through with no markings on my arrival card because of the gate and they have not had explained to them what to expect!

Like NM I seem to go though a page a month on my passport, over half full and only 3 years old. The more stamps the more immigration around the world look at it too!

I was considering getting a new "chip" passport over the Christmas break just to have "the latest" for ease of entry to USA, etc and get back to less clutter and faster immi processing.

I'll be keen to see application and use experiences over the next few months from new users.

 

[cssaus]

I was considering getting a new "chip" passport over the Christmas break just to have "the latest" for ease of entry to USA, etc and get back to less clutter and faster immi processing.

Unless I missed something when reading the info on the new e-passport, I cant see how it will "ease" the entry into the USA. You're still going to have to go thru the finger-printing and photographing hoopla. The new e-passport is really only a means to enhance passport security and to provide an immigration official that the passport really belongs to you!

 

[infoworks]

I realise that - sorry - I wasn't clear - my hope is they may enable something that will help such passport holders get through more simply.

The have some of my fingers, toes and whatever else as part of having a visa already!

 

[cssaus]

I realise that - sorry - I wasn't clear - my hope is they may enable something that will help such passport holders get through more simply.

The have some of my fingers, toes and whatever else as part of having a visa already!

Actually you might be somewhat correct.

The new passports are designed to work with the new smartgate kiosks that are to be installed at Australian airports. If the new US Passport controls that are to be introduced after Oct 26 include a similar smart kiosk facility then there may well be an opportunity to bypass those horrific immigration queues at SFO & LAX.

Because of the fear of the size of the queues and the time it might take to get thru immigration going into the States, I won't even consider any connect flight out of LAX or SFO within a 2 hour window of arrival. I've been caught out in the past when trying to catch what I thought was an ok connection of 1.5 hrs upon arriving in SFO!

 

[infoworks]

I have reduced my travel to the US because it's such a pain.

 

[danielh]

Well I popped into the Aussie Post today and got my Passport form filled in and paid up the AU$170.

I should hope to see my new passport in 10-15 business days.

Regards
Daniel

 

[cssaus]

Well I popped into the Aussie Post today and got my Passport form filled in and paid up the AU$170.

Did exactly the same thing myself today. Next step will be to apply for an APEC card once the new passport arrives.

 

[cssaus]

Picked up my new ePassport this afternoon from the post office.

Gotta say I couldn't complain about the time it took to get it. I only lodged the application on Oct 27.

The microchip appears to be situated between pages 17 & 18 which makes the passport somewhat stiffer than what they used to be.

The only thing I don't like about the new passport is that I sure look a lot older than I did on the previous one! :cry: The other sobering thought is whether or not I'll be around for the next its due to be renewed.

Anyway now I can send off my APEC CARD application.

 

[infoworks]

The microchip appears to be situated between pages 17 & 18 which makes the passport somewhat stiffer than what they used to be.

Did you get an ordinary passport (sounds like it) or a FF one? Where do PP 17 & 18 fit in - sounds like in the middle?

 

[cssaus]

Did you get an ordinary passport (sounds like it) or a FF one? Where do PP 17 & 18 fit in - sounds like in the middle?

I just got the regular 34 page one. Yes, the microchip is right in the middle.

 

[danielh]

I rather stupidly said I'll want it posted to me. Undortunately I'm in Sydney this week and so I cannot even get the "We Missed You" card from the postman and collect from the Melbourne Aust Post shop.

Come to think of though I did not expect to be in Sydney this week but still I would like to finally get it.

Now that we have got the new passport, does anyone know if we can pop into the Melb or Syd customs office to get scanned for the Smart Traveller entry?

I'm talking about getting your face 'biometrically' scanned into the national database so I can simply do that walkthrough bit when I get back home from OS.

Regards
Daniel

 

[cssaus]

INow that we have got the new passport, does anyone know if we can pop into the Melb or Syd customs office to get scanned for the Smart Traveller entry?

I'm talking about getting your face 'biometrically' scanned into the national database so I can simply do that walkthrough bit when I get back home from OS.

Regards
Daniel

The way I read it, that's what is on the chip inside the passport, the biometric characteristics of your face and I'm sure it's already in DFAT's database. There's nothing further you need to do once you get your passport. I think the process is to just simply front-up to the smartgate kiosk, slap your passport onto the reading panel and stare at the machine. If the image of your face that kiosk sees and what's encoded on the chip in the passport don't match then the bells start ringing and the lights start flashing.