Worn out passport

[Mal]

My passport has a couple of years validity left and has about 8 pages free, however it's developed a few issues.

1. Laminate on front page has peeled a bit. Has never been commented about by immigration agents though.
2. I'm getting more and more failed scans of my passport by immigration agents. I think the plastic laminate is starting to get a bit crazed.
3. My photo looks nothing like me. This has a very interesting effect at immigration points which involves looking at my passport, looking at me, looking at my passport, looking at me, and normally a comment from them, or a question like "Is this really you?"

I'm in the process of applying for a new one, and have some questions.
1. Do I just use the standard "Passport Renewal" form?
2. Am I going to have dramas visiting any countries with the new passport? I've heard the US will be very suspicious about me on my next trip?
4. With the new Chipped passports, does that give me instant smartgate access?
5. How much thicker are the 64 page passports over the 32 page passports? Can't decide which to get.

 

[serfty]

It's a very simple process to do on line for pp renewals/replacements.

You fill in some details and they will either present you with a document to print or post it to you if you prefer.

You fill this out and take it to a standard PP interview.

With the new Chipped passports, you will need to join the queue for those Oz residents who have the e-chip; so it's the end of the trial for you. (I'll have to deal with this in the next month or so - I really liked being enrolled in the trial :-| (tnx AFF for the heads-up on that back in early 2005.

).

More here:

• Renewing an Australian Adult Passport

 

[JohnK]

My passport also has a couple of years validity but now has less than 5 blank pages available.

1. Laminate on front page has peeled a bit. Has never been commented about by immigration agents though.

My passport is almost falling apart at the edges as it has spent more than its fair share of time in my pocket in warm climates.

2. I'm getting more and more failed scans of my passport by immigration agents. I think the plastic laminate is starting to get a bit crazed.

I have not had a problem overseas but a few times it has failed to scan through customs in Australia. They look at me as if it my fault and I need to rectify the issue.

2. Am I going to have dramas visiting any countries with the new passport? I've heard the US will be very suspicious about me on my next trip?

In what way do you think will they be suspicious?

 

[Evan]

The new passports i think are not that weel made, or atleast mine appears not.

- I prefer the think covers and infomation page laminated to the cover instead of that flimsy paper 2nd page
- Covers are thinner and not as good quality

I think the Germany style passports are a great idea, an ID card thats laminated for use inside EU etc and a real passport for outside EU, but even the outside one has hard laminating on the ID page.

I only wonder if mine has thin lesser quality covers because it was a 2 day urgent one ? or is everybodys like that ?

E

 

[Homer]

2. Am I going to have dramas visiting any countries with the new passport? I've heard the US will be very suspicious about me on my next trip?

I have one of the new chipped passports and I've never had any issues in the US (or anywhere for that matter).

 

[Mal]

In what way do you think will they be suspicious?

I'm sure I've read in some trip reports that when you replace your passport before it's due to expire and present a different one to what US immigration is expecting you can get further questioning and sometimes a trip to Secondary. Looking for more information around that.

 

[Mal]

I applied for my new passport, and got the Australia Post agency to do the photos as well. It took 4 different sets of photos before they got a set that met the requirements! (either face was too small/too big/ shadow etc). I'm glad I got them to do the photos rather than going to a chemist or other photo place.

Have the old passport in my possession, and will take it with me on my next few trips, but still curious if what I thought about visiting the U.S is correct or not.... Anyone?

 

[NM]

Have the old passport in my possession, and will take it with me on my next few trips, but still curious if what I thought about visiting the U.S is correct or not.... Anyone?

On my first visit to the USA with my new passport I enquired about any linkage. I was informed that the photo and finger printing is not linked between the passports. Since that was the first time that passport had been to the USA, the photo and finger prints taken at that time were associated with the new passport to be verified if that passport is used to re-enter the USA.

They seemed to have no record of the fact that I had entered many times previously using my previous passport. It would seem that the Australian government does not provide any linkage to other governments as a matter of course.