New U.S. E-Passport - EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES QUITO ...

New U.S. E-PassportDiplomatic and OfficialVersionsBureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

New U.S. E-PassportOn December 30, 2005 the U.S. Department of State began issuing the first-ever U.S. Electronic Passports.The passports are issued on a pilot basis in the form of diplomatic (black cover) and official (marooncover) E-Passports. Upon successful completion of the pilot, the Department of State plans to deployelectronic tourist (blue cover) passports. The U.S. anticipates having all 17 domestic passport agenciesissuing E-Passports by the end of 2006.E-passport logoThe new passport:The basic front cover design is unchanged, except for the E-passport logo,symbolizing an electronic chip, to easily distinguish the new document from aconventional one.The E-Passports contain either 28 pages or 52 pages, compared to 24 or 48 for olderpassports.The interior design has been entirely changed from the previous version. Imageryinside the cover incorporates stylized depictions of America, including quotationsfrom historic Americans. This publication highlights those changesThe new passport combines face recognition and contactless chip technology. Thechip, which will be embedded in the back cover of the passport, holds the sameinformation that is printed in the data page of the passport: name, date of birth,gender, place of birth, dates of passport issuance and expiration, place of issuance,passport number, and photo image of the bearer. In addition, it will hold the uniquechip identification number and a digital signature to protect the stored data fromalteration.Bureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

Inside Front CoverInner front cover has Old Glory in the background in offset print, and Francis Scott Key andwords from the National Anthem in intaglio printing, including “USA” in green-to-goldcolor-shifting ink. There are also random fibers that fluoresce under ultraviolet (UV) light.“USA” is printed in greento-goldcolor-shifting ink.The color seen dependsupon the viewing angle.Bureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

The Signature PageThe signature line is actuallymicroprinted text.The signature page, now on page three, has the preamble to the Constitution, a flagimage, grain stalks and an eagle. Under UV light, the page shows stars andfireworks (not shown).Bureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

Data Page FeaturesFeatures retained from ’98 design: Digital image and “USA” over the guilloche pattern in photo area;multi-color and solvent-sensitive inks; and machine readable zone on data page.New Features: The data page, now on page two, has thicker paper than other pages and a watermark; theGreat Seal and flag design is new; and all pages have now random fibers that fluoresce under UV.Pre-printed text in thepassport will match the covercolor: black, maroon or blue.The book inventory number,on inside back cover, will alsobe the passport number.In contrast to the ’98 version, thedata descriptors (e.g.,“Sex/Sexe/Sexo”) are not preprinted,but rather printed at thesame time as the personalizeddata when the book is issued.Therefore, this text will be blackfor all passports, diplomatic,official and tourist“USA” is printed in green-togoldcolor-shifting ink. Thecolor seen depends upon theviewing angle.Microprinting in thebackground designBureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

The Security FilmThe security laminate film in the new passport contains the same highly securetechnology as the optically variable feature in Passport ’98. The new document has anentirely new design in the film including George Washington, words from the NationalAnthem, the Capitol, and a bountiful harvest.Bureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

Typical Visa PageOfficial PassportDiplomatic PassportBureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

Last Interior PageOfficial PassportDiplomatic PassportOfficial passports have 28 pages, diplomatic passports 52. As can be seen in this image, officialbooks use maroon ink for text and the diplomatic versions have black ink. Tourist passports, whenissued, will have blue ink, and will come in both 28- and 52-page formats.Bureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006

Inside Back CoverThe inside back cover has images of the earth, the moon and the Voyager spacecraft in intaglio printing.Latent images of “USA” and the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” become apparent when the pageis viewed at an oblique angle.The inside back cover continues to have the book control number and bar code in the same location. Thecontrol number is the same as passport number printed on the data page.Bureau of Consular Affairs,U.S. Department of State2/2006