uk Passports

In message <2mv0hcFrm518U1@uni-berlin.de>, at 14:24:43 on Fri, 30 Jul
2004, Miss L. Toe <missltoemissltoe@m> remarked:
>Next it'll be fingerprints and retina scans :-)
>But then we shouldn't actually need to carry a passport around with us,
>should we ?
>e-tickets, e-passports what next ?

Surely there have been various experiments in the past. Usually at JFK
with a "fast track" for selected frequent-flying passengers who've
registered their palm-print or whatever. I'm sure I saw some such lane
(looking a bit disused) at the AA arrivals terminal there the other
week.
--
Roland Perry

On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 17:02:24 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
wrote:

>In message <2mv0hcFrm518U1@uni-berlin.de>, at 14:24:43 on Fri, 30 Jul
>2004, Miss L. Toe <missltoemissltoe@m> remarked:
>>Next it'll be fingerprints and retina scans :-)
>>But then we shouldn't actually need to carry a passport around with us,
>>should we ?
>>e-tickets, e-passports what next ?
>
>Surely there have been various experiments in the past. Usually at JFK
>with a "fast track" for selected frequent-flying passengers who've
>registered their palm-print or whatever. I'm sure I saw some such lane
>(looking a bit disused) at the AA arrivals terminal there the other
>week.

That sounds like INSPass, which is a truly spiffy scheme, principally
because you (usually) manage to avoid talking to the immigration
officers...

It's a card, and biometric scans of your hand. Quick and unobtrusive.

Malc.

"Malcolm Weir" <malc@gelt.org> wrote in message
news:cpatg05vckn655h4pabgu8jandii54hoj2@...
> On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 17:02:24 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
> >In message <2mv0hcFrm518U1@uni-berlin.de>, at 14:24:43 on Fri, 30 Jul
> >2004, Miss L. Toe <missltoemissltoe@m> remarked:
> >>Next it'll be fingerprints and retina scans :-)
> >>But then we shouldn't actually need to carry a passport around with us,
> >>should we ?
> >>e-tickets, e-passports what next ?
> >
> >Surely there have been various experiments in the past. Usually at JFK
> >with a "fast track" for selected frequent-flying passengers who've
> >registered their palm-print or whatever. I'm sure I saw some such lane
> >(looking a bit disused) at the AA arrivals terminal there the other
> >week.
>
> That sounds like INSPass, which is a truly spiffy scheme, principally
> because you (usually) manage to avoid talking to the immigration
> officers...
>
> It's a card, and biometric scans of your hand. Quick and unobtrusive.
>
> Malc.
It was fantastic, switched off since 911 though.

Had to remember not to have a bag over your hand, rucsac on your shoulder or
the biometrics failed (for me anyway), but then you got to use the US
resident Blue lanes for speed anyway.

Stephen

The message <pan.2007.01.01.19.18.28.972571m>
from Mike <mikeinthesouthwestm> contains these words:

> Not a definitive answer, but my 10-year passport was renewed about three
> weeks ago and the new one is biometric. And amazingly, it arrived only 4
> days after sending the application.

Likewise my son's at the beginning of Nov... all done and dusted within
a week.
Not sure how robust the chipped page is though.. I can imagine someone
having it in their back pocket, sitting down & 'whoops'...

--
Pam

On Mon, 1 Jan 2007 20:30:00 -0000, Air wrote:
> The message <pan.2007.01.01.19.18.28.972571m>
> from Mike <mikeinthesouthwestm> contains these words:
>
>> Not a definitive answer, but my 10-year passport was renewed about three
>> weeks ago and the new one is biometric. And amazingly, it arrived only 4
>> days after sending the application.
>
> Likewise my son's at the beginning of Nov... all done and dusted within
> a week.
> Not sure how robust the chipped page is though.. I can imagine someone
> having it in their back pocket, sitting down & 'whoops'...
>
There was a slashdot article (from WIRED) saying that if the chip
in the passport is "disabled"[1] the passport is still valid. Anyone
willing to give this a try?

Pete

[1] they suggest a hammer for this
--
.................................................. .........................
.. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch .
.. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England .
.. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly) .....................................