Passport renewal

phurford · **Joined:** Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:04:57 +0000 **Posts:** 2

My passport is up for its normal 10-year renewal.

I'm pretty concerned about the amount of data the Home Office want to capture about me. I'm also concerned about these new RF passports - I am clearly not up to speed with the technology since I've read various things on this forum which were new to me.

So, on the assumption that I don't need a passport immediately but would want one in the future (maybe for next year's summer holiday), should I renew my passport now?

Would it be better to wait until after a general election, in the hope of a new government and a change in passport policy?

My understanding is that as long as I renew my passport before 2011, none of the data will get on to the ID card database - is this correct?

With an RF passport, is there any way not just to shield it from proximity readers but to disable it altogether?

How does an RF passport respond to a minute in the microwave, for example?

Oh, and does anyone understand why getting a passport will now cost me twice as much than it would if I were French?

All suggestions welcome.
Pete

FishNChipPapers · **Joined:** Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:56:11 +0000 **Posts:** 1948

phurford wrote:

My passport is up for its normal 10-year renewal.

I'm pretty concerned about the amount of data the Home Office want to capture about me. I'm also concerned about these new RF passports - I am clearly not up to speed with the technology since I've read various things on this forum which were new to me.

So, on the assumption that I don't need a passport immediately but would want one in the future (maybe for next year's summer holiday), should I renew my passport now?

I would renew now.

Would it be better to wait until after a general election, in the hope of a new government and a change in passport policy?

I am not aware of any plans to change the passport policy were the government to change to the Conservatives. Where there might be a change is that if the Conservatives were to do away with the National Identity Scheme in its entirety then the passport would not be a designated document requiring registration on the NIR. That being said, there is no registration associated with renewal today and so you wouldn't be losing much given that the next election is less then a year away

My understanding is that as long as I renew my passport before 2011, none of the data will get on to the ID card database - is this correct?

Your understanding is correct

With an RF passport, is there any way not just to shield it from proximity readers but to disable it altogether?

Yes. There are plenty of commercial products out there. A quick search using your favourite search engine should get you something

How does an RF passport respond to a minute in the microwave, for example?

I wouldn't advocate that. Get a comparatively cheap wallet to avoid the situation where you inadvertantly do damage resulting in potential delays when passing through passport control

Oh, and does anyone understand why getting a passport will now cost me twice as much than it would if I were French?

All suggestions welcome.
Pete

Geraint · **Posted:** Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:07:41 +0000

phurford wrote:

Oh, and does anyone understand why getting a passport will now cost me twice as much than it would if I were French?

Yes. Passport prices have been rising to pay for the creation of the national identity scheme. The database is not cheap.

BigEars · **Posted:** Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:20 +0000

See Passport prices? to get a feel as to how many price increases that there have been so far, and you will quickly realise that it is better to renew early rather than late!!!

mb

phurford · **Joined:** Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:04:57 +0000 **Posts:** 2

Thanks for your responses all.

Just so I get this clear in my head, picking up from various other threads:

1. If a passport gets damaged accidentally such that its chip is no longer readable, then the "powers that be" can refuse to accept it if a person were to attempt to travel on it, and that person would need to apply for a fresh passport (and pay a fresh fee). Right?

2. If a passport gets damaged deliberately such that its chip is no longer readable, then the person doing the damaging is committing a criminal offence, right?

Clearly if the second of these points is true then scorch marks might not be such a good idea!

Thanks for your help,
Pete

Guest · **Posted:** Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:57:51 +0000

phurford wrote:

1. If a passport gets damaged accidentally such that its chip is no longer readable, then the "powers that be" can refuse to accept it if a person were to attempt to travel on it, and that person would need to apply for a fresh passport (and pay a fresh fee). Right?

2. If a passport gets damaged deliberately such that its chip is no longer readable, then the person doing the damaging is committing a criminal offence, right?

Yes to both. Added to which the lost/damaged replacement procedure is already much more intrusive than simple renewal.

Your passport does not need to have expired or been damaged to be replaced, however. You can apply for renewal at any time without giving a reason.

Geraint · **Posted:** Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:57:45 +0000

Damaging the chip probably serves little purpose - better to wrap the passport in metal foil. But if you do wish to disable it, I'd recommend a hammer rather than a microwave. There is no way that the Home Office could ever prove that impact damage is deliberate rather than, for example, the result of a heavy case being dropped on the passport.

In most cases, travelling with a passport which has a disabled chip shouldn't cause any real problems. But there is no guarantee. Immigration officials often act capriciously.

NO2ID

Passport renewal

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