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  • IT REALLY WORKS (I THINK)

    Filed at 11:22 am under by dcobranchi

    I got my new RFID-embedded passport a few minutes ago. It came WITHOUT the lead-foil lined envelope that is supposed to protect from skimmers. I was, therefore, forced to improvise. 15 seconds in the microwave caused some very large sparks and the RFID antenna coil burned through the back in several places. I believe it is dead.

    9 Responses to “IT REALLY WORKS (I THINK)”


    Comment by
    NMcV
    February 16th, 2007
    at 5:31 pm

    How’s your microwave?


    Comment by
    L
    February 16th, 2007
    at 9:58 pm

    AWESOME!


    Comment by
    Rochelle
    February 17th, 2007
    at 12:39 am

    Wow. How do you tell if it has one? Does it have a sign or a mark on it saying it does? I got a new one in december and it didn’t say it did. I’ve been subjecting it to excessive bending anyway…just in case.


    Comment by
    Daryl Cobranchi
    February 17th, 2007
    at 4:54 am

    On the bottom of the front cover is a little symbol that looks a bit like a camera and on the last page is a warning:

    “This document contains sensitive electronics. For best performance, do not bend, perforate, or expose to extreme temperatures”

    And the microwave survived. 🙂


    Comment by
    Tim Haas
    February 17th, 2007
    at 2:04 pm

    I wholly support your efforts, of course, but what’s Plan B if they won’t let you leave or get back into the country when your passport can’t be read by one of their scanners?


    Comment by
    Tim Haas
    February 17th, 2007
    at 2:14 pm

    And here I am answering my own question. From

    travel...8.html

    —————————————–
    What will happen if my Electronic passport fails at a port-of-entry?

    The chip in the passport is just one of the many security features of the new passport. If the chip fails, the passport remains a valid travel document until its expiration date. The bearer will continue to processed by the port-of-entry officer as if he/she had a passport without a chip.
    —————————————–

    But I wonder what kind of questioning you’re going to get about it, especially if burn marks are visible.

    Thanks for being our guinea pig!


    Comment by
    Daryl Cobranchi
    February 17th, 2007
    at 2:51 pm

    I’m printing out this from the State Dept. website:

    “What will happen if my Electronic passport fails at a port-of-entry?

    The chip in the passport is just one of the many security features of the new passport. If the chip fails, the passport remains a valid travel document until its expiration date. The bearer will continue to processed by the port-of-entry officer as if he/she had a passport without a chip. “


    Comment by
    Daryl Cobranchi
    February 17th, 2007
    at 2:53 pm

    You beat me to it. 🙂


    Comment by
    Daryl Cobranchi
    February 17th, 2007
    at 2:55 pm

    But I wonder what kind of questioning you’re going to get about it, especially if burn marks are visible.

    I’ll know in exactly 7 days.