Meeting Builds on Leading Corporate Travel Group’s Dialogue with State Department
CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 Ext. 138
Alexandria, VA (April 26, 2005) -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) today provided its members with information following a recent meeting between officials of the Association and the U.S. Department of State on the e-passports to be issued to American citizens starting later this year. The meeting built on NBTA’s industry-leading tradition of serving as an advocate and source of information on legislative and regulatory issues impacting corporate travel.
“NBTA is the only industry representative to sit down with State Department officials to express the concerns voiced by our members with the introduction of electronic passports and to receive assurances that the State Department understands those concerns and has plans in place to address them,” said NBTA Executive Director and COO, Bill Connors, CTC. “We took this approach because as business travel professionals, we know there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings, particularly in situations like this where there are misconceptions to be cleared.”
The meeting was called to allow NBTA and State Department officials to discuss the technology and security of the new passports, as well as operational and cost concerns associated with the documents. NBTA had earlier approached the State Department with a series of questions on the passports, posted the resulting Q&A on the Association’s website, and solicited additional questions and concerns from NBTA members. NBTA used the meeting to voice the questions posed by members, continuing to serve as the conduit between the corporate travel industry and the State Department. Additional information was added to the online Q&A today based on the discussion.
"The new electronic passports are being developed to bolster the safety and security of Americans citizens, so it's important to have two-way communications with citizens about the changes," said the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs Senior Advisor for Biometrics, JoAnne Arzt.
NBTA representatives were able to examine a prototype of the new passport, which includes a protective jacket that blocks the signal of the electronic chip inside the document that will carry the information included on the cover page of the passport.
“State Department officials assured us once more that they understand the concerns of some citizens who believe the new passports will transmit a signal that can be picked up by criminals; to prevent that from happening they are designing the passport so that the chip can only be read at a distance of four inches and only when the passport is open,” continued Connors. “Additionally, they informed us that the first people to carry these new passports will be the U.S. diplomatic corps and other holders of official state passports. While I believe the new passports will meet privacy and security concerns, NBTA will continue to monitor developments and maintain a dialogue with the State Department.”
The State Department also indicated that the process of applying for a new or renewal passport will not change. There is an additional fee of $12, effective March 8, 2005, which brings the total fees for a new passport to $97 and the total fees for a renewal passport to $67. For more information on the new passports, see the State Department Q&A on New Passports.
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,500 corporate travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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