Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AUCKLAND22
2009-05-06 08:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Auckland
Cable title:
NEW ZEALAND REACTION TO THE END OF THE E-PASSPORT EXEMPTION
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UNCLAS AUCKLAND 000022
SIPDIS
FOR CA/VO, CA/OCS/ACS AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CMGT KPAO PBTS PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND REACTION TO THE END OF THE E-PASSPORT EXEMPTION
REF: STATE 41656
UNCLAS AUCKLAND 000022
SIPDIS
FOR CA/VO, CA/OCS/ACS AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CMGT KPAO PBTS PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND REACTION TO THE END OF THE E-PASSPORT EXEMPTION
REF: STATE 41656
1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 7.
2. (U) Summary. New Zealand expects hundreds of its citizens
abroad may be inconvenienced by the end of the e-passport
exemption for emergency travel and will lobby DHS to use its
waiver authority liberally. End summary.
3. (U) On May 6, Auckland Consul General discussed reftel
policy update regarding the end of the e-passport exemption for
emergency passports with David Philps, Passport Manager at the
Ministry of Internal Affairs. Philps is very familiar with U.S.
visa regulations and was disappointed, though not surprised, to
learn of the end of the exemption.
4. (U) Philps reported that virtually all passports issued in
New Zealand are e-passports. Further, unlike most countries,
New Zealand also has passport offices overseas (in London and
Sydney) that issue e-passports. However, New Zealanders abroad
who need emergency passports and are not in those cities will
have to get a machine readable passport from the nearest NZ
embassy or high commission. Philps estimated that such posts
issue 700 emergency, machine readable passports annually.
5. (U) Philps lamented that the end of the exemption would hurt
people already in difficult straits - New Zealanders abroad who
must return home on short notice to deal with personal
emergencies. Many New Zealanders in Europe make their way home
via the U.S. Those rushing home to deal with family tragedies
and other emergencies will now have the additional burden of
getting a U.S. visa merely to transit through on their way home.
6. (U) Philps did not suggest New Zealand would reciprocate and
require Americans to travel on e-passports. He was aware that
inspectors at U.S. ports of entry have discretion to waive,
without a fee, the e-passport requirement. He plans to work
through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Zealand's
Embassy in Washington to push DHS to encourage its inspectors to
be liberal with their waiver authority.
7. (U) Action request. Reftel takes note of the waiver
authority, but does not provide guidance to posts on what can be
shared with host governments regarding waivers. Guidance as to
what we can say to the NZG about how CBP will use its waiver
authority would be helpful.
DESROCHER
SIPDIS
FOR CA/VO, CA/OCS/ACS AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CMGT KPAO PBTS PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND REACTION TO THE END OF THE E-PASSPORT EXEMPTION
REF: STATE 41656
1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 7.
2. (U) Summary. New Zealand expects hundreds of its citizens
abroad may be inconvenienced by the end of the e-passport
exemption for emergency travel and will lobby DHS to use its
waiver authority liberally. End summary.
3. (U) On May 6, Auckland Consul General discussed reftel
policy update regarding the end of the e-passport exemption for
emergency passports with David Philps, Passport Manager at the
Ministry of Internal Affairs. Philps is very familiar with U.S.
visa regulations and was disappointed, though not surprised, to
learn of the end of the exemption.
4. (U) Philps reported that virtually all passports issued in
New Zealand are e-passports. Further, unlike most countries,
New Zealand also has passport offices overseas (in London and
Sydney) that issue e-passports. However, New Zealanders abroad
who need emergency passports and are not in those cities will
have to get a machine readable passport from the nearest NZ
embassy or high commission. Philps estimated that such posts
issue 700 emergency, machine readable passports annually.
5. (U) Philps lamented that the end of the exemption would hurt
people already in difficult straits - New Zealanders abroad who
must return home on short notice to deal with personal
emergencies. Many New Zealanders in Europe make their way home
via the U.S. Those rushing home to deal with family tragedies
and other emergencies will now have the additional burden of
getting a U.S. visa merely to transit through on their way home.
6. (U) Philps did not suggest New Zealand would reciprocate and
require Americans to travel on e-passports. He was aware that
inspectors at U.S. ports of entry have discretion to waive,
without a fee, the e-passport requirement. He plans to work
through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Zealand's
Embassy in Washington to push DHS to encourage its inspectors to
be liberal with their waiver authority.
7. (U) Action request. Reftel takes note of the waiver
authority, but does not provide guidance to posts on what can be
shared with host governments regarding waivers. Guidance as to
what we can say to the NZG about how CBP will use its waiver
authority would be helpful.
DESROCHER