6 Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know About the US Passport
Just imagine: you’re about to start your next adventure. The luggage is packed to the brim, but there’s one more thing, the most essential item — your dark blue passport. It feels so ordinary, yet it’s a small but mighty tool that opens the gates to the world. Beyond its practical function, did you ever stop and ponder the story your passport holds? Its deep blue color, biometric photos, even its issuance — each element has a story worth telling.
Your passport is a testament to your identity and citizenship and a fragment of a larger narrative of history, diplomacy, and power. This article will explore the humble American passport’s fascinating secrets. Buckle up as we take you on a journey into the little-known facts of this everyday object that holds more power and history than you might imagine.
A Symphony in Blue
So, why the American passport sports a deep, regal blue on its cover? It’s not just a design choice to match your travel wardrobe. The blue color was adopted in 1976 to mark the bicentennial of American independence. Before this shift, the cover had been green, red, and even burgundy. Now, it stands as a proud symbol of the United States, matching the color of the American flag’s field of stars.
The Power Within Your Hands
The US passport is a powerful document. Passports have a sort of “global power score”. It depends on the number of lands one can waltz into without the hassle of getting a visa. In 2022, the American passport was a champion player. It gave its owners the freedom to explore 186 countries, with or without a visa on arrival.
Photography Phantasmagoria
Passport photos are notoriously unflattering, a fact universally acknowledged by anyone who’s ever owned a passport. But why must we maintain a neutral expression? And why is smiling forbidden? Well, it’s due to facial recognition software! The State Department discourages smiling or other expressions as they can distort key facial features, making it hard for the software to identify you accurately. Yes, that tiny, stern-faced picture is your digital footprint in the global immigration system.
Oldest Yet the Boldest
The US passport is the oldest continuously issued passport in the world. The US government issued the first passport in 1789, right after the ratification of the Constitution. Now that’s an interesting historical nugget!
Not So Black and White
Did you know that the American passport comes in three different colors? The colors are blue, maroon, and black, designated for regular citizens, diplomats, and other government officials, respectively. Each serves a unique purpose, granting different levels of access and privilege around the world.
The Numbers Game
American passports have a nine-digit number unique to each passport. The first two digits, also known as the ‘fiscal year number,’ signify the year the passport was issued. The remaining seven digits are generated randomly, ensuring each is a unique identifier of its owner.
Embracing Passport Mysteries
Next time you snap that passport picture, remember: it’s more than a photo. You’re stepping into a grand timeline, rich with tales of identity and heritage. You’re adding your own stitch to a time-honored tapestry, colorful with individuality and shared history. Your neutral expression is a quiet tribute to advanced technology, a testimony to our era.
Happy travels!
