How come some U.S. passports are different colors?

Dear Straight Dope: I was in the immigration line for US citizens at JFK, coming back from London, and I noticed that while most people had blue passports like me, some had green or even crimson ones. What’s up? Are these people Communists? Are they dangerous? -John Boldrick

Monty replies:

Easy as pie. There are currently four colors for United States passports:

Black: used for diplomatic passports. These are issued to civilian and military personnel and their families on diplomatic assignments overseas for the government.

Maroon (red): used for official passports. These are issued to civilian and military personnel and their families if on official government business overseas which is not classified as diplomatic.

Green: issue stock prepared in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the State Department. It also has a cool biography of Benjamin Franklin in the back. It’s the same as the blue.

Blue: Issued as either fee or no-fee. Fee passports are issued to those of us who are not accompanying our military sponsor on overseas orders. No-fee passports are those issued to family members of military personnel stationed overseas in a country that doesn’t require the military member to present a passport. If the country does require that, then both the military member and family member must have a maroon passport.

I personally would want a black passport. I bet those guys ALWAYS get an extra package of peanuts.

Monty

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How come some U.S. passports are different colors?

A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD