The Passport Card - Perfect For Land Or Sea Travel

If you want to enter the United States you must have a passport. Even U. S. Citizens have been required to have the passport book or passport card to re-enter the States. The card is a less expensive option for people crossing the border by land or sea and returning from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean or Bermuda. Otherwise you must have the passport book.

This card form of a passport is a convenient size to fit into a wallet. It is not as expensive as the passport book yet it is valid for the same time period. If you already have a valid passport book, you can get the card for $20. Processing time for the card and book are about the same; however, it may take longer to get the card as it is only shipped by US mail and overnight delivery is not available.

If you have ever had any kind of passport in the past you can use the renewal form to apply for the card. Even persons that may not have had a card in the past, but have had a book will use the renewal form to apply for the card. If you have never had a passport in the past, you must use the initial passport application and visit a processing center in person. The correct form for first time applicants is the DS-11 and it is available at the State Department web site.

The card uses an RFID chip that is embedded in the card. No personal information has been stored on your card, but it will pull up information from the government's secure database. The technology allows customs agents to access photos and biological information that has been stored in that database as you are approaching the station. There are built in security feature in the card to prevent counterfeiting or forgery. It is important that you keep your card in the sleeve that is sent to you in as this prevents it from being tracked or read by persons who are not authorized.

Residents living in border communities will find the card most useful. It allows for easy border crossings for purposes of shopping, visiting or other business, and then a return home. Remember that the card is not valid for air travel, so if you plan to fly out of the country, you will need the passport book.

These rules will also affect commercial cruise passengers. Formerly travelers were able to use other means of identification, but now they must have their passports. Persons holding tickets who do not have proper documentation will be denied passage on the ship and forfeit the price of their tickets.

If you plan to visit countries outside of the U. S. you will need some kind of passport for the visit. The best plan is to apply for the passport early. While most passports are currently being returned within three to four weeks from the time of application, the best policy is to apply six to eight weeks before you intend to travel. If you plan to travel within fourteen days, you will want to apply for an expedited passport.