Job Discussion Forums

[s10czar]

Hello,

I'm renewing my passport (US) and the State Department is now issueing both Passport books and a new thing called a Passport "card." The card is an add-on to the book and costs extra.

Is the card really necessary? Does anyone out there have one and think it is worth the extra money? What exactly is it used for?

Thanks!

[spiral78]

I think it's the thing you use to enter Canada (and maybe Mexico). Full passport not necessary....

I'm in the same process and will give the card a miss.

[thelmadatter]

I just got mine. It should be useful for when Im traveling around within Mexico where I live (just in case) and hopefully to use for ID at the bank. Times when I really dont want to carry the full passbook. Nice thing is that if I lose the passport card, its cheaper to replace and I still have the book, no emergency.

[krissock]

They're only really useful (and recommended) for people who live in communities along the Canada and Mexico borders. In those cases though it's also possible to cross the border with enhanced driver's licenses and IDs: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/edl-main.htm

[Nomad212]

It's true that you can only use the Passport Card to enter and leave specific countries, and even then only by land and water. However, the Passport Card is useful for many other reasons.

The Passport Card is a valid form of ID which can be used as such. It's completely separate from your driver's license. So it's still valid even if your license expires or is confiscated because you got a traffic ticket. Also, the Passport Card doesn't show your home address. I don't give out my home address for personal safety reasons, so this is a plus in my book.

In practice, the Passport Card might be accepted as ID in foreign countries in cases where the Passport Book is normally required. Note that this does not apply to actually crossing national borders!

The more forms of ID you have, the better. This is especially true when outside your own country. In many countries, you simultaneously have a legal requirement to carry ID and a high risk of getting robbed. Having one ID lost or stolen isn't as disastrous when you can use other forms of ID to prove who you are to get the missing ID replaced. (Note that in some countries, you may specifically be required to carry the Passport Book itself. Carrying the Passport Card doesn't meet such a requirement. But many people are carrying around photocopies of their Passport Book, which doesn't officially meet the requirement either.)

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

Sounds like a good idea to have one. How much does it cost?? That could influence the decision for me....

I've been traveling through many countries that use a WHOLE page for their visas, so I've had to get extra pages stitched/glued in on 2 separate occasions.... Used to be free, but now it costs about $80 or something....

American Passport

[johntpartee]

[krissock]

[thelmadatter]

The card is only 20 bucks.

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[johnslat]

Dear thelmadatter,

Not $20, but close:

"The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

VALIDITY AND COST


Adults (Age 16 and Older)

Validity: 10 years

First-Time Applicant Cost: $55
Previous Passport Holder Cost: $30


Minors (Under Age 16)

Validity: 5 years

Cost for All Minors: $40

HOW TO APPLY

All U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card.

If you have a U.S. passport book and are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for the card by mail. You can use Form DS-82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card.

If you have never had a U.S. passport book or are not eligible to use Form DS-82, you must apply in person using Form DS-11.

All passport cards will be returned using First Class Mail. Passport cards cannot be shipped to you using overnight delivery.

SECURITY

To increase speed, efficiency, and security at U.S. land and sea border crossings, the passport card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. There is no personal information written to the RFID chip. This chip points to a stored record in secure government databases.

With RFID technology, Customs and Border Protection inspectors will be able to access photographs and other biographical information stored in secure government databases as the traveler approaches an inspection station.

The passport card uses state-of-the-art security features to prevent against the possibility of counterfeiting and forgery. A protective RFID-blocking sleeve is provided with each passport card to protect against unauthorized reading or tracking of the card when it is not in use.

HISTORY

We began production of the U.S. Passport Card on July 14, 2008. As of March 2010, more than 2,700,000 Passport Cards have been issued to U.S. citizens."

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

Regards,
John

[thelmadatter]

According to the news release from the US Embassy in Mexico, its $20 if you already have a passbook passport

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/releases/ep080131passport_card.html

The webpage you link to lacks that one for some odd reason.

[johnslat]

Dear thelmadatter,

True - but your embassy link has a link that links to my state department link.

So, if one were going to apply to the state department for a card, I suppose it would be safer to go by what it says.

Also, the embassy link was for 2008; perhaps the price has risen a bit. I know that new passport fees went into effect on July 13th of this year.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html

Regards,
John

[AGoodStory]

Battling links! All of the fees quoted on the embassy link are lower than their counterparts on the state.gov link. It's a sure bet that the site with the lower prices needs updating.

(Well, so much for "sure bet!")

[thelmadatter]

I just got my card and it cost me $20, but I got it at the same time I paid for my regular passport. I think that is the difference. Had they charged $50 or so, I would have seriously debated whether or not to get it.