What is the Border Card?
The PASS Card is a passport card, or a border card, that is used as a form of identification in the United States. It is issued by the U.S. Department of State. In many cases, the PASS Card, or border card, can be used as a substitute for the full-sized passport. In particular, U.S. citizens can use the border card to enter or leave countries and regions including Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, and the Caribbean. They may travel on short notice and by either land or sea. If the traveler wishes to travel by air, a full-sized passport is still required.

Benefits of the Border Card
The border card has been very popular with travelers because of its convenience. Travelers enjoy using the border card for many reasons. First, the border card is small. It is sized around the same as one's driver's license or ID card. The Passcard can easily fit into one's wallet. In addition, the processing time is fast. After applying for a border card, one can usually receive the card in as short as three weeks. Lastly, the cost of applying for a border card is much cheaper than that of applying for a full-sized passport. For people who travel frequently to and from countries such as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean through land or sea transportation, the border card is particularly attractive. People who enjoy taking cruises ships that stop at Mexico or in the Caribbean can simply bring along a border card instead of their passport. They can leave for the trip on a short notice and return to the United States free of hassle. When returning, travelers can simply pull out the border card from their wallet like a credit card.

Live Near the U.S.-Mexico or U.S.-Canada Border?
For people who live near the U.S.-Mexico or U.S.-Canada border, a border card is extremely handy. Because the U.S. Border Patrol has many immigration checkpoint stops along both the north and south U.S. border, residents who live near either border may encounter many such stop points on a daily basis. Instead of having the need to bring their passport with them wherever they go, these residents can simply store their border card inside their wallet. In addition, using the border card speeds up the checking process and saves the card-holder a good amount of time. In addition to residents who live near borders and checkpoints, many residents commute to either Mexico or Canada daily. For these people, encountering numerous immigration checkpoints is a part of the daily routine. Especially for the daily border commuters, having the convenience of the border card is priceless. Therefore, when U.S. citizens need to travel to places such as Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, or Bermuda, it is wise to consider applying for a border card. Applicants should also remember that the transportation must be via land or water. For adult applicants, the border card, or PASS Cass card, is valid for 10 years. For minors, the border card is valid for 5 years.