Passport Card
 On
February 1st, 2008 U.S. citizens started to apply for the
U.S. Passport Card at designated facilities
throughout the United States. However, the actual issuance and mailing of the Passport Cards
is expected to happen in the fall of 2008. The U.S. Passport Card fulfills new
border travel requirements and will expedite land border crossings between the
United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean while preserving and securing
the identity of the bearer.
After January 31, 2008 a U.S. citizen must show a
Birth Certificate and valid
identification (Driver’s License or
State Identification) in order to cross U.S.
land borders. However, once the U.S. Passport Card is issued, it eliminates the
need for two separate pieces of identification. U.S. citizens living in border
towns will also benefit from the new U.S. Passport Card. The
Passport Card
provides U.S. citizens with the convenience of traveling to Canada or Mexico by
land, or taking a cruise to the Caribbean with a small and less expensive option
than a regular U.S. Passport. The Passport Card also serves as a valid proof of
identification for traveling by air within the United States, and may be used as
proof of legal age for alcohol and tobacco purchases.
DOWNLOAD THE U.S. PASSPORT CARD
APPLICATION NOW
- The U.S. Passport Card Application is
available for instant download
- The new Passport Cards can now be
applied for, but they will not be mailed to applicants until fall 2008
- US citizens may hold both a regular U.S. Passport and the new Passport Card
- The Passport Card can also be used as an identity card for age-restricted
products and services
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The U.S. Passport Card cannot be used for international air travel, as
only a U.S. Passport is the only acceptable
identification. Instead, the U.S. Passport Card provides an
alternative to a passport for individuals crossing the U.S. border by land or
sea. The U.S. Passport Card will cost significantly less than a
U.S. Passport
and is available to U.S. citizens of all ages. The U.S. passport card is valid
for 10 years, just like a regular U.S. passport
The size of the new U.S. Passport Card will be similar to the size of a credit
card. For these reasons it is not as secure as the regular passport, but the
Passport Card will contain a small Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip.
The chip will contain no biographic information, just like the chip on
e-passports. However, each passport card will have a unique number linking the
bearer’s card to a database maintained by the Department of State and the USCIS.
The Passport Card will further contain both eye readable and machine readable
information. The chip can be read by a CBP (Customs and Border Protection) reader from distance. A similar RFID
chip has been used successfully for over 10 years in similar border passing
cards such as NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. The new
Passport Card is as secure as current technology allows for, but air travel
to any country in the world will still require the regular U.S. passport,
officially called the Passport Book.
Only U.S. citizens can apply for the U.S. Passport Card.
Green Card holders must
first apply for U.S. Citizenship before they are eligible to apply for a
U.S.
Passport, Certificate of Naturalization or
the new U.S. Passport Card.
Green Card
holders must use their foreign passport for international travel, and there are
restrictions in terms of how long a green card holder can stay away from the
United States before losing the right to be a Green Card holder.
This is important to be aware of before leaving the United States for a longer
period of time.
For more information about the new U.S. Passport Card, please contact us.
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