PASS Card
 The
Department of Homeland Security is currently developing a
passport card system.
The proposed new passport card, also referred to as the PASS card, is a limited
use passport in a wallet sized format. The PASS card is currently not yet
available as it is being developed by the U.S. Government.
PASS cards would be added to the existing list of acceptable proofs of
identification, which include passports, the Mexican “laser visa,” and the SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST cards used along the northern border. The validity is
currently suggested to be 10 years for individuals aged 16 and over, and 5 years
for children aged 15 and younger.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and DHS secretary Michael Chertoff touted the
PASS card program as a traveler-friendly solution to the tightened border
credential requirement.
The proposed PASS cards would provide U.S. citizens with a travel credential
costing less than a full size passport. The
passport card (also being called border card) will be
issued by the State Department. The PASS card technology, however, will be
determined by the DHS (Department of Homeland Security).
Few details are currently available about the PASScard, but it will probably
only be valid for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada,
Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. It will be especially beneficial to business
travelers and other individuals who live in border communities and travel
frequently (by land or sea) between the United States, Canada and Mexico. The
PASScard will also be a less expensive alternative to a full United States
passport. The PASScard can be used for cruise ship
travel from the United States to Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
The PASScard will only be made available to United States citizens. Individuals who are not
yet United States citizens are encouraged to apply for
U.S. citizenship as soon
as possible. Applications for U.S. citizenship are available for download.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has the following implementation phases:
- January 23, 2007
- January 31, 2008
The purpose of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is to strengthen
border
security by requiring visitors and United States citizens to provide secure and
reliable documentation which identifies the individual and his or her
citizenship. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is based upon the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which requires the
Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop an
identification plan for individuals entering the United States.
The first phase (January 23, 2007) is only related to air travel between the
United States and Mexico, Canada, Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South
America. All United States citizens must now possess a valid U.S.
passport in
order to fly to any country outside the United States.
The second phase (January 31, 2008) is currently the date from when all United
States citizens must possess a valid identity document (e.g. U.S.
drivers
license) and citizenship document (e.g. U.S.
birth certificate) to cross land
borders and sea borders between U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the
Caribbean region.
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