Ways For Obtaining Your Own United States Passport Card
Anyone that has used a passport book for any period of time knows that they wear out, need new pages frequently and are not really convenient to carry around. A passport card can be the perfect alternative to carrying a standard one, particularly if the individual travels frequently across close borders for business. There is no need to refill it when the pages are used up and it fits neatly in any wallet or cardholder.
The passport card was created to accommodate those who regularly cross the border to The Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Canada. Travelers can cross the border several times when they use the card as an alternative to stamps or passbooks that wear out when they are used too often. The card is well suited for people who have jobs across national boundaries and commute a number of times per week.
A passport card is made up of something called a vicinity-read radio frequency ID device. A computer database connects with the chip that contains the information needed for safe border crossing. There is no personal information about the cardholder on the chip on the card, which makes it safe to use.
These cards are designed to be read at close range by readers designed for this purpose. This prohibits anyone else from scanning the card accidentally or for purposes other than the intended personnel at the border checkpoints. The card is also accompanied by a “blocker sleeve” to house it while not in use to prevent any type of unwanted scanning.
One of the most appealing features is the economical advantage the card has over the standard passbook. An adult pays a $100.00 charge for a first time standard passbook purchase. Comparatively, an adult card only costs $45.00 for the same 10-year life expectancy.
Any person with an existing passport will appreciate the incentives of switching to the card. A passport holder only has to pay $20.00 for a renewed passport if they want to switch to the card as opposed to having to pay for a whole new card. The cost-effectiveness and convenience are appealing factors when considering changing to the new passport method.
There is one prohibitive factor involved when deciding whether to switch to the card from the book. The card is not valid for international travel requiring the use of airlines. For these trips, it will still be necessary to use the book and have plenty of pages available to cover the entire itinerary. As this is done infrequently, the card is still the preferred method for frequent border crossing for many people.
While the passbook is still the popular choice around the world, the USA Passport card is the more convenient choice for traveling. A card does away with the inevitable deterioration of the book over time. It is also more accessible and convenient for quick use at the borders. Travelers can get a card on the Internet, through a local USA passport agency or other passport provider.