A passport ID can be used to replace worn passport books, which makes for frequent border crossing easy and convenient. The wallet-sized passport card is for easy wallet-sized transport and can be used by people crossing borders to Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda or Canada. The only drawback, however, is that the card is invalid for people who travel internationally using air travel.
This slim line passport device is a great alternative to standard passports for people who live on or near the Mexican or Canadian border and travel back and forth to the United States. The cards have a radio frequency ID chip, otherwise known as an RFID, installed in the card. Border patrol agents are specially trained to read information on the chip that is connected to a database that contains the cardholder’s passport information.
The RFID chip does no have any of the cardholder’s personal data on it, just information that pertains to the person’s passport.. Only authorized personnel can access the information and properly read the card using the database. The card comes with a protective blocking sleeve that protects the information from unnecessary and unwanted scanning.
These passport cards are made available to any citizen of the United States, even if they never had a passport before. Applicants must complete the necessary passport application, a DS-11 and send it in with accompanying identification and pictures. Someone who already has a passport can apply for an upgraded card and receive a discount on the price of the passport card.
Fees for passport cards are very economical compared with the cost of a regular passport. A standard card for a first-time adult purchase is $45.00 and children under 16 pay only $35.00. The passport book is more than twice the price at $100.00 for adults buying a passport for the first time. Individuals who want to switch from a paper book to a passport card only have to pay a modest fee of $20.00.
Passport ID cards last the same amount of time as a standard passport book. The adult card is valid for 10 years from the date of purchase and a child’s card can be used for five years using the same criteria. The cards don’t need to be renewed before the time period is up, so makes them very convenient to use.
While the cards can be purchased by mail, an overnight method won’t be of value due to the limited delivery options. The passport card is only returned to the applicant using the traditional first class mail delivery method. If an individual needs to get the card as soon as possible, they should look into another way of getting the card.
