What Is A Passport Card And Why Do You Need One?
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The New Passport Card
Are you traveling outside the United States? Then you'll most likely
need to get a US passport. Depending on your destination and mode of
travel, you can either use a regular passport book or a passport card
as your official travel document. In this article, we'll be dealing
with the passport card, including your questions about what a passport card is, and how to acquire one.
Passport Card vs. Passport Book - What Is The Difference?
Compared to the regular passport book, the passport card is cheaper and
a lot more lightweight. Its wallet-size features make it easy to store
and relatively harder to lose than the larger passport book. Aside from
that, applying for a passport card is also less expensive, around half
of the passport book's price.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Before you apply for one, you should first know the travel
requirements for your destination of choice. You should know outright
that you can only use your passport card when traveling by land or sea
to destinations in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
Territories included here are Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, and
Mexico. Now if you're planning of travel to destinations apart from the
list, then you'll need the passport book.
Once again, you can only use your passport card if you're
traveling by sea or land. Now what if you're planning to travel to WHTI
destinations by plane? You cannot use your passport card in this
instance. Therefore, you'll have to present your passport book.
Can You Have Both?
You have the option of applying for both types of passports. This
is best if you regularly travel to various foreign destinations that
include WHTI territories. Having two types of U.S. passports
provide you with the flexibility in choosing which passport type is
best to be used. What's more, you'll get a significant discount should
you apply for these passports at the same time.
How Do I Apply?
Now how do you apply for a US passport card? If you already have a
passport book, or had one in the past, then you can apply for a
passport card through the mail. When applying by mail, you will have to
fill in Form DS-82. This applies even to those getting their passport
cards for the first time. On the other hand, if you haven't had any
passport before, or should the passport require it, you will have to
fill in Form DS-11, which is for first-time passport applicants.
RFID
Having a passport card can be convenient when you're traveling as
it has a built-in radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. It
enables the US Customs to verify your personal information wirelessly
by simply scanning your passport card. It's quick and it's convenient,
as all the information they need are quickly downloaded.
When To Use It
Hopefully you now have a good idea of the uses and limits of a U.S. passport card. Just remember that when traveling to WHTI territories by land or sea, you can use your passport card. However, for international air travel even to WHTI areas, then you will be required to present a passport book.
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I do not know why no one told you. Simply put, they should have. If they were competent in their jobs at all, they would have let you know that you needed a passport book to fly anywhere, even Canada and Mexico. If I were you, the person I would be most upset with is your travel agent. He or she should have been working for you (they make a commission after all) and made sure that everything was in order for your trip. Seems to me that the post office and airlines people had less responsibility in making sure that your trip went smoothly. I'd raise you-know-what with the travel agent, make them give me the $300 out of their "commission" from the booking and never use them again. And tell your friends what terrible service they gave you.
Sorry you had that happen. Most of the site I've seen make it pretty clear. The Card is for DRIVING. In anticipation of the NorthAmerican free trade, for trucks to go into the US from Canada and Mexico. The card is carried in your wallet next to your license. Drivers don't have to carry their passport every where.
If people didn't let you know, it's because it is so new.
It can be used as an accepted Gov't ID to fly WITHIN the USA. I used it in Feb.on a trip to Houston.The TSA agent scanned it and I was on my way.
It's common sense if anyone does the research.
This same thing happened to me recently. I applied for a passport, listed my destination and sent off for my PASSBOOK CARD, a few weeks later I took my daughter to get her as we were going on a cruise, listed the same destinations and they told me she needed a passport book! I was irrate as the cruise was coming close so I explained that I had just applied for a passport with the same destinations and got the card, why did she need the book, which was more expensive. In the end I did not go on the cruise as planned because they were telling me I had to purchase a passport book, they did let me know they would not charge me the 35 dollars..
becca your post is ridiculous and assanine people who book trips should be responsible to some degree. it is all over the government websites as well as on every travel website, sorry it happen to diane but she should have paid attention instead of trying to save money
Diana Kueker 2 years ago
I recently purchased a passport card to go to Jamaica. Got to the airport and could not go $2,000.00 later. I was never informed by the post office, airlines or Travel agent that they could not be used by air, and they all knew I was traveling that way. My question is why aren't people in these positions informing people that they can not be used by air? After a grueling week of doing everything over again and costing me $300.00 more also I was traveling with 2 other people who also had to do it all again and pay another $300.00 dollars to the airlines and the post office.I must say this has been the most stressful planned vacation I have ever had, and I still have not been able to take the vacation. Please advise. Because I have had it.