Renewing Passports

A passport card is more compact and much easier to deal with than the standard passport book. The wallet-sized card can be used for frequent travel across local borders such as Canada or Mexico. It is, however, not valid for air travel to any other countries. This means that a passport book will still be required, depending on the traveler's destination, to enter or leave other countries by plane. A current passport holder can apply for the card by mail for a mere $20.00 more when renewing their passport book.

The passport card is available to all U.S. citizens, whether they hold a passport or not. Current passport holders can get theirs by mail but will need to meet certain criteria in order to do so. These criteria can be found by going online and searching it out. Once the search is completed and it is found that an individual does not meet the requirements they can still apply for the passport card, it simply must be done in person.

Whether it is the book or the card that is being applied for, they both take approximately the same amount of time to process and send. There is a 4 to 6 week wait time on the card or book for the standard service and if expedited is requested, this may be accomplished in 2 to 3 weeks. The expedited service, however, does carry an extra fee. While an individual can submit their application via overnight mail, the pass port card itself will only be returned by first class mail through the Post Office.

The technology contained within the passport card itself is rather interesting. The card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. The chip does not contain personal identification, but it links to a stored record in a secured government database. Customs and Border Protection inspectors access the card holder's photographs and biological information as the card holder approaches an inspection station.

Passport cards are designed much in the same way credit cards are in the use of laser engraving and other methods to prevent forgery or counterfeiting. Each card comes complete with a special sleeve that blocks unauthorized people from scanning it or accessing it in any way when it is not in use. The card is a more secure method than virtually any other form of personal identification available.

The low cost of the card in addition to the passport book when getting a renewal can make this a great secondary form of travel identification. The card is not only for adults as minors are also eligible to apply for this when affecting their renewal process. There are, however, very strict guidelines that the minors must adhere to in order to receive one of these cards.

People in the process of renewing passports should seriously consider the addition of the card to the order. With over one million of these cards currently in circulation, this has quickly become a preferred means of quick identification for crossing close borders. While this is not meant to replace the USA passport card book, for those that cross to Mexico or Canada frequently for business or shopping, it will be a much more convenient method.