In years past, the only true form of international identification was the passport. However, in the United States, a passport was not needed for border trips to Canada and Mexico. Today, laws are much more restrictive and passports are needed to cross in and out of the country regardless of how close the final destination is to the U.S. If a trip is coming up in the near future, an expedited passport card can be used in place of a regular passport.
The passport card will allow passage to border trips such as Canada and Mexico. This is a dramatic change from years past as the only ID that was needed before was a drivers license or birth certificate. Rules have changed, but exceptions are made for some trips that are close to home. This is great news for casual travelers as the passport card slips right into the wallet and there is no bulky passport book to carry or possibly lose.
A passport card can be obtained in the same manner as a passport. All of the forms are the same as is the entire process. An added benefit if getting a passport card is that it is also much less expensive than a regular passport. A quick Internet search will show the post office or other agency where they can be obtained.
There are, however, restrictions on a card that a traveler needs to be aware of. The passport card is meant to be a replacement piece of ID in situations where no ID was previously needed to cross the border. Some will say that it makes no sense to issue something that almost looks identical to a license, but there are plenty of security features in a passport ID that are not featured in a state drivers license.
What makes the difference in the passport card is the electronic coding and laser engraving that is featured as a security measure. While state ID’s have come a long way, they are simply not as secure as the process in which a passport card is created. These safety measures cannot be forged at this time and it is yet one more step to making sure that the borders are indeed secure.
When an applicant is ready to apply for a passport card, they will follow the same exact guidelines that are in place for a passport. A passport photo, valid government issued ID and proof of citizenship is required for the application to be passed through. The fee, however, is much less and there is also a small discount offered to those that want to get both a passport and a passport card.
When turning in all of the documentation and paperwork, make sure that everything is an original. It is also a safe bet to make additional copies of all of the forms of ID for your own records. If using a mail in service, it is always best to use a major carrier and use the overnight mailing. This ensures delivery and is much more secure than randomly mailing out the documents.
The expedited U.S. passport card can be a great benefit to those that live near a country’s border and have the need to regularly cross to the other side. Whether the need is for business or pleasure, this is a much more convenient method than regular a United States passport and much easier to carry. There are many issuing agents that may be located online and all are waiting to serve you.
