Expedited U S Passport Card - It’s Easy To Get A Passport Today
Sunday, March 7th, 2010 | Travel and Leisure
A passport card is simply a wallet-sized version of a standard passport book with some limitations. The card works only for border travel to and from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bahamas. An expedited passport card costs less than a regular passport and is much more convenient to have around.
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.
Applying for a passport card is much the same process as applying for a standard passport. Actually, all of the same forms are going to be used. The entire process can be handled at a regional office or a local post office that handles passport processing. Anyone not sure of where to go can do a local Internet search and find a location near them.
The card cannot be used for flying to any of the above mentioned countries. It is strictly for land or sea crossings only and the standard passport book is still the preferred means of identification for international travel. These passport cards each contain an electronic chip that stores a unique number, linking it to a secure government server containing the information of the holder.
A passport card makes use of some of the most advanced technologies out there today in regards to protecting ones identity. Both electronic coding and art laser engraving are used to make sure that the document cannot be counterfeited. It almost seems as though the technology on the cards gets better and more secure every year.
To get an expedited passport card, everything must be in order or the process will be delayed. Something that some people do not realize is that it is their responsibility to have the photo taken and ready when they get to the passport office. In addition to that, proper ID and proof of citizenship must be gathered. The expedited service will also require that an additional fee be paid.
One thing to make note of is that when applying for a passport, all documentation must be the original forms. If anything is laminated or copied, it will not be accepted. If the documents are being mailed in for renewal, be sure to use a major overnight service that will provide tracking detail and guarantee delivery.
For years, people have been taking advantage of the ability to freely cross borders to places such as Canada without passports. Because of the horrible events of the past decade, the United States has had to shore up their border policies and this is one of the changes that have been made. By using expedited US passport card services, that planned trip scan still go off without a hitch. You should have no trouble obtaining a U S passport.
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