A passport ID card is a convenient way to travel across borders frequently without the need to carry a bulky passport book or have to refill pages ever again. The card is wallet sized and can be used by anyone traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. The card, however, is not good for any type of international travel that requires air travel.
This card can be a great benefit to those that live on the border of the U.S. and find the need to travel into Mexico or Canada for business very frequently. Each of the cards is embedded with what is known as an RFID chip. This chip can be read by border patrol agents and information on the bearer will be brought up from a secure government controlled database.
The radio frequency ID chip itself contains no personal information regarding the holder. The actual information can only be accessed by authorized personnel using the proper reader and permissions to get to the database. Along with the card, a blocking sleeve comes with it to prevent it from be scanned or accessed when not in use.
These passport ID cards may be obtained by any U.S. citizen whether or not they have ever had a passport before. This can be done by filling out the required passport application form, a DS-11, and submitting it along with ID and photos. A current passport holder may apply for these as a renewal and they receive a discount in the overall cost.
Fees for these cards are much lower than those for a standard passport. The regular card for an adult applying for the first time is a mere $45.00 as compared to the $100.00 fee for a passport book and for minors under 16 years of age it is only $35.00. Those individuals that already hold a valid passport only will be charged a nominal $20.00 fee when applying to receive the card.
Passport ID cards carry the same life expectancy as that of a normal passport book. The adult card will be good for 10 years from date of issue and the minor’s card is valid for 5 years. This makes them even more convenient in that there is no need to renew or update them over the course of their lifetime.
While it is feasible for some individuals to apply for these by mail, it should be noted that even if they submit their information by an overnight method, it will not be returned in the same manner. The new cards will only be returned to the applicants by way of first class mail. This means that if the applicant needs it quickly, they will need to use another method.
Private US passport agency providers are available online that can assist an individual in receiving a passport ID card much quicker. They have the ways and means to expedite the entire process and return the card in as little as one to two business days for a fee. This fee will, however, be in addition to any fees that the government is entitled to.
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