Renewing passports is something that everyone that has one has to
contend with at some point or another. The standard passport is good
for 10 years and for minors 16 or younger, five years so they are good
for a while but still do expire. The passport card can do the same basic
job as the passport book and may be obtained at the same time a
passport book is being renewed.
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.
There is a standard processing time of four to
six weeks for the card to be generated and returned to the applicant.
This is the same approximate time it takes to receive just that passport
book when renewing it alone. There is an expedited service that can
shorten the wait time down to 2 to 3 weeks should that be preferred by
the applicant. The card however, will only be returned by first class
mail and there are no overnight delivery options.
Advancements in
technology have made the card one of the most efficient methods of
border identification available today. The RFID chip that is built in to
the card allows the border personnel to scan an individual's card and
access all the necessary information regarding that person. The radio
frequency ID chip can be read by the customs and border guards, giving
the access to a secure database with the information, rather than it
being contain on the card itself.
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 $20.00 fee for the card, in addition
to any others for the passport book when applying for a renewal, is an
attractive feature in and of itself. Minors and adults alike are
eligible to apply for this card when renewing their passports. The
minors, however, have stricter guidelines when it comes to the card
although the fee for theirs is lower than the one for the adults.
Renewing passports has just gotten more attractive with the addition of the passport card
option. The card has gained a lot of popularity with those individuals
that frequently cross into Mexico or Canada for business and pleasure.
The card is currently in use all over and there are over one million of
these in circulation today
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4022236
