When traveling outside of the United States, you will be required
to carry a passport with you. This will also be important once you
return to the US. You have a choice of two types to use, depending on
your type of travel: there's the passport card and the passport book.
Let's
begin with the benefits of a passport card over the passport book. For
one, the card is more affordable and smaller than the booklet. It can
fit into your wallet so it's easier to carry around and somehow harder
to lose. Also, applying for a passport card is just around half the
price of the passport book.
On the downside, the card has limited
uses. You can only use this type of passport if you're traveling to
territories in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) by land
or sea. WHTI territories are Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
So when you're traveling outside of those four destinations, you'll
need a passport book.
Once again, you can only use your card if
you're traveling by sea or land. Now what if you're planning to travel
to WHTI destinations by plane? You cannot use your card in this
instance. Therefore, you'll have to present your passport book.
You
have the option of applying for both types of passports. This is best
if you regularly travel to various foreign destinations that include
WHTI territories. Having two types of passports provide you with the
flexibility in choosing which type is best to be used. What's more,
you'll get a significant discount should you apply for them both at the
same time.
When applying for a passport card, you'll need to
determine if you're already a previous passport holder. If you are, then
you can apply for your card by mail. To do this, you'll have to fill
the Form DS-82, and provide other requirements that may be needed.
You'll also need to do this even if you are getting your passport card
for the first time. In case your passport card will be your first
passport, then you'll have to fill in the Form DS-11.
The great
thing about having a passport card is that it's so convenient to use.
This is mainly because of the radio frequency identification (RFID) chip
that's embedded on your card. Now all the US Customs have to do is to
scan your card, and they will get all the information they need to
provide proof of your identity and citizenship.
Hopefully you now have a good idea of the uses and limits of a passport card.
Just remember that when traveling to WHTI territories by land or sea,
you can use your passport card. However, for international air travel
even to WHTI areas, then you will be required to present a USA passport book
