Anyone that has used a passport book for any period of time knows that they wear out, need new pages frequently and are not really convenient to carry around. A United States passport card can be the perfect alternative to carrying a standard one, particularly if the individual travels frequently across close borders for business. There is no need to refill it when the pages are used up and it fits neatly in any wallet or cardholder.
The U.S. passport card was designed specifically for frequent border crossing into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. The card allows the holder to cross the borders multiple times without stamps or books that can become tattered over time and constant use. This is the perfect solution for business people who work across one of the borders and find themselves there 3 to 4 times a week.
A U S passport card contains what is known as a vicinity-read radio frequency ID chip. This chip links the cardholder to a database that contains all of their pertinent information. The chip does not contain any personal information from the cardholder, thereby making it much more secure.
These cards are designed to be read at close range by readers designed for this purpose. This prohibits anyone else from scanning the card accidentally or for purposes other than the intended personnel at the border checkpoints. The card is also accompanied by a “blocker sleeve” to house it while not in use to prevent any type of unwanted scanning.
One of the most appealing features is the economical advantage the card has over the standard passbook. An adult pays a $100.00 charge for a first time standard passbook purchase. Comparatively, an adult card only costs $45.00 for the same 10-year life expectancy.
Any current passport holder will be thrilled if they choose to switch over to the card rather than the book. The card for them is only a $20.00 fee and is applied for as a renewal rather than a brand new one. Between this and the elimination of ever needing extra pages for frequent travel should be among the deciding factors in choosing this method.
There is one prohibitive factor involved when deciding whether to switch to the card from the book. The card is not valid for international travel requiring the use of airlines. For these trips, it will still be necessary to use the book and have plenty of pages available to cover the entire itinerary. As this is done infrequently, the card is still the preferred method for frequent border crossing for many people.
While more people around the world use passport books, the passport card is easier and more convenient. The card fits snuggly in a wallet or pocketbook for easy storage and access and doesn’t wear out like the paper book. Many convenient outlets carry the card, including local passport agencies and online merchants for economical and convenient border crossing.