Passport Card Application Are Simple To Use When Departing The USA

If you are going to travel outside of the US, then you will need to have a passport with you. There are two types of passports you could use: the Passport card or the passport book. In this article, we’ll be talking about the first example. We’ll help answer all your questions related to passport cards, including what a passport card is.

Compared to the regular passport book, the Passport card is cheaper and a lot more lightweight. Its wallet-size features make it easy to store and relatively harder to lose than the larger passport book. Aside from that, applying for a passport card is also less expensive, around half of the passport book’s price.

But take note that you can only use your passport card in limited destinations and modes of travel. Your use of the passport card is only allowed in destinations that are included in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or WHTI. Countries and regions that are included in the WHTI are Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Bermuda. Outside of these destinations, you will have to present your regular passport book.

Once again, you can only use the passport card when traveling by sea or land to the destinations we already mentioned. So when you are traveling by air to any destination, WHTI territories included, you will need to have a passport book. Thus, it’s important to know where you’re heading and what the requirements are before applying for a passport.

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 passport type is best to be used. What’s more, you’ll get a significant discount should you apply for these passports at the same time.

Now how do you apply for a US passport card? If you already have a passport book, or had one in the past, then you can apply for a passport card through the mail. When applying by mail, you will have to fill in Form DS-82. This applies even to those getting their passport cards for the first time. On the other hand, if you haven’t had any passport before, or should the passport require it, you will have to fill in Form DS-11, which is for first-time passport applicants.

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.

If you’re wondering what a U.S. passport card is at the beginning of this article, we’re pretty sure now that you’re already familiar with it. For destinations, you’ll need your USA passport to travel.