Posts Tagged ‘expedited passport card’
In years past, the only true form of international identification was the passport. However, in the United States, a passport was not needed for border trips to Canada and Mexico. Today, laws are much more restrictive and passports are needed to cross in and out of the country regardless of how close the final destination is to the U.S. If a trip is coming up in the near future, an expedited United States passport card can be used in place of a regular passport.
The traveler who truly travels the world will still need a regular passport, but someone who merely visits the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada does not need an actual passport. For this type of trip, the passport card is perfectly acceptable. It is very similar in appearance to a license, except it is issued by the State Department and can be substituted for a passport for certain destinations.
Applying for a passport card is much the same process as applying for a standard passport. Actually, all of the same forms are going to be used. The entire process can be handled at a regional office or a local post office that handles passport processing. Anyone not sure of where to go can do a local Internet search and find a location near them.
The expedited US passport card itself does have restrictions on it. It was made in place of a passport for areas that had never really required passport documentation from the United States before. Also, it cannot be used for air travel at all. This card is meant for cruise traveler and actual border crossings to places like Mexico. Now, instead of only needed a valid driver’s license, the passport card serves as the official accepted ID.
What makes the difference in the passport card is the electronic coding and laser engraving that is featured as a security measure. While state ID’s have come a long way, they are simply not as secure as the process in which a passport card is created. These safety measures cannot be forged at this time and it is yet one more step to making sure that the borders are indeed secure.
In order to receive an expedited passport card, one must submit the same type of documentation as when applying for a standard passport. This will include items such as birth and naturalization papers along with two color photographs. There is a standard processing fee that is charged by the government along with the fees from the issuing agency being used to expedite the process.
When turning in all of the documentation and paperwork, make sure that everything is an original. It is also a safe bet to make additional copies of all of the forms of ID for your own records. If using a mail in service, it is always best to use a major carrier and use the overnight mailing. This ensures delivery and is much more secure than randomly mailing out the documents.
By using expedited U.S. passport card services, that planned trip scan still go off without a hitch. You should have no trouble obtaining a American passport