New Passport Card The Simplest Way To Cross The Border
Anyone who travels abroad knows that passport book doesn't last long because they get worn out before long and aren't too handy to transport. Many frequent travelers prefer to use a US passport card instead because it is more convenient to store and access when needed. A card is sturdier and convenient to carry around and access quickly when crossing borders.
The 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 passport has a vicinity-read radio frequency ID chip embedded in it. This chip connects the cardholder with a computer database that contains their necessary travel information that would ordinarily be in a standard passbook. No personal cardholder information is contained on the chip, so the card is safe to use.
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 other nice feature of the card is the overall cost as compared to a standard passport. An adult applying for a standard passport book for the first time incurs a charge of $100.00. The card, on the other hand, is only $45.00 for the same individual and has the exact same life expectancy of the regular book of 10 years.
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 reason travelers may not want to switch from the book to the card, however. The card in prohibited for use when people travel internationally by way of airplane.. When travelers make these particular trips, they need to use their fully equipped passbooks for their entire international trip. People don't use airlines to travel out of the country as often, so a card is the best choice for people who regularly cross borders.
