The Countless Benefits Of A U S Passport Card
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012Recently a man made headlines as he proclaimed the border patrol agents let him get through the Canadian/American border with just a scanned copy of his passport on his iPad. Although an interesting concept, it is not true. When presented with this information the agents specified that the man was let into the United States because he had other qualifying documentation. Due to recent stricter laws all those individuals wishing to cross into the US must have required travel documents; these documents constitute a passport replacement if their passport is lost or a U S passport card.
Benefits
Passport Cards cane be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Bermuda land border crossings or sea ports of entry. This is because they are more convenient and less expensive than an actual passport replacement book. These cards are great for those who travel frequently between the borders, however they are only good for land and sea travel, and cannot be used for air travel.
Online Agencies
Any US citizen can obtain a passport card even if they have never applied for a passport before. Those that do have passports can also apply for a passport card, as they are much more convenient for travel. These cards can be applied for online and are even subject to emergency passport services for those that need them quickly.
Process
There are a few requirements you will need to meet when applying for a passport card that differ from a regular passport application. These documents will help officials to verify you citizenship. You may be asked to provide a birth certificate, driver’s license or social security card before you are allowed to get your passport card. Once you have gathered all of these documents, and filled out all the necessary paperwork, you should have your new United States passport card mailed to you in a few days.
Travel Documents
Passport cards are incredibly convenient and a great alternative for travelers who are only going to Mexico or Canada on a regular basis. Another great benefit of having a passport card is that they are much smaller and easier to carry than a regular passport. It is very important, no matter what kind of passport you have, that you keep It in a safe location whether you are at home or are traveling.