If your usual international travel plans primarily involve crossing US borders to nearby neighboring countries, the passport card might be just the ticket for you. First, you should carefully consider your travel timeframe, the requirements when applying for the card, and how long it takes to receive it under normal conditions. If you are traveling earlier than it appears you can get your card, it might be necessary to apply for an next day passport card.
While still fairly new and unknown to some travelers, this new travel identification document made its debut in 2008. Though this card was created for a specific type of traveler, specifically those who cross the northern or southern borders frequently, it can be obtained by any United States citizen. It was designed to be more convenient to use and cheaper to obtain than a normal passport book.
If you know that you are only planning to travel between the US and the islands of the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada, then the passport card could meet all of your needs. Keep in mind that the card is only valid for crossing sea or land borders. No international air travel can occur using this type of document.
Just because the passport card is a simplified document, and has limited purposes, that does not mean that it has relaxed standards for application. The requirements are just as rigorous as for a regular passport. Since the process is the same, both can be applied for on the same application. If it is the first time an individual is applying for a passport document, there is a requirement that the application be done in person. This can be done at a Passport Agency office, or what is called an Acceptance Facility, which can be found in a local post office or governmental agency office.
For a new applicant, you must complete form DS-11 and submit it to the agent at the Acceptance Facility. In addition, you must provide proof of your citizenship, proof of your identity, two passport photos that meet the application requirements, and the fee for the passport card. You will also have to pay the Acceptance Facility a fee to cover their work, as an intermediary agent of the Passport Agency. This fee is separate from the fee you pay to the issuing agency.
Documents that are considered acceptable as proof of citizenship include a certified copy of your birth certificate, for those born in the United States, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, for citizens born outside the country. You can also use a Certification of Citizenship document obtained after becoming a US citizen. To prove your identity you can use a valid driver’s license, a current military identification, or a current government identification issued by a city, state, or federal agency. You must also provide a photocopy of whichever document you intend to provide as proof of your identity.
For current passport holders there is a streamlined application process to get a passport card. While it is not necessary to have a card in this circumstance, it might be desirable for those who frequently travel by land or sea to the designated countries and prefer not to carry their traditional passport. In this situation, the application can be completed via the mail without having to appear at an Acceptance Facility. The application form in this case is the DS-82, which is for current passport holders. If the current passport is due, or almost due, for renewal, that can be accomplished at the same time as the passport card application. In this case, the supporting documentation includes the current passport and new photos. When submitting by mail, do not forget to include payment for the fees for the card, and priority U.S. passport fee, if appropriate.
If you have a need to receive your card faster than normal processing times will allow, you have the option to pay an additional fee of $60 with your application to receive an priority passport card. This fee applies whether you are applying in person or by mail. This will generally cut the wait time by half compared to normal processing. You will also be expected to pay whatever overnight delivery fees are required in order to ship the documents.