An Expedited Pass Port Card Can Be A Cheap Alternative

A passport card is simply a wallet-sized version of a standard passport book with some limitations. The card works only for border travel to and from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bahamas. An expedited pass port card (http://www.uspassportnow.com/services/PassportCard) costs less than a regular passport and is much more convenient to have around.

The passport card will allow passage to border trips such as Canada and Mexico. This is a dramatic change from years past as the only ID that was needed before was a drivers license or birth certificate. Rules have changed, but exceptions are made for some trips that are close to home. This is great news for casual travelers as the passport card slips right into the wallet and there is no bulky passport book to carry or possibly lose.

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 American passport (http://www.uspassportnow.com/) cannot be used for flying to any of the above mentioned countries. It is strictly for land or sea crossings only and the standard passport book is still the preferred means of identification for international travel. These passport cards each contain an electronic chip that stores a unique number, linking it to a secure government server containing the information of the holder.

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 the documentation is being submitted, be sure to have originals and not copies or even certified copies. These will not be acceptable and will only slow the process while waiting on the correct ones. When sending the documents in, be sure to mail them through a trackable carrier such as FedEx or UPS so their progress may be monitored. This is sensitive, personal information and everything possible should be done to safeguard it.

About The Author Many people will wonder why they should use an expedited U S passport card (http://www.uspassportnow.com/services/PassportCard) service instead of just getting a regular US passport (http://www.uspassportnow.com/). While it is always a good idea to have a passport, carrying it can be a bit of a challenge. When traveling to border countries, the passport card fits into the wallet and can be used as a substitute for the passport. With the lower cost and added convenience, many travelers are beginning to understand why they need to have a passport card.