People may be more familiar with the former name for a passport card, the People Access Security Service Card, or PASS card. The new passport card is an alternative to a passport in order to meet the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
The first passport cards became available for issue in July, 2008. The United States Department of State has not given an updated number of cards issued as of May, 2009. The US State Department estimates, however, that more than 1,000,000 cards have been issued.
Since the Civil Aviation Organization does not recognize the new card it is not valid for any type of international travel. Presently, the passport card is issued only to citizens and nationals in the United States of America.
The United States Department of State decided to issue this card in response to border community residents’ needs for a more portable alternative to the traditional booklet form. The card also includes a vicinity-read radio frequency identification chip with a one of a kind identifying number tied to government databases. The chip is designed to be readable at a further distance.
This card has a protective sleeve that blocks RFID while inside. REAL ID is an Act that allows that the new passport card will also be accepted for federal purposes. This includes domestic air travel or entrance to federal buildings. TSA regulations list the card as an acceptable identity document at airport security checkpoints. This convenient, new ‘passport card’ is legal for entering the United States from our bordering countries: Mexico and Canada, as well as Bermuda and the Caribbean. This card ‘passport’ will be only legal at land, sea port or border crossings. It won’t be legal for other air travel.
The form, which establishes employment eligibility, also known as the I-9 form, will accept the new passport to prove eligibility to work in the United States. It is also noted that the card-passport provides identification as well as also authorizing eligibility to work in the U. S.
The renewed card will be valid for a period of ten years for adults 16 and over and five years for children under 16 years of age. The renewal fee is $20. The initial first-time applicant fee will include an additional $25 processing fee. First time applicants as adults need to pay $120.00. First time applicants as minors will pay $95.00.
Any adult who has a valid passport book can pay a fee of $20 in order to apply for the U.S. passport card. A citizen or national is allowed to possess both the passport card and the booklet. In either form, it entitles the holder to apply for the other form (or both forms) as a ‘renewal’ by mail at the end of the period. Soon U S passport identification will be practical and at hand in a card! This will make traveling internationally much easier and this means less worry when traveling.