Travel & Education Abroad | Russia

While passport documentation is required for the crossing of all borders now, an actual passport is not actually needed. When heading to places such as Mexico and Canada or some cruises, an expedited passport card will more than do the trick. Anyone thinking that they are short on time and that the trip is at risk can rest easy because there is a solution.

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.

An expedited passport card is applied for in much the same manner as a regular or expedited passport. There is still an issuing agency that must be used in order to secure one of these. These agencies may all be found online by doing a simple search and choosing the one that is right for you.

There are, however, restrictions on a card that a traveler needs to be aware of. The passport card is meant to be a replacement piece of ID in situations where no ID was previously needed to cross the border. Some will say that it makes no sense to issue something that almost looks identical to a license, but there are plenty of security features in a passport ID that are not featured in a state drivers license.

A passport card makes use of some of the most advanced technologies out there today in regards to protecting ones identity. Both electronic coding and art laser engraving are used to make sure that the document cannot be counterfeited. It almost seems as though the technology on the cards gets better and more secure every year.

When an applicant is ready to apply for a passport card, they will follow the same exact guidelines that are in place for a passport. A passport photo, valid government issued ID and proof of citizenship is required for the application to be passed through. The fee, however, is much less and there is also a small discount offered to those that want to get both a passport and a passport card.

When turning in all of the documentation and paperwork, make sure that everything is an original. It is also a safe bet to make additional copies of all of the forms of ID for your own records. If using a mail in service, it is always best to use a major carrier and use the overnight mailing. This ensures delivery and is much more secure than randomly mailing out the documents.

Many people will wonder why they should use an expedited pass port card service instead of just getting a regular United States passport. 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.

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 passport card costs less than a regular passport and is much more convenient to have around.

The card allows for frequent land and sea border crossings in to the above mentioned countries. This means there is no longer the need to apply for addition pages for a passport when travel takes you over the border very frequently. This can be an ideal alternative for those business travelers that may go to Canada or Mexico on a very regular basis.

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 card 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.

To get an expedited passport card, everything must be in order or the process will be delayed. Something that some people do not realize is that it is their responsibility to have the photo taken and ready when they get to the passport office. In addition to that, proper ID and proof of citizenship must be gathered. The expedited service will also require that an additional fee be paid.

One thing to make note of is that when applying for a passport, all documentation must be the original forms. If anything is laminated or copied, it will not be accepted. If the documents are being mailed in for renewal, be sure to use a major overnight service that will provide tracking detail and guarantee delivery.

The expedited United States passport card can be a great benefit to those that live near a country’s border and have the need to regularly cross to the other side. Whether the need is for business or pleasure, this is a much more convenient method than regular a pasport and much easier to carry. There are many issuing agents that may be located online and all are waiting to serve you.