Posted on 08/19/2008 8:16:36 PM PDT by Orange1998
MIAMI — Travelers crossing U.S. land and sea borders can now replace their passport book with a new passport card. Federal passport officials started issuing the wallet-size cards on July 14. More than 450,000 people have applied for the card, said Brenda Sprague, deputy assistant secretary of state for passport services, at a news conference Monday at the Port of Miami. "The U.S. passport card is a less expensive and more affordable alternative to the U.S. passport book," Sprague said. The brand new document — which looks similar to a drivers license — can be used for people returning to the United States from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The pros: It's cheaper ($45 for first-time applicants, $20 if the applicant already has a passport and $35 for children), it's valid for the same period as a passport book, and it's faster for border officials to check. Its technology — a radio frequency identity chip — allows it to be read from up to 30 feet away. "It will make a difference as far as processing times," said Chief Jose Castellano, spokesman with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The cons: U.S. travelers cannot use the card to travel by air. And no passport stamps. "The one you choose will depend on your future travel plans," Sprague said. Those who applied before production started can expect their passport card between late August and early September, according to the State Department Web site. Passport officials expect to issue between 800,000 and one million passports by the end of the year. So far, about 200,000 of the new documents have been issued. Border and Customs Protection agents have seen about 2,000 of the new cards, primarily at land crossings. The card is especially designed for people who live near the border.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Could this be a test run for National ID.
Well now, the passport I have now will never be renewed.
I just had pages added to mine, because the visa pages were filling up fast, and I LIKE the pages they added! Instead of the old boring blue state seals pages, every page (or pair) is a bit of Americana -- old paintings or photos mostly from the West, with quotes from famous Americans at the top -- even including Reagan!
Foreign officers might or might not like it, but I do!
When it runs out are you staying "home" forever?
Soon — it will not be a “choice”.
It hasn’t been used yet.
Always a choice,we’re free are’nt we.?
Yup. Tracking people live with stratellites.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=stratellite&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
A chip in a card, wouldn’t it be easier just to put it ones right fore arm?
What’s the frequency, Kenneth?
“read from up to 30 feet away”
Will aluminum foil work?
I wan’t you to know that your 22 year old statements confuse most here.
Lucky you. 4 years into my current one and it's filling up. I don't dislike being there, but the getting there is rough.
They confuse me sometimes too.
Do illegals get one?
bookmark
So, these cards are in addition to the regular passport? One carries both for international air travel?
No, it’s an alternative, a cheaper one, for people who cross into the US from Canada or Mexico via land. Or for those coming in by sea from cruise ship destinations in the Caribbean.
If you travel by air you need a regular old passport.
If you have a regular passport you can use it for land, sea or air.
You don’t need both.
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