Renewing American Passports – Getting A Passport Is Easy
By Advisor. Filed in Florida |
Most people are familiar with the traditional passport book that contains pages that are stamped upon entry to other countries. If the passport holder was over age 16 when the passport book was issued, it is good for ten years. If the holder was under age 16, the passport book is good for five years. When renewing passports, a person may want to consider obtaining a new passport card in addition to the passport book.
A passport card is more compact and much easier to deal with than the standard passport book. The wallet-sized card can be used for frequent travel across local borders such as Canada or Mexico. It is, however, not valid for air travel to any other countries. This means that a passport book will still be required, depending on the traveler’s destination, to enter or leave other countries by plane. A current passport holder can apply for the card by mail for a mere $20.00 more when renewing their passport book.
The passport card is available to all U.S. citizens, whether they hold a passport or not. Current passport holders can get theirs by mail but will need to meet certain criteria in order to do so. These criteria can be found by going online and searching it out. Once the search is finished and it is found that an individual does not meet the requirements they have the ability to still apply for the passport card, it simply must be done in person.
Whether it is the book or the card that is being applied for, they both take approximately the same amount of time to process and send. There is a 4 to 6 week wait time on the card or book for the standard service and if expedited is requested, this might be accomplished in 2 to 3 weeks. The expedited service, however, does carry an extra fee. While an individual can submit their application via overnight mail, the passport itself will only be returned by first class mail through the Post Office.
The technology contained within the passport card itself is rather interesting. The card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. The chip does not contain personal identification, but it links to a stored record in a secured government database. Customs and Border Protection inspectors access the card holder’s photographs and biological information as the card holder approaches an inspection station.
The card is designed to be as secure as physically possible by using say of the art laser engraving along with anti-counterfeit measures such as special colorings. The blocking sleeve that comes with each card prevents the card from being scanned or accessed when it is not in use. It is actually breathtaking the state-of-the-art security that is in place on this little card.
Those wishing to obtain this new passport card in addition to renewing their passports will find the low fee for this card appealing. Minors are also eligible to apply for passport cards and the fee for minor cards is lower than for adults. Minors under the age of 16 must adhere to specific requirements when applying for a passport card.
People in the process of Renewing Pass Ports should seriously consider the addition of the card to the order. With over one million of these cards currently in circulation, this has swiftly become a preferred means of swift identification for crossing close borders. While this isn’t meant to replace the pasport card book, for those that cross to Mexico or Canada frequently for business or shopping, it will be a much more convenient method.
