subject: A Thorough Guide To Express Us Passport Cards [print this page] You know what a passport card is designed for, and have determined that having one meets your travel needs. The next step is to understand what it takes to apply for the card, and how long it normally takes to get one. If you discover that the normal processing times do not meet your requirements, you might need to follow the steps necessary to get an express passport card.
This new travel document was designed for United States residents of the northern and southern border states who frequently cross the border to work, shop, or visit family. It is meant to be a more convenient and less expensive alternative to a regular passport. First made available in 2008, it is an option for any US citizen.
If you know that you are only planning to travel between the US and the islands of the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada, then the passport card could meet all of your needs. Keep in mind that the card is only valid for crossing sea or land borders. No international air travel can occur using this type of document.
Though the passport card is for limited travel under specific situations, it has as stringent application requirements as a regular passport. If you wish, you can submit one application for both the card and a traditional passport on the same form. If this is your first application to the Passport Agency for any type of document, you must physically apply. You can do this by going to a Passport Agency office, if there is one near you, or you can go to an Acceptance Facility, which is usually located at your local post office or a governmental agency office.
If you are a first time applicant, the DS-11 form must be completed and presented to the agent. There are several other pieces of the application process. You must prove that you are a United States citizen, provide a government issued photo id to prove your identity, and submit two photographs that meet passport specifications. You must also pay the fee for the passport card, as well as a separate fee to the Acceptance Facility for providing their services.
Documents that are considered acceptable as proof of citizenship include a certified copy of your birth certificate, for those born in the United States, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, for citizens born outside the country. You can also use a Certification of Citizenship document obtained after becoming a US citizen. To prove your identity you can use a valid driver's license, a current military identification, or a current government identification issued by a city, state, or federal agency. You must also provide a photocopy of whichever document you intend to provide as proof of your identity.
If you already have a passport and desire a passport card as well, the application process is a bit simpler. You can complete the process through the mail, and are not required to appear in person at an Acceptance Facility. In this situation you will complete form DS-82, which is for renewal of a passport, or for obtaining a passport card. If your passport is due for renewal, you can apply for them together. As part of this application process, you must submit your current passport, two new photos that meet the specifications, and the fee for the passport card. If you are getting a priority U.S. passport be sure to include the fee for that as well. The Passport Agency will give you a bit of a discount if you apply for both forms of passport at the same time.
