The U.S. Department of State is now offering a passport card as an alternative to a passport book for U.S. citizens looking to travel by land or sea within North America.
Made available in July 2008, the U.S. Passport Card is a wallet-size travel document issued to U.S. citizens only, that can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry.
The U.S. Department of State began issuing the cards in response to community residents’ needs for a less expensive, more portable alternative to the conventional booklet.
The passport card will share the same validity period as the passport book: 10 years for adults ages sixteen and older and five years for children under age sixteen.
First-time applicants must apply in person, including children. The total fee for adult passport cards is $55 and the total fee for children’s passport cards is $40.
All first-time applicants must apply in person at a Passport Agency, U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Also, any U.S. Post Office offers the DS-11 application form required for passport applications.
Currently, applications are being processed within four to six weeks. However, if there is an urgent situation, passport cards can be processed within two to three weeks. The expedited service includes overnight delivery to and from the passport agency and costs an additional $60 per application.
Applying for a Passport Card:
-Fill out the DS-11 application form.
- Submit completed DS-11 form in person.
-Submit evidence of U.S. citizenship.
- Present identification.
- Submit a photocopy of the identification documents presented in step 4.
-Pay the applicable fee.
-Provide two passport photos.
