Posted on 05/15/2010 9:51:35 AM PDT by CodeToad
The US State Department now issues a Passport Card as well as the Passport Book, which every one is familiar.
Here are some interesting comments about it from the U.S. Department of State web site:
"We began production of the U.S. Passport Card on July 14, 2008. As of March 2010, more than 2,700,000 Passport Cards have been issued to U.S. citizens."
"The passport card is the wallet-size travel document that can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card provides a less expensive, smaller, and convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea. "
"Yes, the passport card has a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip."
"There is no personal information written on the electronic chip itself. The chip contains a unique number which identifies a stored record within secure government databases. "
U.S. Department of State: Passport Card web page.
Passport Card:
Passport Book:
Seems the Passport Card is used for land travel only, not air travel, and only for primarily Canada and Mexico. For air travel the usual Passport Book is required.
Had to get a travel card to go to Mexico....about 35 years ago. I think it was yellow...
Other than travel out of the US, why do we need a national ID? I’m not saying we don’t need ID’s, just curious why a national ID.
Once someone is in the US, legally or illegally (border crossers, visa overstays), nobody asks for papers anyway. Even if we had a national ID or even a tamperproof worker ID, it won’t solve the border problems. People working for cash (Home Depot day laborers), drug smugglers, hit men, terrorits, etc. don’t need ID’s anyway.
It sorta makes sense when crossing the border a _lot_. I used to live about an hour from Canada, and went almost weekly for a couple years. Passports worked fine, but a card would have been a bit more convenient.
They start requiring it INSIDE this country, and I’ll stop carrying ID altogether. Domestic “paperien, bitte” will be met with all due vigor as guided by study of history.
Yes.
Separate issues,I think.Yes,if there ever is a “national ID card” it would probably look much like this but *all* nations have passports...even the freest,least authoritarian ones.
Just pop it in a microwave oven for about 10 seconds...
Why is everyone so worried about a new ID card???
I wonder if Canada/Mexico accepts it for entry, allowing one to leave their real passport at home?
Just last week someone with whom I was traveling who uses a pp card had a hell of a time with the idiots at Jet Blue who didn’t want to let him on the plane because they said the card wasn’t valid ID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Why is everyone so worried about a new ID card???
“
Good question. The answer is that to have a driver’s license or a library card is not a big deal at all, but to have a central government issue identification cards and mandate them is nothing but compelte and total control over you. So far a national ID has not been required, but, as with many evil plans that start at the back door, could this be one? The feds try their hand at a better ID cards, get the system working well, then mandate them while claiming they have a good system?
Does the book have the chip and if you have the book, can you just use it instead of the card to go to Canada or Mexico?
I have no problem with a national ID card, if it is reasonably secure & protected from forgery & fraud, but I realize that last part is ultimately, extremely difficult. And I have little faith in our bureaucracy to master anything beyond greed.
As long as they don’t make me sew an ID card onto to my forehead I can live with it.
I use the Tijuana border crossing and get car pictured going in, coming back: card ID automatically machine scanned, car x-rayed, car is dog sniffed for drugs while waiting in line, car photoed again, question by border patrol agent after handing them ID card, usually just a quick trunk open inspection, did you buy anything question, what was your purpose in Mexico question and destination in the US now.
Any suspicions and you get sent to Secondary where they can disassemble your vehicle and detain you if they feel like it.
A long time ago, it only use to be, “What is your citizenship? and Are you bringing in any fruit from Mexico?” That was it.
Scanners at airports are the real personal violation.
It’s a mini-passport ID card only good for re-entry from Mexico and Canada by foot or vehicle, can’t fly with it, you need a full passport for flying or extended stays. You go through the same steps when applying for a card like a full passport but it costs like only $50-$75 the first time around. Both card and book have chips.
I carry my passport with me everywhere, and use it for proof of identification when needed (credit cards, etc). It does not contain my address, my State of residence, and no code or information that can be traced through any State database. And it is accepted nation-wide as proof of identification.
In other words, it’s better than a driver’s license in terms of proof of identity and keeping my personal information secure.
It will when you renew it. My pp, renewed in April, has a photo-embedded copy of my state driver’s license, which of course has all that information on it (except SSN, in my state).
The current State Department Passport renewal page says nothing about requiring a driver's license; given that you can renew overseas and a driver's license is NOT required to receive a passport, I'd be very surprised if a license is included in a passport.
The book is good anywhere the card is.
“because they said the card wasn’t valid ID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
It isn’t, not for flying. Go figure.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.