What’s a passport card and its associated costs?

A passport card will come in handy especially for people that often commute to countries such as Mexico, Canada, or Bermuda from the US. This can be for business or pleasure purposes. They only cost a fraction of what an actual passport would cost.

The Lighter Version of a Passport

According to Los Angeles, CA immigration lawyers, this law was molded into its current form starting in 2009 when new legislation put forth under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) went into effect. As per this legislation citizens of the countries – Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the US were legally obligated to prove their identities and nationalities anytime they wanted to cross into the American border or leave the American border for Canada, Mexico, or Bermuda, and according to immigration lawyers, anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere.

The fact of the matter is that there is an abundance of travel to and from the America, which is why the US State Department introduced a legal document known as the passport card. Passport cards are a substitute for actual passports and if you have any questions about this and you are in LA or near there, you should speak with a Los Angeles immigration attorney.

They are cheaper, issued quicker, and allow for the acceleration and easier regulation of travel between America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. The first passport card was issued back in the year 2008 and over 3 million passport cards have been issued till date to American citizens.

This does not mean that everyone did not have some concerns about how to use them properly after they made the purchase. Even if someone made the purchase, there are other aspects of immigration or traveling that you may want to know about. You can find some of the best immigration legal help on this fantastic website.

How does a passport card work?

As already mentioned, the passport card is an alternative to an actual passport. However, its use as an identity and nationality confirmation legal document is restricted ONLY to travel between America and Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda through land border crossings and sea ports of entry. If you want to travel to some other country, then a passport card will not work, you need an actual passport.

Another restriction with the passport card is that you can only enter or leave the US via land border crossings or sea ports of entry, so you cannot fly into or leave America on the merits of a passport card. Once again, if you are flying to any of these countries (or any other country for that matter) it is mandatory that you hold a valid passport. Well, that really restricts the use of a passport card does it not? If you live in Oregon, you may not want to take a cruise all the way to Bermuda.

Cost of a Passport vs a Passport Card

A passport card costs about $45 for an adult and $35 for a minor, these prices may not be current as it is revised on a yearly basis by the US State Department. On the other hand, a passport costs $100 for an adult and $85 for a minor and they last for many trips.

No wants to be frustrated. And you can easily frustrate yourself when you try to do something based on incomplete information. Traveling to other countries may  seem easy but if there is a problem your world can be a nightmare real quick. This is where this website should be saved into your smart phone or tablet: https://usattorneys.com/. You can find a Los Angeles immigration lawyer using this site. In addition, if you are immigrating or you know someone who is, employing legal help on this matter is critical.  

A passport card is also installed with a data chip called Radio Frequency Identification which can be read by proximity card readers. This chip contains information that was filed in the initial passport card application. To apply for a new passport card, the procedure is more or less similar to applying for a new passport. You need to fill out and submit the application form DS-11. If you have questions about this, you should call up an immigration lawyer.