| Beginning production on July 14, 2008, | | | | specific number that will pull up a lot |
| the US Passport Card has been well | | | | of your personal information. |
| received by many, but numerous | | | | Many opponents of the passport card |
| organizations and individuals have | | | | claim this is going too far; that it is |
| disputed the right to privacy associated | | | | an invasion of privacy. All the while, |
| with this credit card sized passport. | | | | the government claims this is completely |
| Issued by the US Department of State, | | | | safe because there is no personal |
| this convenient card has been filled | | | | information directly on the card itself. |
| with much controversy thanks to the | | | | All the card has on it is a personal |
| addition of one electronic chip. | | | | number that points to a government |
| The process for obtaining the Passport | | | | secured database with all of the |
| Card is quite similar to the traditional | | | | personal and relevant information. |
| Passport Book. You will still need the | | | | The government also claims that this has |
| appropriate verification and | | | | been done using the latest of |
| identification, but you will pay | | | | technologies guaranteeing you and your |
| considerable less for the card generally | | | | information's safety. In addition, you |
| more than 50 percent, and renewals only | | | | will want to get the protective sleeve |
| cost about $20 at this time. | | | | that guarantees your passport card can |
| How people use the Passport Card will | | | | only be read at the appropriate time. |
| vary greatly from how those Passport | | | | Unless you remove the card from the |
| Book holders will use their book. A | | | | protective sleeve, it cannot be read. |
| passport card is only valid for travel | | | | As of August, 2008, expedited services |
| by land or sea which means it is going | | | | were not available when applying for |
| to target US citizens traveling to | | | | your passport card. However, the |
| neighboring countries. If you plan on | | | | government has stated it "anticipates" |
| traveling into or out of the US, you | | | | that expedited services will be |
| will still need a passport book. | | | | available at a later date. This means if |
| This means if you plan on crossing from | | | | you are interested in this new card, you |
| the US to Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, or | | | | will want to apply well in advance. |
| the Caribbean, this little card may be | | | | In addition, overnight delivery is not |
| just right for you. The internationally | | | | available. You will need to apply and |
| accepted travel document is still | | | | use First Class Mail service instead of |
| recognized as the passport book which | | | | the convenience overnight delivery |
| means you will still need this to travel | | | | saying time for an additional fee. |
| abroad. | | | | While the passport card has been filled |
| The controversy is not so much that | | | | with controversy, many people are still |
| there is a smaller version of the | | | | waiting to apply for this convenience. |
| passport book, but that in each card | | | | Is this technology right for you? Only |
| there is a vicinity-read radio frequency | | | | you know the answer, but if you are |
| identification chip. This tiny | | | | concerned about this technology, you may |
| electronic chip will allow people such | | | | still be able to apply for the |
| as border patrol inspectors to scan a | | | | traditional passport book. |
| scanner type gun at you and get a | | | | |