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