(NYS) Enhanced Driver's Licenses

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

To anyone in New York State or any other state that offers enhanced driver's licenses (only issued to US Citizens): Have you ever gotten one of those, or considered getting one of those, or knows anyone who has one of those? If you have one, how much is it and did you have any problems crossing the (Canadian) border with it?

I ask this, as my husband (a USC) was wondering if it was worth it for him to get one of those instead getting a US passport to travel to Canada with.

Any thoughts, ideas, and suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Ant

Edited August 14, 2008 by AntandD

[Mononoke28 135]

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is an enhanced drivers license?

Diana

[antda 13]

Hi Diana,

Lol...no, you're not ignorant at all, and it's good that you want to know more about this. Enhanced driver's licenses are new and only available in certain border crossing states, so I don't think many people know about them either. The short answer: Basically it's the information of passport, except it is in your driver's license. Hence the "enhanced" passport information on a driver's license. It makes it easier and more cost-effective, that instead of carrying around a passport and a driver's license, you only carry around a driver's license.

For more information, check out: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborder...7575704846.shtm

Ant

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly is an enhanced drivers license?

Diana

Edited August 15, 2008 by AntandD

[Mononoke28 135]

Oooooooooooooohhh... that makes sense. Plus it's easier to carry a card in your wallet than a booklet.

Thanks!

Diana

[lucyrich 20]

It sounds like it serves much the same function as the passport card, available to any US Citizen in any state.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

If you're considering one, you should probably at least look at the other.

[antda 13]

Hi Lucyrich,

Thanks for that link about the passport card (which I bookmarked). I never knew that they had such a thing before. I'll have to tell my husband about that too, and when the time comes for me after citizenship, maybe I'll get one of those also. It certianly is a lot less expensive and convenient than getting a full-sized passport. Did you get a passport card too? If so, did it work for you for travelling? Too bad Canada didn't have a passport card (lol...am having problems with renewing/getting a new passport there).

Ant

It sounds like it serves much the same function as the passport card, available to any US Citizen in any state.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

If you're considering one, you should probably at least look at the other.

[lucyrich 20]

Hi Lucyrich,

Thanks for that link about the passport card (which I bookmarked). I never knew that they had such a thing before. I'll have to tell my husband about that too, and when the time comes for me after citizenship, maybe I'll get one of those also. It certianly is a lot less expensive and convenient than getting a full-sized passport. Did you get a passport card too? If so, did it work for you for travelling? Too bad Canada didn't have a passport card (lol...am having problems with renewing/getting a new passport there).

I don't have a passport card. Now that naturalization is done, we both now have US passport books, but no cards.

The passport card isn't really that useful for us. We live a full 8 or 10 hour drive from the Mexican border, and we've never crossed via land (I did cross by land years ago, before we met and before it required a passport). We're a couple days' drive from the nearest Canada crossing, so we won't be driving across there much, either. The passport card is no good for air travel, and considering the fact that we have family in South America, we'll still need the conventional old fashioned passport books, regardless. For those rare times we cross the border by land, the passport books aren't that inconvenient.

Still, since we have regular passport books, we can get the passport cards for $20.00 apiece. We're toying with the idea of doing that, but more for the purpose of having a second ID than for frequent border crossings.

Also, when Lucy became a citizen, they naturally took away her green card. So now she feels a bit strange with no proof of immigration status in her wallet. Though US Citizens aren't required to carry any proof of status, and even though law enforcement isn't supposed to profile based on accent, there's a bit of paranoid worry in the back of the mind about the possibility of an overzealous ICE agent questioning her citizenship. It shouldn't be necessary, but having the passport card in her wallet would be a very quick way to defuse that hypothetical situation.

[antda 13]

Hi Lucyrich,

Thanks for your reply. That’s great that you have your US passport books, and based on your situation, you probably don’t need a passport card since you do most of your international traveling by air. And yes, getting a passport card later on if you want, at a discounted price since you have a book passport already, is a good deal.

I never knew that they mandatory take the green cards away when one becomes a citizen. Do they take both the 2yr cards and the 10yr cards, or just the 10yr cards? I have wondered too, what to do in terms of proving US citizenship when one doesn’t have their green card anymore. Carrying around a US Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate probably wouldn’t be a good idea, especially if it is not wallet sized and is unsafe to do so I’ve heard. I know that most people don’t ask, but it’s still good to have some proof if US Citizenship, just in case someone does, especially if one is mistaken often for not being an American. So on that note, yes, probably get a US passport card for that reason alone, to prove US Citizenship, as to me it will serve as kind of like a US Birth Certificate that I never had. Besides, the US Passport Card doesn’t cost much, and is convenient to carry around. Funny, this reminds me that I still have my Canadian Naturalization/Citizenship Card in my wallet, and even though it is very outdated and old, as in the same way, it kind of serves like the Canadian Birth Certificate that I never had. I wish though, Canada had the same Passport Card system like here in the US, as it’s inconvenient to carry my old passport around whenever I travel internationally by land. Oh well, I’ll just wait for US Citizenship and get my US Passport Card (and maybe a passport book too) then for identification and travel.

Ant

I don't have a passport card. Now that naturalization is done, we both now have US passport books, but no cards.

The passport card isn't really that useful for us. We live a full 8 or 10 hour drive from the Mexican border, and we've never crossed via land (I did cross by land years ago, before we met and before it required a passport). We're a couple days' drive from the nearest Canada crossing, so we won't be driving across there much, either. The passport card is no good for air travel, and considering the fact that we have family in South America, we'll still need the conventional old fashioned passport books, regardless. For those rare times we cross the border by land, the passport books aren't that inconvenient.

Still, since we have regular passport books, we can get the passport cards for $20.00 apiece. We're toying with the idea of doing that, but more for the purpose of having a second ID than for frequent border crossings.

Also, when Lucy became a citizen, they naturally took away her green card. So now she feels a bit strange with no proof of immigration status in her wallet. Though US Citizens aren't required to carry any proof of status, and even though law enforcement isn't supposed to profile based on accent, there's a bit of paranoid worry in the back of the mind about the possibility of an overzealous ICE agent questioning her citizenship. It shouldn't be necessary, but having the passport card in her wallet would be a very quick way to defuse that hypothetical situation.

[jundp 191]

Hi Ant,

We also have the enhanced DL in Washington State, but it appears that unless you do frequent land crossings, a passport is more suitable. You still need the passport for air crossings, so for me at least, the EDL isn't useful.

As far as cost/time/etc, when we got my husband's DL a few weeks ago, I asked about the EDL. You have to make an appt at the DOL here and you follow the same guidelines as you would for a passport, minus the photos (they do that at the DOL).

Good luck!

[antda 13]

Hi Jundp,

Thanks for your reply and for telling about your experience with the EDL in Washington State. In your situation, since you do more air travel, then the passport book would be best. Did you get a passport card with your passport book too? In my situation, my husband and I do land crossings to Canada (we only live 1-2 hrs away from the Canadian border) and other travelling by land, so for that reason, the EDL and/or the passport card would be best for my husband now and for me later (when I get US citizenship). From what you said, it doesn't seem to hard to get an EDL, and it's good too that they do the photo there at the DMV (I'm assuming the DOL is the same as the DMV), so that saves a bit fo time and costs there too. How much does it cost for an EDL in Washington State, by the way? And for how long can you have an EDL in Washington State before it expires?

Good luck to you too in your immigration journey!

Ant

Hi Ant,

We also have the enhanced DL in Washington State, but it appears that unless you do frequent land crossings, a passport is more suitable. You still need the passport for air crossings, so for me at least, the EDL isn't useful.

As far as cost/time/etc, when we got my husband's DL a few weeks ago, I asked about the EDL. You have to make an appt at the DOL here and you follow the same guidelines as you would for a passport, minus the photos (they do that at the DOL).

Good luck!

[jundp 191]

Hi Jundp,

How much does it cost for an EDL in Washington State, by the way? And for how long can you have an EDL in Washington State before it expires?

Good luck to you too in your immigration journey!

Ant

The EDL is $45 but if you are upgrading from a valid DL it's only $15 more. I think it's valid for 5 years just like a regular license here.

Also I think you can use the EDL at sea crossings too, just not for air travel.

[antda 13]

Hi Jundp,

Thanks for your reply about the cost of an EDL. Hmm...so the cost of it is $45 to get it when one is renewing a license, and $15 more for an existing valid license, and it's valid for 5 years. Got it. I assume it's the same for here in NYS as it is in Washington State, unless otherwise said.

Therefore the costs would be:

For an EDL= $45 (new license) or $15 (existing license) for 5 years.

For an Passport Card=$45 for 10 years.

I'll pass the information along to my husband too. Thanks for your help.

Ant

P.S. I don't think I'd be doing any sea crossings anytime soon to Canada, as they don't offer lake/sea boat service across Lake Ontario. Hmmm...maybe someone should consider offering a boat service for that? The only other way to travel by sea/lake to Canada: I can buy a boat and sail it across Lake Ontario myself (just kidding)

P.P.S. That's great that you would have an "honourary (honour is even spelt correctly!) pass" to participate in the Canadian forum here on VJ. Welcome aboard, fellow Canadian Jundp!

The EDL is $45 but if you are upgrading from a valid DL it's only $15 more. I think it's valid for 5 years just like a regular license here.

Also I think you can use the EDL at sea crossings too, just not for air travel.

Edited August 16, 2008 by AntandD