US Passport Renewal

[COUSA 8]

 I was over on the US government website and understand the renewal process. I will be submitting my previous passport for the renewal along with a new picture.

 I'm just curious about the passport card. I don't remember when I got my original passport in 2007 of having that choice. 

My primary question is; is the card like a drivers license that just has your basic data on it? That's what I'm assuming. It has a $30 additional sub charge to get that option. That means the book and card option. Just curious thanks. 

Edited March 4, 2018 by COUSA
Grammar

[jan22 3,040]

9 minutes ago, COUSA said:

 I was over on the US government website and understand the renewal process. I will be submitting my previous passport for the renewal along with a new picture.

 I'm just curious about the passport card. I don't remember when I got my original passport in 2007 of having that choice. 

My primary question is; is the card like a drivers license that just has your basic data on it? That's what I'm assuming. It has a $30 additional sub charge to get that option. That means the book and card option. Just curious thanks. 

The passport card did not exist in 2007. It was introduced in 2008, as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that required US citizens to have passports to re-enter the US from Canada and Mexico.  It is credit card-sized, with your basic bio data and an RFID chip that allows the Port of Entry to call up additional information. It is essentially only valid for land travel (and some specific cruises), so if you do not live near one of the borders and make frequent trips across the border, or you have frequent times where you have to prove US citizenship, it really serves no purpose for you.

Edited March 4, 2018 by jan22

[Crazy Cat 41,456]

I never saw a valid reason to get the card since it has limited use as compared to a full passport.

[jan22 3,040]

1 hour ago, missileman said:

I never saw a valid reason to get the card since it has limited use as compared to a full passport.

They are really useful if you live on the border (which was the reason for which they were developed) --- much more convenient to carry than the full passport; otherwise, I agree that there's no benefit to having one.

[TBoneTX 44,920]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the "Passports, etc." subforum.

[ruby_7 45]

On 3/4/2018 at 4:25 PM, jan22 said:

They are really useful if you live on the border (which was the reason for which they were developed) --- much more convenient to carry than the full passport; otherwise, I agree that there's no benefit to having one.

With the mandatory TSA-approved Driver License requirement or TSA-approved IDs for all states (useful for land border-crossing to Canada, Mexico, & cruising to Carribean),  it's not much beneficial anymore to get the PP card. I didn't even apply for PP card but the book, plus my state will roll out new TSA-approved DL/ID's by July so I'll wait just wait for this new ID to save money instead of getting a PP card.

[jan22 3,040]

2 hours ago, ruby_7 said:

With the mandatory TSA-approved Driver License requirement or TSA-approved IDs for all states (useful for land border-crossing to Canada, Mexico, & cruising to Carribean),  it's not much beneficial anymore to get the PP card. I didn't even apply for PP card but the book, plus my state will roll out new TSA-approved DL/ID's by July so I'll wait just wait for this new ID to save money instead of getting a PP card.

TSA-approved REAL ID driver's licenses may or may not meet the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport requirement.  To meet the requirement, it also has to be an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL).  An EDL will meet both the REAL ID and the WHTI requirements.  A REAL ID license is required identification for boarding domestic flights; it is not valid for border crossing purposes .  New York, for example, has options for three kinds of licenses at the moment: Standard (meets neither requirement),  REAL ID compliant license, and an EDL compliant license (that is also REAL ID compliant).  People need to check what types their state is issuing.  As of 2017, EDLs were only available in MI, MN, NY, VT, and WA.

Edited March 7, 2018 by jan22

[jkstark 97]

A standard REAL ID does not prove citizenship, so that will not be WHTI compliant.  The Enhanced Driver License does prove citizenship, and is available only to citizen residents of the states/provinces that offer them - certain US states and some Canadian provinces offer them.

 

The passport card is WHTI compliant, and can be used as proof of citizenship to apply for a new passport in case your passport is lost or stolen - otherwise you'll need to send in your NC again in that scenario.  You may not use an Enhanced Driver License as proof of citizenship for a passport renewal in the same scenario....

[COUSA 8]

I got the passport ordered. I just did standard delivery since I'm not in any rush to hurry and didn't want to spend the extra $$$$. Took 21 days to get it from when I mailed it on March 22 to receiving it April 13.  I was very happy with that turnaround time for standard delivery since the website says 4–6 weeks. My honey ko and  I are learning a lot about each other. There are a lot of differences between the Mindanao and Luzon personality types. 

 It's exciting to be conversing with her, but she is a very poor woman  as she says and frequently Suggest that I am obligated to help her financially. I have sent her some loads for her phone and a small remittance, but her expectations of me are not always Mat suggest that I am obligated to help her financially. I have sent her some loads for her phone and a small remittance, but her expectations of me are not always met.  She recently had a case of the Dengue's fever  and has a 50,000 PHP hospital bill that she would like for me to pay. I suggested to her that wasn't going to happen. It's fun. 

Just wanted to share the quick turnaround time of three weeks getting my passport standard delivery.

Edited April 25, 2018 by COUSA
Edit grammar