If you are going to travel outside of the US, then you will need to have a passport with you. There are two types of passports you could use: the passport book or the passport card. In this article, we’ll be talking about the latter example. We’ll help answer all your questions related to passport cards, including what a USA passport card is.

Let’s begin with the benefits of a passport card over the passport book. For one, the card is more affordable and smaller than the passport book. Your American passport card can fit into your wallet so it’s easier to carry around and somehow harder to lose. Also, applying for a passport card is just around half the price of the passport book.

But take note that you can only use your passport card in limited destinations and modes of travel. Your use of the passport card is only allowed in destinations that are included in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or WHTI. Countries and regions that are included in the WHTI are Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Bermuda. Outside of these destinations, you will have to present your regular passport book.

Once again, you can only use your passport card if you’re traveling by sea or land. Now what if you’re planning to travel to WHTI destinations by plane? You cannot use your passport card in this instance. Therefore, you’ll have to present your passport book.

However, if you travel to both types of destinations (WHTI and non-WHTI areas), then you could opt to apply for both types of New passport card as well. This allows you to travel to one destination and meet the necessary documents needed to get there. That way you could travel by land to a WHTI area one day, then travel to an Asian country in the next. Plus, there’s also a huge discount if you apply for both passports.

Let’s now talk about applying for a passport card. Current or previous passport owners may send in their application for a passport card by mail. This requires you to fill in the Form DS-82. You’ll also need this form even if you’re applying for a passport card for the first time. However, you’ll need to sign the DS-11 form if you’ve never had any type of passport before, whether it’s the passport card or book.

The great thing about having a passport card is that it’s so convenient to use. This is mainly because of the radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that’s embedded on your card. Now all the US Customs have to do is to scan your card, and they will get all the information they need to provide proof of your identity and citizenship.

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