Everything To Know About Expedited Passport Cards

You know what a passport card is designed for, and have determined that having one meets your travel needs. The next step is to understand what it takes to apply for the card, and how long it normally takes to get one. If you discover that the normal processing times do not meet your requirements, you might need to follow the steps necessary to get an fast passport card.

While still fairly new and unknown to some travelers, this new travel identification document made its debut in 2008. Though this card was created for a specific type of traveler, specifically those who cross the northern or southern borders frequently, it can be obtained by any United States citizen. It was designed to be more convenient to use and cheaper to obtain than a normal passport book.

If you know that you are only planning to travel between the US and the islands of the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada, then the passport card could meet all of your needs. Keep in mind that the card is only valid for crossing sea or land borders. No international air travel can occur using this type of document.

Though the passport card is for limited travel under specific situations, it has as stringent application requirements as a regular passport. If you wish, you can submit one application for both the card and a traditional passport on the same form. If this is your first application to the Passport Agency for any type of document, you must physically apply. You can do this by going to a Passport Agency office, if there is one near you, or you can go to an Acceptance Facility, which is usually located at your local post office or a governmental agency office.

For a new applicant, you must complete form DS-11 and submit it to the agent at the Acceptance Facility. In addition, you must provide proof of your citizenship, proof of your identity, two passport photos that meet the application requirements, and the fee for the passport card. You will also have to pay the Acceptance Facility a fee to cover their work, as an intermediary agent of the Passport Agency. This fee is separate from the fee you pay to the issuing agency.

To make the application process as pain-free as possible, make sure to include the correct documents with the application. The most common document needed for native United States citizens is a birth certificate issued and certified by a government agency. For US citizens born outside the country, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad will work, or a Certification of Citizenship that is received when establishing citizenship is acceptable. A photo I.D., such as a valid driver's license, a current military identification, or a current identification card issued by a city, state, or federal government agency serves as proof of identity. It is a requirement that a photocopy of the proof of identity document be provided, so plan ahead on this.

If you are a current passport holder, and feel that having a passport card as well is of value to you, there is an application process that you can complete by mail. Since you have already gone through the initial application process and provided proof of citizenship and identity, the DS-82 form is submitted as your application for the passport card. This is the same form that is used when getting a priority pass port, so if you are due to renew soon, you might want to do both together. With this process you submit your current passport with the application form, two new photographs, and the fees required. Your passport will be returned to you along with your new card.

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