Renewing Pasports – Renewing One May Be Easier Than You Would Think

The process of renewing passports is something that everyone that has one has to contend with at some point or another. The standard passport is good for 10 years and for minors 16 or younger, five years so they are good for a while but still do expire. The passport card can do the same basic job as the passport book and may be obtained at the same time a passport book is being renewed.

The passport card, which went into use in July 2008, is a more compact and less expensive alternative to the passport book. It is a wallet-sized card that can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda via land or sea. Note that the passport card may not be used to fly to these or other countries because it was designed specifically for northern and southern border resident communities. The passport card is valid for the same amount of time as the traditional passport book. Adults who already have a passport book may apply for the passport card as a passport renewal by mail for a $20 charge.

Passport cards are not just for current passport holders, any U.S. citizen in eligible to apply for one the same as a standard passport. Current and past holders of a valid passport book can receive the card via mail and will need to complete and send in the proper renewal form. Those who are applying for the passport card for the first time must do so in person.

There is a standard processing time of four to six weeks for the card to be generated and returned to the applicant. This is the same approximate time it takes to receive just that passport book when renewing it alone. There is an expedited service that can shorten the wait time down to 2 to 3 weeks should that be preferred by the applicant. The passport however, will only be returned by first class mail and there are no overnight delivery options.

Advancements in technology have made the card one of the most efficient methods of border identification available today. The RFID chip that is built in to the card allows the border personnel to scan an individual’s card and access all the necessary information regarding that person. The radio frequency ID chip can be read by the customs and border guards, giving the access to a secure database with the information, rather than it being contain on the card itself.

The card comes with high-tech security features, including laser engraving, that prevent counterfeiting and forgery. The card also comes with a protective RFID-blocking sleeve that is used to protect against unauthorized reading or tracking of the card when it is not in use. The card is as secure as current technology permits.

The $20.00 fee for the card, in addition to any others for the passport book when applying for a renewal, is an attractive feature in and of itself. Minors and adults alike are eligible to apply for this card when renewing their passports. The minors, however, have stricter guidelines when it comes to the card although the fee for theirs is lower than the one for the adults.

People in the process of Renewing Passports should seriously consider the addition of the card to the order. With over one million of these cards currently in circulation, this has quickly become a preferred means of quick identification for crossing close borders. While this is not meant to replace the American passport card book, for those that cross to Mexico or Canada frequently for business or shopping, it will be a much more convenient method.