Some of the best moments I have ever had came from traveling. There is simply nothing like it. Breaking out of your comfort zone to become acquainted with people and places and cultures so unlike yourself is, I believe, one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. Of course there is the question of money. Passports, airline tickets, accommodations, transportation, and other expenses required for travel can quickly add up. However, you don’t need to go very far to get away, and there is even a new alternative to the passport: the us passport card.
Since July, 2008, passport cards have been an alternative form for travel documentation for citizens of the United States. In it’s earliest form, passport cards were known as the People Access Security Service, aka, the PASS card. The passport card works a lot like the typical passport book does, but it does have a few restrictions. If you are going to use the passport card for travel, you can only travel to places that are either connected by land to the United States, are close to the United States, or are under the United States government: Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
The concept was created for those whose jobs or other business takes them over land borders or through sea ports frequently. Resembling any other card you might carry in your wallet, the passport card can get you into countries only if you travel there by land or sea. If you are thinking of flying to an international country – or even one of the countries listed above – you will need to use a passport book.
While it looks like every other card in your wallet, a passport card packs a little extra punch. The passport card contains a special microchip – a vicinity-read radio frequency identification chip, or the RFID chip. This is what allows you to travel over borders easily. This special chip doesn’t carry any personally sensitive information on it, however. It only features a special number that is used to recognize you in a secure government information base. It also features powerful protection against forgery in the form of laser engraving and other security measures. It also comes with a special sleeve so it can’t be read by people trying to steal personal information.
RFID technology can be seen in many other instances of day to day life. For instance, when you push the unlock button on your car key, it only opens your car. It’s the special RFID code that prevents it from opening every other vehicle surrounding it. You can also find RFID technology in automatic toll tags, some bank cards, and security access cards.
The passport card carries some similarities to the basic passport book. First of all, it’s a document that allows you to enter into other countries. Most importantly however, the passport card does have an expiration date. Just like the passport, your passport card is only valid for five years if you are under 18. If you are over 18, your passport card is valid for ten years.
If you are thinking of applying for a passport card, you have two options. You can either apply online or in person. Online passport card services are there to get you a passport card by the time you need it, and are the clear winner in convenience. On these sites, you can find applications for new passport cards as well as a passport renewals form, for if you have an expired passport card. With these services, vacations are suddenly much more realistic.
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