| Anyone who has traveled across the border a | | | | "blocker sleeve" it comes with when it is not being |
| few times or more using a passport book has to | | | | used for traveling so it is not scanned when it is |
| replace all or parts of the book due to wear and | | | | not supposed to be. |
| tear. A passport card is the ideal choice for people | | | | One of the most appealing features is the |
| who cross the border on an ongoing basis for | | | | economical advantage the card has over the |
| work. The passport book can be conveniently | | | | standard passbook. An adult pays a $100.00 |
| replaced with a handy travel card that is easily | | | | charge for a first time standard passbook |
| accessible when needed. | | | | purchase. Comparatively, an adult card only costs |
| The original idea behind the passport card was to | | | | $45.00 for the same 10-year life expectancy. |
| make it easier for people who regularly cross the | | | | Any person with an existing passport will |
| border going into Canada, Mexico or the West | | | | appreciate the incentives of switching to the card. |
| Indies. People can go across national lines a | | | | A passport holder only has to pay $20.00 for a |
| number of times without having to replace their | | | | renewed passport if they want to switch to the |
| worn passbook or stamps. The card is ideal for | | | | card as opposed to having to pay for a whole |
| those who travel across cross borders several | | | | new card. The cost-effectiveness and |
| times a week for work or business-related | | | | convenience are appealing factors when |
| reasons. | | | | considering changing to the new passport method. |
| A passport has a vicinity-read radio frequency ID | | | | There is one "monkey wrench" to consider, |
| chip embedded in it. This chip connects the | | | | however that could be the deciding factor when |
| cardholder with a computer database that | | | | considering a passport book or card. International |
| contains their necessary travel information that | | | | travelers are not allowed to use the card when |
| would ordinarily be in a standard passbook. No | | | | they use the airlines as their mode of |
| personal cardholder information is contained on the | | | | transportation. These types of trips will require |
| chip, so the card is safe to use. | | | | using the standard passbook method to take |
| These cards are meant to read very closely by | | | | along for border inspection and crossing overseas. |
| particular border personnel who are trained to | | | | People tend to cross borders more often than |
| decipher them. This keeps the card from being | | | | they use airplanes to for international travel, so a |
| scanned by the wrong people either accidentally | | | | lot people prefer the card for crossing borders |
| or purposely. The card should be kept in the | | | | regularly. |