You heard correctly, folks, you can now get a passport card that looks a lot like a driver’s license. This card can be used to travel from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean, and Bermuda via land and border crossings or sea ports of entry. It cannot be used to fly to any of these countries, or to fly to any other international destination. It is a great lower cost option for those who frequent these countries for both business and leisure travel.
Contrary to popular belief, you CAN have your passport card expedited by a visa service such as Swift Passport Services instead of having to travel to a city that has a passport agency to stand in line to get it done yourself. Very few passport and visa expediting services offer this service since this option is so new. Swift Passport is breaking new ground by being one of the first passport and visa expediting services to offer passport card expediting service to all 50 states.
So why should you get a card rather than a book? Well, let me start by making it very clear that the card and book are very different.
With the passport card you cannot travel internationally by just any means of travel. It can only be used if you are driving or boating to the countries mentioned above. If you are flying to one of the countries above, the passport card will not be sufficient for you. If you are either a regular visitor to one of these countries or only intend to travel to one of them once by land or sea and never again step foot off American soil again, then this passport card is for you. Passports cards are valid 10 years for adults (age16 and older), and 5 years for children (age 15 and younger). It is wallet size, easier to carry than a passport book, harder to lose, but most of, all it’s less expensive. An expedited passport card is only $80 for adults and $70 for children in comparison to $135 and $120 respectively for a passport book.
With the passport book, you can travel anywhere internationally by any means, though some countries will require additional visas. If you are trying to decide between a passport book and a passport card, you would definitely choose a passport book if you think there may be a chance that you will travel internationally by plane in the next 10 years. The passport book is good for travel to anywhere you could go with the passport card AND to the rest of the world. You will be far less limited with the passport book. An expedited passport book is only $135 for adults and $120 for children, and is valid for 10 years and 5 years respectively.
If you are traveling in 5 weeks or less, your best option is to have Swift Passport expedite the passport card for you. You will be able to relax and let us do the traveling and standing in line for you. We have relationships with the Department of State that gives us the ability to solve problems that can and do arise and get your passport card processed in as little as 12 hours!
Summary of Fees IF
• You have never had a passport and are applying for a U.S. passport (book or card) for the first time; or
• Your expired US passport is not in your possession; or
• Your previous US passport has expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; or
• Your previous US passport was issued when you were under 16 years old
Summary of Fees IF
• Your passport expired less than 5 years ago and is in your possession
• Your previous U.S. Passport was issued in the USA
• Your previous passport is in good condition
• You were age 16 or older when your last U.S. Passport was issued
Summary of Fees IF
· You/ Your child is age 15 or younger whether they have had a passport in the past or not
Now that you’ve determined which is right for you, the book or the card, give us a call at 1-877-917-9438. A Swift Passport Representative will be happy to answer your questions as well as help you get started. So make those travel plans and don’t forget to visit our website for agency fees and travel visa information at Swiftpassport .com
Amber Colbert, Houston Manager
