U.S. Passport Card

U.S. citizens may begin applying for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning Feburary 1, 2008. This card will only be valid for land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used for travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S.Passport Book, and it looks like the original Passport is now called a Passport Book.

This card is being issued in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card will have the same validity period as a passport book, 10 years for adults and 5 years for children 15 and younger. For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply for the card as a passport renewal and will pay only $20. First time applicants will pay $45 for adult and $35 for children.

If you live in a Southern State bordering Mexico, or a Northern State bordering Canada and travel to and from Mexico or Canada ofter this may be what you want. For cruising I still recommend the Passport Book, as the Passport Card is not valid for air travel back into the United States. If for some reason while you are on a cruise and need to return to the U.S. before the cruise is over, either because of a accident, injury, sickness, or problem at home you will not be able to fly back to the U.S. with the Passport Card as you can with the Passport Book. If you are going on a Alaska Cruise out of Canada and are flying to the cruise port only a Passport Book will allow you to fly to the port.

If you already have a passport book, I would recomment renewing it with another passport book, not the new passport card. If you don't have either and are planning on cruising I would recommend the Passport Book.