Passport card

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The passport card (previously known as the People Access Security Service Card, or PASS Card) is an alternative to a passport created in the United States to meet the documentary requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Applications have been accepted since February 1, 2008; the cards are expected to be made available to the public in June 2008.^[1]

1 Rationale
2 Validity and fees
3 Card layout
4 Opposition
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Rationale

The passport card is an alternative to a "regular" passport booklet for land and sea travel within North America (Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda). However, it is not a valid substitute for a passport booklet for international air travel. Like the passport book, the passport card will only be issued to U.S. citizens and nationals.

The passport card is being issued by the United States Department of State in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book since the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative's requirements for travelers to carry proof of citizenship have come into effect. In an effort to improve efficiency at land crossings, the passport card will also include a vicinity-read radio frequency identification chip with a unique identifying number tied to government databases; unlike the passport book, the RFID chip in the passport card is designed to be readable at a greater distance and will not contain any information from the MRZ of the passport card beyond the identifying number. To prevent skimming of the RFID chip, the passport card will come with sleeve designed to block the RFID chip from being read while the card is in the sleeve.

Under the REAL ID Act, the passport card will also be accepted for federal purposes such as domestic air travel or entering federal buildings, which may make it an attractive option for people living in states whose driver's licenses and ID cards are not REAL ID-compliant when those requirements go into effect. TSA regulations specifically list the passport card as an acceptable identity document at airport security checkpoints.^[2]

[edit] Validity and fees

The passport card will share the same validity period as the passport book: 10 years for adults 16 and over, 5 years for children under 16. As of 2008, the passport card renewal fee for eligible applicants (adults only, by mail) is $20; first-time applicants and those applying in person must also pay a $25 processing fee, for a total fee of $45. Passport cards for children must be applied for in person; the total fee is $35, including the $25 processing fee.

Individuals may have both a passport card and a passport book, and may use one to apply for the other form of passport (or both) as a "renewal" by mail at the end of its validity period.

[edit] Card layout

Figure 1: Front of Card blank artwork (2008)

Figure 2: Card back artwork, showing “PASSsystem” (in color shifting ink) location and which will include a unique preprinted card number and 3 of 9 1D bar code, and room for the MRZ. (2008)

The passport card is formatted according to specifications for credit-card (TD-1) sized travel documents, as described in ICAO Document 9303, Part 3, Volume 1. The card contains both human-readable and machine-readable information; the latter is printed in the machine-readable zone on the rear of the card as OCR-readable text in the same format as on the identity page of the passport book.

[edit] Opposition

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The card is opposed by the BESTT Coalition, which believe that the departments of State and Homeland Security should work with U.S. state governments and Canadian provincial and territorial governments to make drivers' licenses the acceptable form of ID for crossing the Canada – United States border. Several privacy groups have also opposed the RFID chips, which can be read from a distance of several feet without the knowledge or consent of the holder, claiming that they are unnecessary and will result in at most a marginal increase in efficiency at the borders.^{[citation needed]}