Passport Card/Passport Book

[Stella08 0]

I want to apply for a passport as soon as possible after my oath. Now you have the choice of just getting a passport book, but you also can apply for a passport card. What would you use the card for? Is that money well spent or should I just stick with the book which I will need for international travel?

[YuAndDan 153]

Passport card is only for travel within North America (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean) Passport book is for travel throughout the world.

[lucyrich 19]

The passport book lets you do everything that the card would let you do and more. Definitely get the passport book. The only question is whether or not to get the passport card in addition.

The passport card is only for LAND and SEA travel to neighboring countries. It's not good for air travel at all.

I can think of two reasons why one might want the passport card, in addition to getting the passport book:

* It's easier to carry than the book. If you live close to Canada or Mexico and frequently cross the border, it would be more convenient to keep the passport card in your wallet than to carry a passport book all the time. Also, if you live in an area where you encounter frequent immigration checkpoints (usually near the border), the ease of carrying a passport card might be appealing, even though US Citizens aren't required to carry proof of citizenship while inside the US.

* It provides redundant proof of citizenship in case your passport book is lost.

If you don't live close to the border, I don't see much point in the passport card. If you don't get it now, but change your mind, you can get one later for $20.00, assuming you have your passport book.

[Stella08 0]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I definitely intend to apply for the book since I try to see my family in Germany once a year. I was just considering applying for the card in addition to the book. But I don't live close to a border at the moment and actually I don't think I'll be asked for proof of citizenship too often (e.g. during a traffic stop). So the only point would be to have additional proof, in case my passport book gets lost. But then I still have my naturalization certificate. I think I'll save the money and just apply for the book. That's going to be a lot more than many Americans by birth have.

[YuAndDan 153]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I definitely intend to apply for the book since I try to see my family in Germany once a year. I was just considering applying for the card in addition to the book. But I don't live close to a border at the moment and actually I don't think I'll be asked for proof of citizenship too often (e.g. during a traffic stop). So the only point would be to have additional proof, in case my passport book gets lost. But then I still have my naturalization certificate. I think I'll save the money and just apply for the book. That's going to be a lot more than many Americans by birth have.

One note, if you are a US Citizen, you do not need to carry proof of citizenship within the USA, a DL is all that you need to carry if you are driving a car.

[Stella08 0]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I definitely intend to apply for the book since I try to see my family in Germany once a year. I was just considering applying for the card in addition to the book. But I don't live close to a border at the moment and actually I don't think I'll be asked for proof of citizenship too often (e.g. during a traffic stop). So the only point would be to have additional proof, in case my passport book gets lost. But then I still have my naturalization certificate. I think I'll save the money and just apply for the book. That's going to be a lot more than many Americans by birth have.

One note, if you are a US Citizen, you do not need to carry proof of citizenship within the USA, a DL is all that you need to carry if you are driving a car.

Yes, I know. I'm just wondering how a cop knows/confirms who is a citizen and who is not. I mean, any illegal alien could just state that he/she is a citizen and that would be that (if he wouldn't be held for any other crime).

[YuAndDan 153]

Yes, I know. I'm just wondering how a cop knows/confirms who is a citizen and who is not. I mean, any illegal alien could just state that he/she is a citizen and that would be that (if he wouldn't be held for any other crime).

Police officers do not enforce immigrations law, so for a routine traffic stop they are just concerned with the reason they stopped you.

I am a US citizen and all I carry is a driver's license.

[moonhunt 1]

I want to apply for a passport as soon as possible after my oath. Now you have the choice of just getting a passport book, but you also can apply for a passport card. What would you use the card for? Is that money well spent or should I just stick with the book which I will need for international travel?

In my case, I applied for both.

It costs $20 more, but since I had a habit to carry "Greencard" in my wallet, I asked for passport card, and carried in my wallet.

Technically if you have passport book, you don't need passport card.

But in reality, I'm not comfortable when I have nothing in my wallet for immigration status.

Yes, checking against social security number or driver license should show your US citizenship.

But I rather carry the proof by myself instead of depending on some computer, which may be screwed up.

Dealing with USCIS for more than 10 years left pretty much little belief in government system, I guess.

[lucyrich 19]

One note, if you are a US Citizen, you do not need to carry proof of citizenship within the USA, a DL is all that you need to carry if you are driving a car.

Absolutely correct. And you don't even need a drivers license if you're not actually driving. No ID at all is required just to be a passenger or pedestrian.

Furthermore, even if you're stopped for a traffic violation or similar thing, most police officers won't know or care much about your immigration or citizenship status.

I don't personally know any US Citizen who routinely carries around proof of his/her citizenship status while inside the US. However, there are places where immigration raids are common, and I've definitely seen ICE checkpoints north of the Mexican border where they stop all traffic, while looking for illegal aliens. Although proof of US citizenship isn't required, if you live in a place where you've run into overzealous ICE agents before, I can see where you might feel more comfortable carrying a passport card in your wallet just as a guarantee to make sure you don't have any future problems. That's especially true if you think you fit a profile that might be targeted by ICE agents (they're not supposed to do racial profiling, but realistically I can't help believing they do, at least to some extent). So if it makes you feel better, carry proof of citizenship, but realize that it is not required.

Or you could take the position that, since it's not required, you should avoid carrying documents that make the agents' lives easier. If they infringe upon your legal right as a US Citizen to be in public without ID, you may be able to file a nasty lawsuit against them, perhaps with the help of the ACLU.

Whatever makes you feel comfortable and patriotic.

[jsnearline 2]

If you're ordering both the passport and passport card, how many photos do you need to submit?

[lucyrich 19]

If you're ordering both the passport and passport card, how many photos do you need to submit?

From the passport book FAQ

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_c..._card_3921.html

How many photos are required when applying for both the passport book and passport card on the same application?

Two photos are required.

[YuAndDan 153]

One note, if you are a US Citizen, you do not need to carry proof of citizenship within the USA, a DL is all that you need to carry if you are driving a car.

Absolutely correct. And you don't even need a drivers license if you're not actually driving. No ID at all is required just to be a passenger or pedestrian.

Furthermore, even if you're stopped for a traffic violation or similar thing, most police officers won't know or care much about your immigration or citizenship status.

I don't personally know any US Citizen who routinely carries around proof of his/her citizenship status while inside the US. However, there are places where immigration raids are common, and I've definitely seen ICE checkpoints north of the Mexican border where they stop all traffic, while looking for illegal aliens. Although proof of US citizenship isn't required, if you live in a place where you've run into overzealous ICE agents before, I can see where you might feel more comfortable carrying a passport card in your wallet just as a guarantee to make sure you don't have any future problems. That's especially true if you think you fit a profile that might be targeted by ICE agents (they're not supposed to do racial profiling, but realistically I can't help believing they do, at least to some extent). So if it makes you feel better, carry proof of citizenship, but realize that it is not required.

Or you could take the position that, since it's not required, you should avoid carrying documents that make the agents' lives easier. If they infringe upon your legal right as a US Citizen to be in public without ID, you may be able to file a nasty lawsuit against them, perhaps with the help of the ACLU.

Whatever makes you feel comfortable and patriotic.

Makes me think of that funny Cheech Marin movie "Born in East L.A."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092690/

[Italian_in_NYC 259]

Just apply for the passport book and carry it with you only when you travel internationally.

A passport card makes some sense only when traveling very often to Canada or Mexico by car, otherwise it's another (useless) legal document that you could worry about in case you lose it.

Just my 2 cents.

[ttsully66 0]

You can get both the card and the passport book. We plan to do so after Mary is a citizen for the simple purpose of having an easy to carry proof of citizenship. Just keep the card in your wallet with your drivers license and you always have proof of citizenship.

[Anh map 2,098]

When I ( USC by birth) renewed my passport I got the card as well. My reason is that if I were to go to Canada or Mexico (or Carribbean by boat) in the future the card is easier to carry than that book. Plus I figured that it was great back up if I ever lost the book and had to go through the replacement process.