Technically there would be no reason. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. Answer: A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your U.S. citizenship and identity. The passport card can be used only to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at a land border crossing or sea port-of-entry, although these areas generally accept it as valid ID for entry as well. Your passport book can be used in any situation where a passport card could be used, but you may find that it is convenient for you to also have a passport card. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife. Most people who use the card prefer it for the convenience of carrying and storing it. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. All Rights Reserved.PASSPORTINFO.COM is not operated, maintained by, or affiliated with any passport offices or government agencies. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card.© 2020 PassportInfo.com. All American citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and re-enter the United States. But if your international travel consists entirely of surface trips in the limited areas covered by the passport card, the card is both cheaper and a tad more convenient to carry and use versus the passport book.A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.You can get both a passport book and a passport card for $175.The standard passport book covers all the bases: It’s all the U.S. government requires for you to enter a foreign country and re-enter the United States on your return trip.
The U.S. State Department issues two versions of a passport: a traditional passport book and a passport card. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. It is a privately operated website portal for informational purposes only.If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. The passport card is not valid for air travel. All Rights Reserved.Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. All American citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and re-enter the United States. Your passport book can be used in any situation where a passport card could be used, but you may find that it is convenient for you to also have a passport card. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your U.S. citizenship and identity. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products.
You can get both a passport book and a passport card for $175. Overall. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrival/departure stamps, while the passport card is a one-piece credit-card-sized ID card.
If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. So, if you are a frequent flyer or will travel internationally, a passport book is the best choice. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products.
Passport Tips: Carry both the passport card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. Not only do they look different, they serve slightly different purposes. Passport cards are a form of US passport that are the size of a credit card or driver’s license. People who frequently cross the Mexican or Canadian border by car or train. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).Please enter valid email addressThanks! “Why would you want both passport book and passport card when traveling overseas?” Many countries require you to keep your passport on your person at all times. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. However if you do a lot of traveling, which would include traveling to the countries that the card is valid for and also using the passport book to travel to countries which the card is not valid for, it may just be easier to keep the card i. However, if you go to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean and would prefer a passport card, then you should apply for one. Here is a table showing the principal … Many foreign countries require nothing more for entry than a U.S. passport book, although some also require visas.Travel Smarter! Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. You're all signed up.Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews.