Although the passport card costs less than a traditional passport book and is only valid at land and sea entries from North America and the Caribbean, the processing time is the same as that of a tradition passport: 4 to 6 weeks from the date the application is received. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for expedited service. Make sure the delivery time does not become a problem by applying well in advance of your travel.
A major concern is the ability to clone the radio frequency sent out by the passport card. The individual cloning the signal could make an alternate passport card and use the same signal to cross borders undetected. Applicants could be at risk for fraud, which creates a major problem for many who could otherwise use the passport card for land and sea travel.
Passport cards require the same documentation as passport booklets: proof of citizenship, proof of identity and the application itself in addition to the fee. If you submit for your passport card in a state other than the one on your photo ID, you must supply an additional form of identification. An out-of-state driver's license is not enough. Photocopies of all of you IDs must also be presented in person and your application can be denied for processing if these photocopies are not in order. The nature of the in-person requirement for first-time applications can also be problematic if you live in a rural area where passport issuing agencies are not nearby.
