A U.S. Passport Card is a wallet-sized card that has the cardholder's picture on the left side, taking up about one-third of the face of the card. The passport holder's name, country of citizenship and date of birth are listed. Also on the face of the card is the passport card number, the expiration date, and a series of watermarks, pictures and holographic marks.
The application for a passport card is the same as a full passport. For minors, the child must apply in person. The legal guardian then submits Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport; the child's evidence of U.S. citizenship; parental consent; evidence of relationship of the applicant to the child; identification and a photocopy of parent's or guardian's identification; applicable fee; and one passport photo. For minors unable to produce two parents in person, the non-applying parent must complete Form DS 3053.
Passport cards contain a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID). There is no personal information written to the RFID chip; the information is stored in government databases. The technology allows for historical and biographical information of the holder as he approaches the Customs and Border Protection inspection station.
A minor may use his U.S. Passport Card to enter the United States from the following neighboring areas: Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Use the card at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air, including the air travel of the aforementioned locations. The card provides a smaller, less expensive alternative to a traditional passport for citizens who frequently travel across borders.
