US Passport Cards

[hawkeye]

U.S. PASSPORT CARD APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1

U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008, in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. We expect cards will be available and mailed to applicants in spring 2008.

The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and will be adjudicated to the exact same standards.

The Department of State is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. The card will have the same validity period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, five for children 15 and younger. For adults who already have a passport book, they may apply for the card as a passport renewal and pay only $20. First-time applicants will pay $45 for adult cards and $35 for children.

To facilitate the frequent travel of U.S. citizens living in border communities and to meet DHS’s operational needs at land borders, the passport card will contain a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. This chip will link the card to a stored record in secure government databases. There will be no personal information written to the RFID chip itself.

LINK

I guess I never really drive to Canada or Mexico so I really wouldnt need it, but this might make travel easier for some. I kind of feel a bit uneasy about the chip being in the card, I guess it's only a matter of time before all our ID cards have them...

[Pandemonium]

yeah, what disappoints me is that most people don't know the dire circumstances that they could potentially face due to the functions and capabilities of FRID chip.

[polishmike]

You can get a special wallet that will pretty much disable the chip while the card is inside.

It is retarded that you can't fly on it. In case of some emergency if you're already abroad you still have to drive back when otherwise you would fly. It's useful for truck drivers and prescription drug mules but that's pretty much it.

[jewbagel]

Hawkeye, I'm guessing you're aware the new passports already have RFID Chips in them. Having one in mine makes me feel uncomfortable. I've been thinking of buying a shielded cover. Something like this: http://www.idstronghold.com/passportsleeve.php?s=2

Am I right in thinking the passports store the info directly on the chip?

[polishmike]

I am, I still got the old one (plus 2 more from different countries that don't have RFID). No government will fuck with me

[hawkeye]

It is retarded that you can't fly on it. In case of some emergency if you're already abroad you still have to drive back when otherwise you would fly. It's useful for truck drivers and prescription drug mules but that's pretty much it.

And San Diego kids going to TJ. Though I do see it as being useful for my Grandparents who go to the Caribbean every once and a while.

I would assume that the flight restrictions would eventually be lifted and that this would probably be a trial run.

Hawkeye, I'm guessing you're aware the new passports already have RFID Chips in them. Having one in mine makes me feel uncomfortable. I've been thinking of buying a shielded cover. Something like this: http://www.idstronghold.com/passportsleeve.php?s=2

Am I right in thinking the passports store the info directly on the chip?

Did not realize this! I think I still have a few years left on my old one...

[MataLeao]

Once the passport RFID card is implemented, the neo-cons and liberals of the US government will have every citizen carry a national ID card. First they'll link it to our drivers licenses then our personal infomation.

This is scary, I want to preserve my privacy and keep govt out of my business.