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Canada is one of our closest neighbors, but many do not know a whole lot about it. Alive with rich history and a dynamic cultural heritage, Canada is a great place to take your family and explore. Now, thanks to the pasport card, taking a vacation to Canada has become more accessible and convenient.

Canada’s history goes back over 26,000 years ago when the Aboriginal Paleo-Indians roamed the land. Regarded as Canada’s first discoverers, these people harness the land and adapted to the harsh environment, and they are still around today. Their cultural influence is vast and is seen in much of North America’s culture, from lacrosse to maple syrup. Music, art, dance, and languages still flourish even in Canada’s city life. With such a prominent influence still felt today, a trip to Canada quickly becomes a very unique experience.

Canada is only a road trip away; no need to purchase airplane tickets or rent a car, making it a great place for a family vacation. The passport card, a new variation of the original US passport, allows a family to travel for much cheaper than usual. The passport card, available for $30, is a fourth of the price of a passport book, and allows a family to travel by land or sea for less money. Saving this money helps reduce the cost of vacation, making a relaxing get away that much more accessible.

Canada is as wild as it is unique. Travel to Somerset Island in Nunavut and embark on an “Arctic Safari.” Pitch your heavy-duty tent and stay up with the sun until 2 am. See belugas and hear them sing or watch the seals play and sunbathe. Dig for prehistoric fossils and an aurora, one of nature’s most beautiful natural displays.

If you are looking for a great night out with your friends, or even if you want to make some new Canadian ones, head out to Montreal. This friendly, chic party town is known for its world famous bars, clubs, and lounges. Eat at a fashionable restaurant and head out dancing afterwards. Attend the Cirque de Soleil and see for yourself the cultural scene that makes Canada so unique.

Of course you can’t visit Canada without seeing Niagara Falls. A world famous landmark, Niagara Falls is something the whole family can do together. Take the Maid of the Mist and get super soaked under the falls, or take an exhilarating helicopter ride above the falls. However you experience it, Niagara Falls will make any excursion into Canada a very memorable experience.

Canada is a one-of-a-kind travel experience that you and your family don’t need to go very far for. With a US passport card and some warm clothes, Canada will keep you and your family having fun for however long you plan on staying. Whatever you and your family decide to do, whether you want to relax, go on adventures, or experience the unique nightlife, Canada has something for everyone. Round up the family, grab your passport, and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

The process of renewing U.S. passports is something that everyone that has one has to contend with at some point or another. The standard passport is good for 10 years and for minors 16 or younger, five years so they are good for a while but still do expire. The passport card can do the same basic job as the passport book and may be obtained at the same time a passport book is being renewed.

Premiering in 2008, the passport card quickly became a great alternative to those travelers that frequently crossed the border into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. This is a wallet-sized card that has no pages to stamp and is good for the same period of time a standard passport is. Current passport holders can receive the card as a renewal option for the low fee of $20.00.

Any U.S. citizen may apply for a passport card, even if they do not already have a U.S. Passport. Someone who currently or previously had a passport book may be able to apply for a passport card via mail. The eligibility criteria for renewal via mail may be found via Internet search. When applying via mail, the person would complete a passport renewal form even if he or she is applying for the passport card for the first time. Those who never had a passport book or do not meet the requirements to apply via mail must apply in person.

There is a standard processing time of four to six weeks for the card to be generated and returned to the applicant. This is the same approximate time it takes to receive just that passport book when renewing it alone. There is an expedited service that can shorten the wait time down to 2 to 3 weeks should that be preferred by the applicant. The renewing U.S. passports however, will only be returned by first class mail and there are no overnight delivery options.

The technology contained within the passport card itself is rather interesting. The card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. The chip does not contain personal identification, but it links to a stored record in a secured government database. Customs and Border Protection inspectors access the card holder’s photographs and biological information as the card holder approaches an inspection station.

The card is designed to be as secure as physically possible by using state of the art laser engraving along with anti-counterfeit measures such as special colorings. The blocking sleeve that comes with each card prevents the card from being scanned or accessed when it is not in use. It is actually amazing the state-of-the-art security that is in place on this tiny card.

The low cost of the card in addition to the passport book when getting a renewal can make this a great secondary form of travel identification. The card is not only for adults as minors are also eligible to apply for this when affecting their renewal process. There are, however, very strict guidelines that the minors must adhere to in order to receive one of these cards.

The process of renewing pass ports has just gotten more attractive with the addition of the passport card option. The card has gained a lot of popularity with those individuals that frequently cross into Mexico or Canada for business and pleasure. The passport is currently in use all over and there are over one million of these in circulation today.

Anyone that has used a passport book for any period of time knows that they wear out, need new pages frequently and are not really convenient to carry around. A U S passport card can be the perfect alternative to carrying a standard one, particularly if the individual travels frequently across close borders for business. There is no need to refill it when the pages are used up and it fits neatly in any wallet or cardholder.

The original idea behind the U S passport card was to make it easier for people who regularly cross the border going into Canada, Mexico or the West Indies. People can go across national lines a number of times without having to replace their worn passbook or stamps. The card is ideal for those who travel across cross borders several times a week for work or business-related reasons.

A U S passport card has a vicinity-read radio frequency ID chip embedded in it. This chip connects the cardholder with a computer database that contains their necessary travel information that would ordinarily be in a standard passbook. No personal cardholder information is contained on the chip, so the card is safe to use.

These travel cards are to be read close up by people who are trained to read these kinds of cards. This way, no one else can read the card besides the designated personnel at the border locations. The card is meant to be stored in a blocker sleeve when it’s not being used so it won’t be scanned by accident.

One of the most attractive aspects of the card is that it is more economical than a traditional passport. The standard passport book charge for an adult who is getting one for the first time is $100.00. An adult can get a card for more than half the price at $45.00 for the same 10-year life span the passbook lasts for.

Any current passport holder will be thrilled if they choose to switch over to the card rather than the book. The card for them is only a $20.00 fee and is applied for as a renewal rather than a brand new one. Between this and the elimination of ever needing extra pages for frequent travel should be among the deciding factors in choosing this method.

There is one prohibitive factor involved when deciding whether to switch to the card from the book. The card is not valid for international travel requiring the use of airlines. For these trips, it will still be necessary to use the book and have plenty of pages available to cover the entire itinerary. As this is done infrequently, the card is still the preferred method for frequent border crossing for many people.

While the book is more familiar to people and recognized the world over, there is no more convenient method in existence than the passport card. This eliminates the wear and tear the paper book takes while coming in a more convenient size for carrying. These can be easily applied for by either going online and searching out a provider or visiting a local passport agency office.

If you are going to travel outside of the US, then you will need to have a passport with you. There are two types of passports you could use: the passport book or the passport card. In this article, we’ll be talking about the latter example. We’ll help answer all your questions related to passport cards, including what a Passport card is.

Compared to the regular passport book, the New passport card is cheaper and a lot more lightweight. Its wallet-size features make it easy to store and relatively harder to lose than the larger passport book. Aside from that, applying for a passport card is also less expensive, around half of the passport book’s price.

But take note that you can only use your passport card in limited destinations and modes of travel. Your use of the passport card is only allowed in destinations that are included in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or WHTI. Countries and regions that are included in the WHTI are Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Bermuda. Outside of these destinations, you will have to present your regular passport book.

Once again, you can only use your passport card if you’re traveling by sea or land. Now what if you’re planning to travel to WHTI destinations by plane? You cannot use your passport card in this instance. Therefore, you’ll have to present your passport book.

However, if you travel to both types of destinations (WHTI and non-WHTI areas), then you could opt to apply for both types of Passport card as well. This allows you to travel to one destination and meet the necessary documents needed to get there. That way you could travel by land to a WHTI area one day, then travel to an Asian country in the next. Plus, there’s also a huge discount if you apply for both passports.

Now how do you apply for a US passport card? If you already have a passport book, or had one in the past, then you can apply for a passport card through the mail. When applying by mail, you will have to fill in Form DS-82. This applies even to those getting their passport cards for the first time. On the other hand, if you haven’t had any passport before, or should the passport require it, you will have to fill in Form DS-11, which is for first-time passport applicants.

The great thing about having a passport card is that it’s so convenient to use. This is mainly because of the radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that’s embedded on your card. Now all the US Customs have to do is to scan your card, and they will get all the information they need to provide proof of your identity and citizenship.