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Passport Cards vs Passport Book #34173
01/14/2015 06:35 PM
01/14/2015 06:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 83
North Carolina
oilwench Offline OP
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oilwench  Offline OP
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Posts: 83
North Carolina
I need to renew my passport and was thinking about just getting the passport card. The US Passport office told me to speak to the British Embassy to find out what the entry requirements are for BVI. So far no one has responded to me through these resources. Has anyone had experience with the card?



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Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: oilwench] #34174
01/14/2015 06:40 PM
01/14/2015 06:40 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Massachusetts
I'm surprised that's the response you got given the text here.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/card.html

Get the book. Even if it was usable (which I'm pretty sure its not) why limit yourself?

EDIT - If you are taking a ferry from St. Thomas to BVI, then I can see why they responded the way they did and it may be accepted. If you were to fly into EIS, then its no good.

Here's something to consider - what if there was an issue that required you get home quickly? And flying out of EIS through San Juan or even to St. Thomas was the fastest method? I think you'd be SOL with the card as it is not good for air travel. While the book is more expensive, its a minimal cost over the 10 years its good for and covers you regardless of where you are.

Last edited by maytrix; 01/14/2015 06:46 PM.
Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: maytrix] #34175
01/14/2015 06:54 PM
01/14/2015 06:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
To my understanding the card is for people who travel between the islands for a living. Most of the guys in the daysail biz use the cards so the pages don't get filled up with stamps.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: sail2wind] #34176
01/14/2015 08:10 PM
01/14/2015 08:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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St Thomas, USVI
That's the reason I use the card.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Kimber] #34177
01/14/2015 08:42 PM
01/14/2015 08:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 83
North Carolina
oilwench Offline OP
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oilwench  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 83
North Carolina
Done. Full passport.



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Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: oilwench] #34178
01/14/2015 08:56 PM
01/14/2015 08:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 34
NorCal
J
jimp1234 Offline
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jimp1234  Offline
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Posts: 34
NorCal
I renewed my passport recently and decided to get both. Can't remember what the cost difference was though.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: jimp1234] #34179
01/14/2015 10:28 PM
01/14/2015 10:28 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
Ernst Offline
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Ernst  Offline
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Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
The card is $30.- extra. I just sent off my passport for renewal. Even though that's not a lot of $, I did not see the point of it (for me). Would use it very rarely if at all, and it would be yet another thing that I need to keep track of and not lose.

I only ordered the book.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Ernst] #34180
01/15/2015 09:48 AM
01/15/2015 09:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Online content
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RickG  Online Content
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We're getting the passport card. Surrendering your passport to add pages is a hassle.

Cheers, RickG


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Grenada
Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: RickG] #34181
01/15/2015 09:58 AM
01/15/2015 09:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 219
Texas
Whitesail Offline
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Whitesail  Offline
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Posts: 219
Texas
Passpost card is valid when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. Not valid for international travel by air.

According to US passport info page.



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Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Whitesail] #34182
01/15/2015 01:48 PM
01/15/2015 01:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
RickG, do your research, a card is not always good for entry, especially anywhere other then BVI.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: sail2wind] #34183
01/15/2015 02:08 PM
01/15/2015 02:08 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Best bet if you prefer to use the card is to just get both. Then you have the passport book as needed, but can use the card when available.


Matt
Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: sail2wind] #34184
01/15/2015 02:44 PM
01/15/2015 02:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
Quote
sail2wind said:
RickG, do your research, a card is not always good for entry, especially anywhere other then BVI.


RickG has done his research, he's a very sharp guy. For those of us, like Rick and his wife, that frequently enter into the BVI, all those stamps take up a lot of space and fill up your passport very quickly. Handing them a card instead keeps space in your passport. Entering the US he, or anybody, would use their regular passport which is fine since the US doesn't stamp your PP when you get back home.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Kimber] #34185
01/15/2015 05:08 PM
01/15/2015 05:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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sail2wind  Offline
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Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
very true, as long as you have both, or not plan on traveling outside of the virgins

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: sail2wind] #34186
01/15/2015 10:19 PM
01/15/2015 10:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 83
North Carolina
oilwench Offline OP
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oilwench  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 83
North Carolina
I learned a lot - cards are $30, books $110 and both are (obviously) $140. Some people get both to make it easier when traveling by boat but the safest bet is the book.
Thank you all for the insight!



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Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Kimber] #34187
01/16/2015 09:40 AM
01/16/2015 09:40 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
Ernst Offline
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Ernst  Offline
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Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
Quote
...

Entering the US he, or anybody, would use their regular passport which is fine since the US doesn't stamp your PP when you get back home.


That is news to me. My passport always gets stamped when I get back home.

Your's isn't?

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Ernst] #34188
01/16/2015 10:05 AM
01/16/2015 10:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
tradewinds Offline
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An island state of mind
They stamp our Customs form, but not our passports. You have U.S. entry stamps in your passport?

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Ernst] #34189
01/16/2015 10:28 AM
01/16/2015 10:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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K
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
Quote
Ernst said:
Quote
...

Entering the US he, or anybody, would use their regular passport which is fine since the US doesn't stamp your PP when you get back home.


That is news to me. My passport always gets stamped when I get back home.

Your's isn't?


Nope, as a US citizen returning to the US literally hundreds of times, I've never had a stamp put in it by an official of the USA.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: tradewinds] #34190
01/16/2015 11:20 AM
01/16/2015 11:20 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
Ernst Offline
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Ernst  Offline
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Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
yes, tons!

EDIT: Sorry, that was in response to tradewinds post. Yes, I do have tons of US stamps in my US passport.

Last edited by Ernst; 01/16/2015 11:44 AM.
Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: tradewinds] #34191
01/16/2015 11:29 AM
01/16/2015 11:29 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,585
Eric_Hill Offline

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We have had quite a few over the years also. Last trip thru Miami with the kiosk no.


Eric Hill
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Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: Kimber] #34192
01/16/2015 11:42 AM
01/16/2015 11:42 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
Ernst Offline
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Ernst  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 237
Baltimore, MD
Quote
Kimber said:
Quote
Ernst said:
Quote
...

Entering the US he, or anybody, would use their regular passport which is fine since the US doesn't stamp your PP when you get back home.


That is news to me. My passport always gets stamped when I get back home.

Your's isn't?


Nope, as a US citizen returning to the US literally hundreds of times, I've never had a stamp put in it by an official of the USA.


That is weird. They always put a stamp in mine. Hm, now that I think of it, I _think_ it is always, maybe I don't notice it if they don't?

Some googling showed a discussion on Flyertalk on this topic: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/usa/1117812-passport-stamps-when-entering-us.html

Looks like this is done inconsistently, some IBP officers stamp, others don't. And some of the people on that forum are disappointed if they don't get a stamp, they want it as souvenir or for tax reasons or whatever. As for me, I don't want stamps; if anything it mildly irks me since the passport fills up. I thought it was bothersome but that's the way it was.

Next time I will ask the officer what is going on.

Re: Passport Cards vs Passport Book [Re: oilwench] #34193
01/16/2015 01:08 PM
01/16/2015 01:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,303
Middlebury, VT USA
Frank Offline
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Frank  Offline
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Posts: 2,303
Middlebury, VT USA
Quote
Passpost card is valid when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry. Not valid for international travel by air.


This is important in that you could drive into Mexico, for example, but need to fly out for an emergency, and your card won't cut it. I have both book and card, but I see the card as a domestic travel backup to my driver's license.


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