Passport Question

jimby82 · Mar 28, 2011

For those of you who travel into and out of Canada: US passports are available in two formats, a book and a card. Which format would you suggest us getting? Or do you have/need both?

There is a fairly significant difference in the cost of the book ($110) vs. the cost of the card ($30), but I did not know if simply having the card alone would suffice.

Thanks in advance.

OntarioVanMan · Mar 28, 2011

The CARD only allows travel between the US and Canada..it is like a reduced option...the FULL passport takes you anywhere in the world.....and IF your state offers an enhanced drivers license , they will accept that as well..

jimby82 · Mar 28, 2011

Thanks for the info. For what we are wanting to do, our carrier of choice requires a passport, as well as a CDL with the HazMat endorsement. For the moment, have no plans of traveling elsewhere, although, we have always wanted to visit Ireland and Scotland.

Is it possible to get the card now and "upgrade" to the book later? Looking at the passport website, http://travel.state.gov/passport/ this appears possible. Just wondering if anyone had first gotten their card then their book.

Things were much simpler in the "old days".

OntarioVanMan · Mar 28, 2011

jimby82 said:
Thanks for the info. For what we are wanting to do, our carrier of choice requires a passport, as well as a CDL with the HazMat endorsement. For the moment, have no plans of traveling elsewhere, although, we have always wanted to visit Ireland and Scotland.

Is it possible to get the card now and "upgrade" to the book later? Looking at the passport website, http://travel.state.gov/passport/ this appears possible. Just wondering if anyone had first gotten their card then their book.

Things were much simpler in the "old days".

I suppose an upgrade is possible...my wife is applying for her renewal right now...going for the FULL passport..as she still is waiting for me to take her to the beaches of the Carribean...

Moot · Mar 28, 2011

jimby82 said:
For what we are wanting to do, our carrier of choice requires a passport, as well as a CDL with the HazMat endorsement.

I went with the standard passport book. I don't recall having the option to get a passport card at the time. The card would be more convenient to carry and easier to use.

Don't forget the F.A.S.T. card! Despite the "F" standing for free, this little card is definitely not free!

OntarioVanMan · Mar 28, 2011

Moot said:
I went with the standard passport book. I don't recall having the option to get a passport card at the time. The card would be more convenient to carry and easier to use.

Don't forget the F.A.S.T. card! Despite the "F" standing for free, this little card is definitely not free!

Keep in mind..as it says on the card...NOT to be used for ID purposes....but somehow that is overlooked at times with the person in charge...

Hey hoser...Turtle didn't get his passport....said his numbers show no drop in income...

Brisco · Mar 28, 2011

I say just go ahead and get both........

There's not that much difference in cost between $30 and $110, or $110 and $140. You'll be set for any traveling coming up for the next 10 years with just a small $140 investment.

I have both, Card and Book Passport. Just knowing that I am set for the next 10 years was the best $100&something I invested for future travels.

Moot · Mar 28, 2011

OntarioVanMan said:
I suppose an upgrade is possible...my wife is applying for her renewal right now...going for the FULL passport..as she still is waiting for me to take her to the beaches of the Carribean...

I believe the card works for the Caribbean and Mexico, as well as Canada.

My carrier apparently would not accept my passport number as proof that I have a passport. They wanted me to fax copies of my passport as proof. I declined and was never offered another Canadian load. Since then my F.A.S.T. expired. Occasionally I consider getting "re-certified" for Canada, but that thought usually passes about as fast as onion rings fried in Olestra. I do miss running Winnipeg, but not Ontario. I made some good money doing the Winnipeg thing.

OntarioVanMan said:
Hey hoser...Turtle didn't get his passport....said his numbers show no drop in income...

OntarioVanMan · Mar 28, 2011

Moot said:
I believe the card works for the Caribbean and Mexico, as well as Canada.

My carrier apparently would not accept my passport number as proof that I have a passport. They wanted me to fax copies of my passport as proof. I declined and was never offered another Canadian load. Since then my F.A.S.T. expired. Occasionally I consider getting "re-certified" for Canada, but that thought usually passes about as fast as onion rings fried in Olestra. I do miss running Winnipeg, but not Ontario. I made some good money doing the Winnipeg thing.

I wish we did out west..I've inquired but we don't get much at all going to Winterpeg or Edmonton...

LDB · Mar 28, 2011

There was no card option when I got mine. I will probably get the card next time so it's always in my wallet and handy. I am less and less inclined to want to travel anywhere I'd need more than that.

Monty · Mar 28, 2011

OntarioVanMan said:
I suppose an upgrade is possible...my wife is applying for her renewal right now...going for the FULL passport..as she still is waiting for me to take her to the beaches of the Carribean...

Make sure ya go to Aruba!

We go every Janurary ... love that place!

jimlookup · Mar 28, 2011

Does Canada Have a Green Card? May have to go up there to work some day and I don't want to swim across a river. Canada has made the fasted recovery from the recent economic disaster.

OntarioVanMan · Mar 28, 2011

jimlookup said:
Does Canada Have a Green Card? May have to go up there to work some day and I don't want to swim across a river. Canada has made the fasted recovery from the recent economic disaster.

Yes they do....

nightcreacher · Apr 5, 2011

the card is good for land and sea,not good by air travel

jimby82 · Apr 5, 2011

Was told by the FedEx recruiter at the MATS that the card was fine by itself. Off to apply for the card today.

Thanks everyone.

greg334 · Apr 5, 2011

And you trust a recruiter?

Call the ICE people and ask them.

jimby82 · Apr 5, 2011

Greg,
Our being too trusting will probably be our downfall, but in this case, I do.

Brisco · Apr 5, 2011

jimby82 said:
Was told by the FedEx recruiter at the MATS that the card was fine by itself. Off to apply for the card today.

Thanks everyone.

They are probably correct since the only place they'll be sending you is in and out of Canada.

But, what if you and the wifey want to take a 3 week tour through Italy here in the next 2-3 years? (I'm sure the recruiter also told you that you could afford dream vacations every 6 months working for them, right?

) What're ya gonna do then? Go back to the Post Office, fill out paperwork again, pay another fee, wait another 3-4 weeks, etc, for the book passport.

Today you're standing there in line at the PO filling out the paperwork thinking $30-$100 - - $30-$100??? Common sense...spend the $100 and just get it over with to be set for the next 10 years. Know what I mean.

jimby82 · Apr 5, 2011

Brisco said:
They are probably correct since the only place they'll be sending you is in and out of Canada.

But, what if you and the wifey want to take a 3 week tour through Italy here in the next 2-3 years? (I'm sure the recruiter also told you that you could afford dream vacations every 6 months working for them, right?) What're ya gonna do then? Go back to the Post Office, fill out paperwork again, pay another fee, wait another 3-4 weeks, etc, for the book passport.

Today you're standing there in line at the PO filling out the paperwork thinking $30-$100 - - $30-$100??? Common sense...spend the $100 and just get it over with to be set for the next 10 years. Know what I mean.

For both of us, it becomes $60 vs. $220, but I know what you mean. Not sure I want to pay for something I'll probably never use. I mean, isn't everyday a vacation to an expediter anyway?

scottm4211 · Apr 5, 2011

Why wouldn't you get a FAST card $50 for 5 yrs? You're treated better at border crossings (generally less grilling from agents), and you can do FAST loads.