Is it true getting a USA passport card at a different time than your passport is better/safer?
American citizens can apply for a passport card at the same time they apply for a passport book. There’s even a small discount when you do so.
I’ve heard, however, it’s better to apply for them separately because if you apply at the same time, both the book and the card will have the same number and if you lose one of them, the other becomes invalid when you report the loss. For example, this comment in this article below:
One important trick... do not get your card at the same time as the passport book. If you do that they will both have the same number and if one is lost or stolen, the other immediately becomes invalid. If you get the card separately it will have its own distinct number and will remain valid even if your passport book is stolen. Comment on thread in Elliot.org
Is this really the case? This seems really another reason not to get the card — or at least not to get the card at the same time.
Best Answer
https://passportinfo.com/passport-card-questions/
I'm not certain this is a 100% reliable source, but it states that the numbering format is different for each product, so if true, your concerns wouldn't be a problem.
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Is passport card better than passport?
The passport card was designed for the specific needs of northern and southern U.S. border communities with residents that cross the border frequently by land. The passport book is the only document approved for international air travel.Is a passport card worth getting?
In a nutshell, getting a passport card is worth it if you're traveling to certain countries or looking for an alternative ID option\u2014under the right conditions. You won't often see a passport card \u201cin the wild\u201d with its shimmering red, white, and blue colors.Are passport cards the same as passports?
The most important difference between U.S. passport books and passport cards is that passport cards are not valid for international air travel; they're only acceptable for land and sea border crossings between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.What is a passport card and when can you use it instead of a passport?
The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is the methods of travel that are eligible. While passport books can be used for all entry methods into an international country \u2014 whether air, land or sea \u2014 passport cards are limited to travel through land and sea borders only.Do You Need a Passport Card? | Determining Whether it’s Worth the Cost
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Answer 2
I am not from the US but from a country (the Netherlands) where the citizens can get an ID card as well as a passport.
I have always applied at different dates, due to practical reasons, but would not want to apply for the two at the same time as for me the fact they have different expiry dates is very important.
When traveling within the region where the ID card is valid for border crossings, I am never without a valid document even when I fail to replace a document.
(Besides, due to the local laws, I should always carry on or the other when out of the house, having both I can take my passport when my ID card has to be renewed or is in the process of doing so.)
I think these points should work in the USA for the passport card (as long as the end date of validity is based on the date it is applied for and not on the date your passport expires) and the passport booklet.
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