New passport card About This Page:

[korki-rad]

I just heard a story on my local news about the new passport cards. If you read my previous post, you know that, because my state (Nebraska) is protesting the Real ID program, our driver's licenses will not be accepted as ID at any airport after May 1. (We will have to get passports.) Does anyone know if the new passport *cards* can be accepted at airports for travel within the US? I know the rules say they can't be used for air travel OUTSIDE the US...but this would be significantly cheaper for us than having to get passports for our trip in May.

Also, it says that they'll be delivered in "the spring." Do you think it would be too risky to hope they'd be in our hands by May 1?

Here's the info I found on the passport cards:
U.S. PASSPORT CARD

[janiejane]

The state department website says the cards can't be used for air travel - it doesn't specify whether it's for in or out of US travel. I'm in the same boat - my trip is in May, and I need to get a passport as the Driver's Licenses from Arizona won't work for air travel either. According to the website, the wait for passports is only 4-6 weeks. Hope this helps!

[OffKilter_Lynn]

From everything I've read, passport cards can be used for identification for domestic flights. The passport card can be used as government-issued proof of identity and proof of citizenship. So, if you do not have a driver's license (or it wouldn't be accept in some states) and need identification for passing through security for domestic travel, you can use the passport card for proof of identity instead of presenting your driver's license.

That being said, I'm very leary of the projected timeline for delivery. Being a new program, many things could go wrong - production problems, processing backlogs (ie: remember how long it took for passports last year?!). Then where would you be if the card didn't arrive in time?

Not an easy decision!

[SarahJ]

Now I'm confused and this is a pretty important issue for me since I also live in a state that is disputing the Real ID program. And my state is a border state.

Lynn, you say that the card can be used for air travel in the US. However the state department's website says it cannot and that it is only to help facilitate Land and Sea Border crossings.

Quote from the State Dept:
"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."

So that means that I will still need a traditional passport to travel by air within the US if my state doesn't come to a resolution on the Real ID issue. DH and I have passports, so that part is fine. But, what about my kids. Do I need passports for my three kids to fly within the US now?

[themeparksdiva]

The official government website specifically states that they cannot be used for any air travel:

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

"When available it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda."

If push comes to shove, the airline employees will go by the official rules.

[SarahJ]

Originally Posted by themeparksdiva

The official government website specifically states that they cannot be used for any air travel:

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

"When available it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda."

If push comes to shove, the airline employees will go by the official rules.

Thank you for the confirmation!

Now, I have three daughters ages 5, 2 and 7 months. Will I need passports to fly within the US with them or are children still exempt from needing ID at the airports?

[korki-rad]

Does anyone know if there's a phone number to call the government and ask questions about passports? It *seems* to me that the statement about using them for air travel is intended for those people who need a passport for the traditional reason -- they are traveling outside the United States. BUT for those of us stuck in a state with the Real ID issue who just want to fly to a destination WITHIN the US (and are basically being treated as foreigners within our own country), I would *think* the passport card would solve the problem, since all we need is an ID.

Anyway -- I need to get the passport thing started in the next week and think I would just like to talk to someone from the passport office that can give me a definite answer. Anyone know who/where I would call????

[DeBestWife]

If you read my previous post, you know that, because my state (Nebraska) is protesting the Real ID program, our driver's licenses will not be accepted as ID at any airport after May 1. (We will have to get passports.)

Other than your local news...have you seen anything online that gives the May 1 deadline on the Real ID? I did an extensive internet search... ...and only came up with the information on the government funding bill that passed the House and Senate...but has yet to be signed by the President. I also live in a state that is not wanting to do Real ID's... ...but what I found in my internet search was that it was all money related...and that is why they are doing this funding at the Federal level. Thanks for any help you can give me on this...it is a Real Mess if you ask me.

[korki-rad]

Originally Posted by DeBestWife

Other than your local news...have you seen anything online that gives the May 1 deadline on the Real ID? I did an extensive internet search... ...and only came up with the information on the government funding bill that passed the House and Senate...but has yet to be signed by the President. I also live in a state that is not wanting to do Real ID's... ...but what I found in my internet search was that it was all money related...and that is why they are doing this funding at the Federal level. Thanks for any help you can give me on this...it is a Real Mess if you ask me.

I saw it on the local news and on the Today show on the same day, but haven't seen (but haven't looked) for verification of the May 1 date online...did look up the specifics on what the Real ID was, but that was it. Our local news said that there's a possibility they'll reach an agreement by May 1, but if they don't, you'll either need a passport or subject yourself to an "extensive" search and screening process. Since we are leaving Nebraska on May 1 with two small children (5 and 1), we feel that we have to get passports, an added $200 we hadn't budgeted. (Which is why I perked up when I heard about the passport cards.) Not knowing what an "extensive" search and screening might entail, especially when traveling with little kids, we don't want to risk that, either. I've heard that passports are taking an extra long time right now, so I want to apply for them by Feb. 1, which, coincidently, is the same day you can begin to apply for the passport cards.

I'll look around a bit and see if I can find more info and will post here.

[blondie]

Our state is going to begin issuing RealID's this summer, but as I undertand it, the card will only be good for land/sea crossings between the US and Canada. So, if the deadline is May, why are we waiting until summer to start issuing them? I don't know how kids figure into the mix, but we got passports for our kids about 4 years ago, so we just take our passports with us whenever we fly or go across the border. It is just easier. You'll need a passport anyway to go just about anywhere sometime in the near future, so why not get them now? It sure will help when you find a last minute bargain trip to Jamaica or something (wouldn't that be nice?).

[SarahJ]

Originally Posted by blondie

I don't know how kids figure into the mix, but we got passports for our kids about 4 years ago, so we just take our passports with us whenever we fly or go across the border. It is just easier. You'll need a passport anyway to go just about anywhere sometime in the near future, so why not get them now? It sure will help when you find a last minute bargain trip to Jamaica or something (wouldn't that be nice?).

Our eldest does have a passport but it needs to be renewed and I do plan on getting passports for my other two girls. I just want to know if they will be required to have passports for domestic travel so that I know if I can space out getting their passports so I don't have to pay for all of them at once. You're right though, having passports for them will facilitate last minute planning.

[DeBestWife]

I will give you a run down on what I did find. In 2005 this article was written... FAQ: How Real ID will affect you | CNET News.com ...it did say that a deadline would be in 2008. Jump forward to January 2008...and I found this at the Homeland Security Website... DHS: DHS Releases REAL ID Regulation ...it states that the first deadline for the Real ID is December 31, 2009 with carry over dates going out to December 1, 2017. I think that it may be possible that the original May 2008 date was unrealistic...and that the new dates above along with funding from the Federal Government have solved those problems. I would love for someone to show me that I am right or wrong though...cause this is driving me crazy!

[korki-rad]

I'm still trying to find the story, but if I remember correctly from the story they ran here, even though you don't have to actually HAVE a Real ID by May, your state has to have agreed to participate in the program or they won't let you use your driver's license. It seems a little like a strong arm tactic on the part of the government...make it a hassle for the residents of those states so they insist the states comply.

To be honest, I don't care one way or the other about the politics of the Real ID program -- I just want to be able to get on the plane!!!

And while I would love to have us all have passports (I'm all about the idea of darting off to Paris at a moment's notice), it's just a big expense that we hadn't budgeted and has thrown a kink in our plans. Money is really tight for us -- we even considered canceling our vacation at one point, but decided not to -- so the extra $200 is a real bummer for us.

[korki-rad]

OK, so here's what I've dug up.

I've found a variety of "deadline" dates -- May 1, May 8 and May 11 come up most often for me. (All of these are a problem for us, since our vacation is May 3-11.)

So, I just decided to e-mail the local station where I saw the story in the first place and asked them to consider doing a news story on specifically what was going to happen to travelers in May and included several of the questions I have. They were REALLY quick to get back to me (about 5 minutes later) -- I just got their e-mail and here's what it said:

We do not have answers to all your questions but it appears highly likely the state will get a one year extension on the deadline so the real problem doesn't come up until May of 2009.

We have heard -- not confirmed -- but have heard that people getting passports have discovered the big backlog is gone.

So maybe the feds will lighten up and let me go to Disney after all!

[SarahJ]

I've looked at a number of sources on this and what I don't get is how can they enforce the May dates for the Real ID cards if even the states who are agreeing to comply haven't started issuing the cards? I get the impression that the May dates are a scare tactic to try to get the non-complying states to come around.

I would really like more information on how they're going to implement this and how they plan to deal with the residents of non-complying states. I personally wish the government would just require everyone travelling by air to have a passport, even for domestic travel. And I wish they would pour the money into making passports more affordable and the turn-around time quicker. It seems ridiculous to have all these other options, all of which have limitations on where and when you can use it. They're making it more complicated than it needs to be.