Can I get a passport card?

Can I get into canada with just a passport card?

• I'm a Massacheusetts resident and due to a suddent change of plans, my trip to canada has been bumped up several months so I had a few questions about getting my passport. 1) as my question says, do I need a passport book? or will the card be enough? I'm traveling by train which I would assume falls under traveling by land. 2) can I get it online? and if so what is the best site to get them from? 3) what are teh typical costs? and assuming you can get it online, is that cheaper than going to my local government office and applying there? 4) the typical time for receiving a passport claims 6 weeks or less. My trip is 5 weeks from now (again I know that's cutting it close but up until the other day we were planning this trip in the summer) so should I just bite the bullet and get teh expideted service or should regular shipping time be fine?

• Answer:

  1. The passport card will enable you to return to the United States on land/sea travel from Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands of the Caribbean. The passport book can be used for all type of travel; it is mandatory for international air travel regardless of the destination. So whenever you plan to take a flight to Canada or to other destinations within the next ten years you should better get the book instead of the card. 2. Presuming you did not had a passport before: no, you can't get it online. The first time application of a U.S. passport requires a sworn statement by the applicant that s/he holds U.S. citizenship. This statement must be made before a passport clerk in a passport acceptance facility who is authorized by the State Department to administer an oath. 3. The first time passport book application in person requires a fee of $110 to be paid to the State Department ad a fee of $25 for administering the oath to be paid to the acceptance facility. The passport card is $30 + $25. Both fees are to be paid for regular service (4-6 weeks). Passport books can be returned by overnight delivery service which will involve an extra fee of $14.96; passport cards can be returned by fist class mail only. 4. If you apply for a book you could make it by adding the overnight delivery service, we don't have a period of high demands at present. For a passport card application you really cut it close and should think about getting the expedited service (2-3 weeks) which costs additional $60. http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html .. 5. (based on your details added) The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) which requires passports instead of the previously citizenship declaration is a U.S: law established based upon 9/11. Canadian entry requirements have not changed based on the WHTI. Quote: "If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification." http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-securite/admiss-eng.html .. I know of people who have driven to Canada by land (train/car) on their Birth Certificates and Driver's Licenses and have had someone of their family send them their applied passports by mail as soon as they have arrived in order to return back to the United States..