Re: [84attendees] passport cards and such, was YVR Checkin Counter (fwd)

[Samuel Weiler <[e-mail]>]

On Tue, 14 Aug 2012, Warren Kumari wrote:

> What occurs to me is that having a passport card / GE card might also be 
> useful if you happen to lose your "real" passport in a foreign country. I 
> suspect that showing up at an embassy / consulate with the card might make 
> getting a replacement passport simpler / faster (but could be wrong, usually 
> am?)

Having never lost my passport, the rumor I hear is that replacing a US passport 
is pretty easy, though a bit expensive -- they have your old application and 
photo available online, and will just make things work.  I've even heard rumor 
that the US passport is among the easiest ID docs to get replaced, even easier 
than most states' drivers licenses.

However, there might be an advantage when renewing your passport -- 
the renewal application asks you to enclose your most recent passport. 
If that happens to be the card, presumably you can keep using the book 
for travel while the renewal is being processed.

-- Sam