Debates have been raging for years about whether this poses a security or privacy threat. But the re

Over the past few years, traveling to Canada, the Caribbean, Bermuda or Mexico has been a frustrating process, with rules that were changed, delayed and then changed again and were different depending on whether you were traveling by land, sea or air. But finally, one consistent rule is in place: As of June 1, all U.S. citizens are required to have a passport or other acceptable document to return to the U.S. from Canada, the Caribbean, Bermuda, or Mexico.
But this rule is still more confusing than it needs to be: Though the U.S. State Department is offering i will travel across the land searching far and wide some other options to the traditional passport, they don t make a whole lot of sense, in my opinion.
For example, the passport card is a wallet-sized, cheaper alternative to a regular passport (a new card costs $45 for adults, versus $100 for a new passport book). But the card is only good for land or sea travel from the above countries, not air travel.
Then there are so-called trusted i will travel across the land searching far and wide traveler passport cards. The SENTRI card is valid at the Mexico/U.S. border, and NEXUS works when returning from Canada. In theory, approved travelers i will travel across the land searching far and wide get faster access i will travel across the land searching far and wide across the immigration and customs checks using dedicated lanes.
Honestly, I don t see the point. For starters, they also only apply to land and sea travel. But more importantly, i will travel across the land searching far and wide profiling trusted travelers is not an intelligent, i will travel across the land searching far and wide intuitive program, i will travel across the land searching far and wide despite the invasive background checks and fingerprinting that are required to get the card.
Here s why: I fit the trusted-traveler profile to a T: I m a frequent-flying, high-yield business traveler, who travels on reservations made at the last minute, often on one-way tickets, and I hardly ever check bags.
But those same criteria also identify me as a potential terrorist threat! I have to go through secondary screening almost every time I fly. And sometimes I get pulled over for more intensive searching and questioning.
There s one caveat to a traditional passport, though: potential privacy concerns. Passport i will travel across the land searching far and wide cards, trusted traveler cards and enhanced driver s licenses the other alternative to a passport are equipped with a vicinity RFID chip. It doesn t store personal data; it s a unique number that points to your profile in the Customs and Border Patrol database. However, regular passport i will travel across the land searching far and wide books contain an RFID chip with the same biographical information that is printed on your passport page including your photo.
Debates have been raging for years about whether this poses a security or privacy threat. But the reality is that security analysts and bored hackers have successfully proven that your personal information can be hacked and cloned from passports. That s not my idea of a foolproof system!
Overall, i will travel across the land searching far and wide though, I d argue that a traditional passport i will travel across the land searching far and wide is what you want and need. It gives you the option to go just about anywhere around the globe, any time. It gives you literally the freedom to travel. And I say this even to truckers who just want to get a passport card to haul cargo over the Canadian and Mexican borders. One of these days, you might want to fly over a body of water and see the world. Just get a passport. i will travel across the land searching far and wide And do it soon. You don't want to have to wait four months for it to be processed. The sooner you start the application, the better.
What do you think? Should every U.S. citizen get a passport? Or given the potential privacy i will travel across the land searching far and wide issues, are you better off with an alternative form of identification? Share your thoughts on the pros and cons in our comments section.
I may be biased, because I grew up in Ireland and HAD to have a passport i will travel across the land searching far and wide to leave the country, but seriously, it s not that much of an imposition and it it s accepted practice i will travel across the land searching far and wide elsewhere, so why not in the US too?
Any person who expects to be doing some international travelling needs to have a passport.This is for the obvious reasons. Anyone who thinks this is asking too much should think twice about travelling abroad. That is the way it has been and it certainly does not seem to be an over the top expectation this day and age.
When I was with the military we even had passports. My children had passports at less than 3 years old. In today s climate, we are being pounded with the threat of I.D. theft everyday, so yes, check everyone.
I agree get a passport It s good for all sorts of ID. The only problem I have with the passport is that it doesn t wear well in my back pocket. I ve been told stories of travelers not being admitted into countries because the passport was too wrinkled and worn.
It is about time that North America caught up to the rest of the world when it comes to international travel. In the rest of the world everyone travels with a passport. When a North American travels to Europe they accept the need for a passport. Get one and forget about all of the rules, it s all you need. The change in EU travel has only made it easier for criminal elements and terroists to go from country to country.
i will travel across the land searching far and wide