US passport questions (misc.)
 

Hi, I have a few questions. I have both a passport card and book that expire in 2022. I carry my passport card as my primary ID instead of my DL.

1. Since I use my passport card as everyday ID, do I have to return it by mail when I renew, or can I keep it? Can I also keep the passport book when I renew, or just say I lost it, and not have to appear personally to renew?

2. Should I renew both the book and card at the same time? Is there any savings (you have to purchase less photos and less stamps)?

3. How soon can I renew? How late can I renew? Can I renew now, 5 years early, just to get it out of the way, with a new expiration date of 2032??

4. Can I request a replacement RFID shielding envelope for my passport card if it is worn out?

Thanks!

1. Normally when you renew, you can get the old passport book back, either automatically or at your request, although it's often sent to you separately from the new passport. It's punched to signify that it's no longer valid. I don't know how passport cards are handled in this respect.

2. To me, it would seem to be much less hassle to renew both at the same time. Again, I don't know the rules on this as I've never tried to renew them separately. I think the fees are less when everything is done at once, especially if you need expedited service.

3. You can renew the passport book pretty much whenever it makes sense for you. Some people need new passports extremely early because they run out of space for visas and entrance/exit stamps very quickly. USA will no longer insert additional pages into an existing passport, but when you apply or renew, you can request one with more pages. If you travel a lot, you might need to strategize when you can best be without a passport for a while, although expedited service or using a passport agency (not a passport service, as that means paying more for slower service and more hassles) helps here. It also makes sense to try to renew your passport during "low season" for passport services as it could be extremely inconvenient to submit your renewal by mail and then learn that it will be several months before you will receive the new passport. The main reason not to renew too early is the fees.

You can renew rather than applying for a brand new passport if the old one expired not too many years ago. However, most of us would never want to be without a valid passport for very long.

4. No idea. Perhaps travel stores sell them? I'm not sure whether I received one with my passport card or not, but I'm not using one now, although I do have and use the special envelope for my GE card.

Thanks so much MSPeconomist! Very thorough answers.

If I renew my passport now, 5 years early, will it expire in 2027 or 2032?

Also, I need my passport card to have everyday for ID, so don't want to return it. Can I just return the passport book and request they also send my a passport card, while keeping the old card?

2027 for most all US adults' ordinary passport renewal applications submitted in 2017.

Thanks GUWonder!

MSP Economist covered most of it, but I wanted to say that this (saying you lost it) is not a good idea.

If you declare that your old passport book is lost, when you want to renew your passport book you WILL have to come in person to a passport agency or passport acceptance facility and basically have to apply for a passport as if you are a first-time applicant, including bringing in proof of identity and proof of US citizenship.

(You will also have to fill out the DS-64 form declaring how you lost your passport, which asks for details on when and how it happened.)

The whole reason you don't need to come in in person when renewing a passport book is that you send the old book in, so they can compare the photos and information in the old book with your new form and new photos and be sure it's the same person. If your book is lost, of course you have to come in in person to verify your identity.

Thanks andrewesque!

Can I send the book back when I renew, but at least keep the passport card to use as ID??

You should look at the FAQ on the State Department's passport website. All of your questions are answered. When you apply for or renew a passport book & card at the same time, it is cheaper than doing them separately.

Why not use your DL or other ID for a bit and send the two passport docs in together?

Thanks Often1. I cannot use my DL for ID (see below).

I did read the FAQ, but they did not answer two of my questions. One was already answered here (about when the expiration date is if you renew early) and the other is do you have to return your passport card when renewing?

Also, my state DL is not good for boarding airplanes or entering federal buildings. It won't be until 2020 or later when I renew it and get a Real ID. My state is not Real ID compliant. So I need to keep my passport card for ID.

Are you sure that your state doesn't have an exception on the real ID requirement for licenses for another year or so? I'm not sure about federal buildings, but it should still work for domestic flights.

Thanks for your help! They have not been granted an exception for federal buildings AFAIK, only for planes. My state is Maine. Pus, I don't renew my DL untlil 2020 and they extension granted won't last until then. So I will have a few years with no Real ID-compliant ID.

HUH? Your passport and passport card are real ID.

Besides, aren't there some periods soon when you won't need to enter a federal building and can renew your passport and passport card together?

True. I can just plan it out I guess. I meant my DL is not Real ID compliant, as I come from a renegade state (Maine). Maine will let you choose to have a Real ID or non-Real ID-compliant when you renew. Same as Nevada.

I suspect that they'll also allow you to renew early to get a real ID compliant driver's license.

Thanks MSPeconomist! The only problem is then I will lose money, since I will be paying for renewal years when my DL has not expired yet. Unless they add on those years to the renewal.

It's not about the money, but about the principle of the matter. Why should I renew when my DL has not expired yet? The feds need to grant a 6-year extension to Real ID for Maine from the date Maine implements the program, so everyone who renews just before that date with a non-Real ID doesn't have to re-renew before their DL expires. Then they can wait the full 6 years. Or Maine needs to give the new Real ID DL away for free the first time for those people.

It's bad enough I already showed the BMV my passport and gave proof of address and my SSN last time. But because they didn't keep copies or implement facial recognition technology for Real ID, now I have to give those same documents AGAIN! And you are allowed to renew by mail online every other DL renewal. This was supposed to be my time to do that, so I wouldn't have to make a physical trip in. But now, for Real ID, they require you to come in in person. So now I lose that benefit. Thanks Maine.

You may want to go ahead and get your passport/passport card renewals done now - the current REAL ID waiver (issued in June) is good through October 10 (including federal buildings, etc). Should hopefully be plenty of time for your renewals to be processed, barring any major surprises.

http://www.maine.gov/sos/news/2017/realid61517.html

If this is all about REAL ID, my understanding is that the requirement is that the ID be issued by a state compliant with REAL ID (or with an extension)—not that the ID itself be REAL ID-compliant. I.e., if Maine has an extension (and it did back in August, and the extension was just renewed, to expire October 10, 2018), your Maine DL will get you onto planes and into federal buildings, regardless of whether it has a gold star or not.

As that page says, "The waiver, granted Oct. 18, is valid through Oct. 10, 2018. During this period, Maine driver’s licenses and IDs will be accepted as valid identification for federal purposes, such as entrance to federal facilities and boarding commercial aircraft." And https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/maine agrees: "Maine has an extension for REAL ID enforcement, allowing Federal agencies to accept driver's licenses and identification cards from Maine at Federal facilities, nuclear power plants and federally regulated commercial aircraft until October 10, 2018."

So renew your US passport and passport card when it's convenient for you, and use your Maine DL if you don't have your passport card.

I thought I would use this thread for a general question...

I am down to 2 pages left for visa stamps. I move around a pretty decent amount, and I am at the point of trying to get immigration officers to stamp in "efficient" locations to maximize spaces on the pages ... but you know how that can go sometimes.

I will be back in the USA for 4 weeks over the holidays but I would love to squeeze a bit more out of my passport book versus sending it in to get a new one if I can help it. It doesn't expire until 2020 so time wise I have plenty of time.

My question is ... has anyone had luck traveling internationally and getting immigration officers at countries to stamp in random, tight spots on pages until the passport is literally so jam packed it would HAVE to be renewed?

This is my first passport I am maxing out so maybe I am naive and what I describe above is part and parcel for grizzled travelers, but I am asking because I'd love to not have to deal with renewing it quite yet and just keep finding open space on random pages assuming this isn't some sort of taboo thing for some weird reason?

EDIT - part of why I ask is because I occasionally hear the typical fine print line of "must have at least 2 open visa pages" for acceptance into a country, blah blah. I have no clue if that is just a line they say but do not really enforce, or if it actually is a big deal. It's part of why I am trying to keep my last 2 blank pages open.

I of course have 2-3 pages open additionally of endorsement pages, but as far as I know those aren't supposed to be used for visa stamps. However, I am sure if it's all you have, then it will get stamped right? Versus denying you? :D

thanks for the chuckle.

Ignoring the minimum requirement of two blank pages will work until it doesn't. Doesn't get more simple than that. The immigration officer of the country you are trying to enter makes the determination if there is room or not.
So you should definitely get it renewed when you have the opportunity. I had to get my passport renewed 3 years early last spring for the same reason.

Haha, thanks. If I plan on being lazy, then I need to ENSURE they do not encroach into my holy 2 free pages now. :)