Is it true getting a USA passport card at a different time than your passport is better/safer?

3/9/2023 3:30:12 AM

Nope! In fact, it would be very difficult to manufacture passport books and cards to have related or identical numbers.

The passport book numbers are all pre-printed before your personal information is printed. Each issuing agency has tens of thousands of these blank booklets, where every personal-information field is blank except the passport number.

When they process your application for a book, they just take a random blank booklet off the pile and print your personal information on it. Then, they register your personal information in their computer system.

Hence, the only thing that relates the booklet number with your personal identity is with the computer system to which no one except the US government has access.

Same goes with your passport card. When they process your application, they just take a random card (assigned an arbitrary, unrelated number), and print your information on it.

Since these are arbitrary and random, the numbers will not be related.

2/3/2018 11:00:02 AM

I am not from the US but from a country (the Netherlands) where the citizens can get an ID card as well as a passport.

I have always applied at different dates, due to practical reasons, but would not want to apply for the two at the same time as for me the fact they have different expiry dates is very important.
When traveling within the region where the ID card is valid for border crossings, I am never without a valid document even when I fail to replace a document.
(Besides, due to the local laws, I should always carry on or the other when out of the house, having both I can take my passport when my ID card has to be renewed or is in the process of doing so.)

I think these points should work in the USA for the passport card (as long as the end date of validity is based on the date it is applied for and not on the date your passport expires) and the passport booklet.

2/2/2018 8:37:16 PM

It’s wrong.
They have completely different numbers, and are unrelated; the pattern is also different.

Note that the ‘overlap’ technique for usage works very limited only, as the passport card is not valid for entry into the US except on the land borders. So if you are flying, you need a passport, or a Global Entry card (and they typically ask for a passport there too, but it should work without one).

2/2/2018 5:58:21 PM

https://passportinfo.com/passport-card-questions/

I’m not certain this is a 100% reliable source, but it states that the numbering format is different for each product, so if true, your concerns wouldn’t be a problem.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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