PASSPORT BOOKS
As of summer 2007, all new U.S. passports carry a tiny RFID chip embedded in the front cover. Each chip contains the identical personal information found on the passport’s picture page, including a digital image of your photograph.
Why? The RFID chip is designed to help detect counterfeiting, deter terrorism and speed up customs, according to the federal Bureau of Consular Affairs.
How used: The passport’s RFID chip can be scanned by immigration officials using a close-range reader. Your RFID number and passport number will match up with data in Department of Homeland Security databases. Security features built into the card are intended to prevent random access to the RFID information. The passport’s cover also acts as a shield; when the booklet is closed, the chip typically can’t be read.
PASSPORT CARDS
What they are: A simpler, less expensive version of a regular passport, these wallet-size cards are designed for crossing borders – by land or sea – into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. They cannot be used when flying into one of those countries or for any other international travel.
When: Introduced in 2008, more than 7 million passport cards have been issued to U.S. citizens. They typically cost $30, compared with $110 for a regular U.S. passport.
How used: Like a regular passport, passport cards contain an embedded RFID chip. However, unlike a traditional passport, the card’s RFID contains only an identification number linked to a “secure database,” maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. To prevent skimming, the cards are issued with a protective sleeve.
Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State
©2014 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)
Distributed by MCT Information Services
