don't want to mail in passport book for passport card

[rukkles]

i tried filling in an online form to get a passport card. it asks if i have a passport book and says that if i do, i will have to submit it as a document. when i look at the hard copy of a ds-11 (cant remember the exact form number) it says that a naturalization cert will do.

does anyone know if we actually have to submit our passport book when ordering a passport card?

 

[natur08]

i tried filling in an online form to get a passport card. it asks if i have a passport book and says that if i do, i will have to submit it as a document. when i look at the hard copy of a ds-11 (cant remember the exact form number) it says that a naturalization cert will do.

does anyone know if we actually have to submit our passport book when ordering a passport card?

You can use Form DS-82 to do that and include your passport book, which allows you to submit the application by mail rather than in person at an acceptance center. This way is cheaper, too, since it only costs $20 (plus postage obviously).

If you want to hold on to the passport book (for example if you need it to travel while the passport card application is pending), you can use form DS-11, but then you have to submit the Naturalization Certificate as well, similarly to when you applied for the passport book.

I just sent in my paperwork using DS-82 to get my passport card, obviously certified/return receipt, since I do not want to incur the risk of sending in the Naturalization Certificate again. When I called the Passport Information Center at 1–877–487–2778, the lady told me to include a note specifying that I want the passport book back. This seems redundant, but it might not hurt as an additional precaution, although I doubt that they will assume you want to surrender the passport book.

 

[thrix]

My sister went to USPS to apply for passport card using cert, because she needed passport. They sent a letter to sent passport anyway!

 

[natur08]

My sister went to USPS to apply for passport card using cert, because she needed passport. They sent a letter to sent passport anyway!

That's interesting, since using form DS-11 and not sending in the passport book is explicitly mentioned as a valid approach:

If the applicant chooses to apply using a DS-11, he/she must submit a completed Form DS-11 "Application for a U.S. Passport", 2 photos, evidence of citizenship, the application fee for the passport card and the execution fee. These applicants must apply in person at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility. This may be preferable to the applicant if he/she has frequent international travel requiring the use of the passport book.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3921.html

 

[Huracan]

I think that's what thrix meant, that if you don't want to send the passport book then you have to go to the post office with a DS-11 and submit your naturalization certificate.

 

[natur08]

I think that's what thrix meant, that if you don't want to send the passport book then you have to go to the post office with a DS-11 and submit your naturalization certificate.

Yes, but then thrix said:

They sent a letter to sent passport anyway!

Maybe thrix could clarify?

 

[Huracan]

My bad How didn't I read the second sentence?

Anyway, I guess the passport office knows that they issued you a passport so they might be curious to know if the passport has been lost or destroyed and that's the reason you are not using it to renew the passport. Anyway, for whatever is worth I sent my passports to apply for passport cards and I used the renew by mail option. I didn't have any issues.

 

[LolaLi]

My bad How didn't I read the second sentence?

Anyway, I guess the passport office knows that they issued you a passport so they might be curious to know if the passport has been lost or destroyed and that's the reason you are not using it to renew the passport. Anyway, for whatever is worth I sent my passports to apply for passport cards and I used the renew by mail option. I didn't have any issues.

That information is on the application. You have to provide the passport number, date of issue, and status (in possession, lost, etc.) So, I think there is more to this story.

We applied for a passport card for my child last August and she already has a US passport. As a minor we had to do a DS-11 at the post office and only her birth certificate sufficed.

According to the application - your US passport is proof of your citizenship and there is no need to provide the certificate. And I would go down that route as you really don't want to lose or misplace a certificate. A passport is so much easier to replace - and cheaper too.