Is Passport Card Necessary ? Is it Safe ?

H

honeybee1984

Registered Users (C)
Hi All, I only travel to Canada at least once a year, and to India every 3-4 years ... Should I get a passport card ? I plan on applying for passport definitely
Also, I read somewhere in this forum about RFID in passport card and danger of identity being stolen. (ISN't RFID in passport as well ? )


Please clarify
 
JerryR said:
If you only need it occasionally, I would say only get the passport. I can't see what use the card is, other than being smaller.

They both have RFIDs. Safe? Who knows, but take a look at this:

http://gizmodo.com/5144548/scary-video-rfid-passports-secretly-copied-on-a-lovely-sunday-drive
Click to expand...

There have been a few discussion threads about the passport card in this forum. The card is an additional proof of citizenship (even after it expires), so having it could be beneficial if one loses the Naturalization Certificate. To my knowledge, the RFID chip works at a distance with the card, but only when read at close proximity with the passport book. That is the reason why the card comes with a protective sleeve. Apparently, the chip only contains an identifier number, but no personal data, but I am not sure that this has been independently confirmed.
 
I guess you could make a wallet out of aluminum foil:

http://www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/RFIDWallet.php


The card/passport may only contain a number, but I think of all the new stories of government databases being left on disks and laptops at coffee shops, and it's not hard to see how this poses a problem for individuals, to have their personal info in effect "broadcasting".
 
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