Starting tomorrow, U.S. citizens can fill out an application for a passport card which will “facilitate entry and expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda,” according to the U.S. Department of State’s website.
The card basically carries the same rights and privileges that the standard passport book offers, but it may not be used for air travel. It also houses the ever popular RFID chip which will “link the card to a stored record in secure government databases.” No personal data will be stored in the chip, however.
Cards are expected to ship in Spring 2008, and cost $45 for new applicants.