www.CostaRicaTicas.com

From the Clark Howard newsletter:

In mid-spring, the U.S. State Department plans to begin issuing a credit-card sized passport that can be used by U.S. citizens when crossing in and out of national borders by sea and land. Starting in early 2009, a new law will require all American citizens to present a passport when returning back into the country. The passport card costs just $45 or about half the cost of a regular passport. A passport card for Ch*ldren under 14 will cost $35.

Current passport holders can apply for the passport card for just $20. Additionally, passport card holders can apply for the full passport for a discount rate of $72. The passport card should prove popular with residents living along national borders with Canada and Mexico or who frequently pass custom checkpoints along international bridges. Cards will not be imbedded with loads of personal data, but instead will have a radio-frequency imbedded serial number linked to personal information already on file with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Applications are being accepted from Feb. 1.

The passport card cannot be used for any air travel.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_ca ... _3926.html

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like a reasonable idea but why just land and sea? Though I would miss the stamps on the current passport that evoke fine memories of places I've visited whenever I see them.

_________________
"Guess what?! I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!"
Christopher Walken