A German manager with Mercedes-Benz was freed after being arrested for not having a driver’s license with him under Alabama’s new law targeting illegal immigrants. Police stopped the executive’s rental car for not having a license tag and asked the driver for his license. The man only had a German identification card, so he was arrested and taken to police headquarters.
The same thing would probably not happen to a Caucasian driver in California, but we have heard horror stories of US citizen Hispanics being imprisoned by CIS for lengthy periods.
Do Vietnamese look like Hispanics? No, but the story from Alabama shows it is better to be safe than sorry.
Permanent Residents must always have their Green Cards with them. That’s the law. There is no law requiring US citizens to carry proof of citizenship, and most people would not want to carry their Naturalization Certificates or Passports with them. Fortunately, there is an alternative, called the Passport Card.
The Passport Card is the size of the Green Card and it can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book.
For Adults (age 16 or older) the card costs $55 for a first time applicant and $30 for a previous passport holder. For those under 16, the cost is $40.
If you have a U.S. passport book and are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for the card by mail. You can use Form DS-82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card.
If you have never had a U.S. passport book or are not eligible to use Form DS-82, you must apply in person using Form DS-11.
First time applicants for a passport card can apply at any one of the 9,400 Passport Application Acceptance Facilities across the country.
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Q.1. Can the Passport Card be used in place of a passport for international air travel?
A.1. No. Only the passport book can be used for international air travel. The passport card can be used for domestic air travel in place of any other government-issued ID.
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Q.2. Can I apply for a passport card if I do not have a passport?
A.2. Yes, you can use your Certificate of Naturalization to apply for the card. And, you can use the passport card to apply for a passport book. Finally, you can apply for a passport book and passport card at the same time
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com
Immigration Support Services-Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
42 Dang Thi Nhu, P. Nguyen Thai Binh, Q1, HCM (848) 3914-7638
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