When you need ID, less is better. Yeah, a photo. Nah, your address. A US passport card is ideal to use whenever photo identification is required. The card is better than a driver’s license, since the licenses include a physical address that you don’t want to show total strangers. Also, it’s Real ID compliant, unlike some state driver’s licenses.
Most of the time, I use my military dependent ID and my others never see the light of day. There are definitely times I don’t want to identify myself as a military spouse, though, or share my spouse’s name, status, and rank. Having another form of photo ID not associated with a physical address is helpful. The card is accepted everywhere and can be used for travel, except international flights and sea travel. See the article above for the exact language of where the card is accepted and where you need the Passport book.
Another reason a passport card is necessary is that it allows travelers to OPT OUT of facial recognition policies by some airlines. According to this TechCrunch article, having a passport card is the only current way travelers can decline the airlines’ use of FR to board flights. I have plenty of reasons to be suspicious of FR technology, but I’ll limit the list now to it’s fallibility and invasive properties.
As with all IDs and cards with RFID, keep your passport card in a sleeve or other device that prevents criminals from skimming your personal information. There are lots of wallets, purses, and sleeves that protect your digits from skimmers. I’ve thought about buying a Faraday bag to try out with my phones. That’s another blog post for later.
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