Question about passport and DS-82 form

Question

For anyone familiar with the passport process in the United States: I have a (valid, i.e. non-expired, etc.) passport card. However, as I will be traveling out of the continent I need a passport book. My first guess was to use the DS-11 form for a new passport book, but upon completing the state.gov's online application, it created a DS-82 form out of my information, and requested that I send my passport card along with a check and this form to the appropriate address.

My question is: is this a valid method of obtaining a passport book, even if I've never owned a passport book before? I thought if I never had a book I must fill out DS-11. But does my passport card count as a variant of this, so getting a book is like "renewing" in a way? I do not wish to renew my passport card since it did not expire.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I thought if I never had a book I must fill out DS-11.

But you had a passport. That is enough. Nowhere does the official renew page make a distinction between book and card. It also says:

You can renew your passport even if it has not expired.

And the first two steps to

Submit a U.S. Passport Application by Mail (from within the United States):

1. Fill Out Form DS-82: Application For A U.S. Passport by Mail
2. Submit your most recent U.S. passport book and/or card

Emphasis mine. You do not need or want a DS-11 as that is for:

Application for a U.S. Passport (for all first-time applicants, all minors, and applicants who are not eligible to use the DS-82)

So yes, you send in the DS-82 and the card and get a passport book. This is indeed a renewal.