The new passport ID feature of Google Wallet won't make it easier for you to enter the country.
Google recommends continuing to carry a physical ID, however.
Google is implementing a new feature that allows users to create a digital ID from their passport, which can be stored in Google Wallet and used at certain TSA checkpoints. However, this ID is not valid as a passport and cannot be used in immigration and border control processes, according to a spokesperson for the company.
To create this digital ID, users must select the option in the Google Wallet app to "create an ID pass with their U.S. passport." They then need to follow the instructions to scan the security chip on the back of the passport and record a selfie video to verify their identity. Google Wallet will notify the user when their ID pass is ready, usually within minutes.
It is important to note that while this digital ID can be used, Google warns that it does not replace physical identification. Travelers are advised to carry a physical ID during their travels "for the time being."
The availability of this feature is scheduled for "all eligible users in the coming weeks." Additionally, it has been reported that driver's licenses and state IDs from New Mexico can also be stored in Google Wallet, making this state the sixth to support this capability.
Recently, it was clarified that while it was initially claimed that this feature could replace the passport, the reality is that it cannot be used in immigration and border control contexts.