BISBEE — The U.S. Department of State issued a notice on Thursday announcing a delay in the production of the new passport card until August, but on Monday a government spokesman said the notice was sent out “erroneously” and the cards will be produced this month as scheduled.

The card is a less expensive and more convenient alternative to the passport book. In the summer of 2009, people will be required to show a passport or equivalent document in order to pass through a port of entry. Applications for the passport card were accepted starting in February.

On Thursday, a State Department official distributed a notice to numerous passport acceptance facilities, such as town clerks, voting officials and the Cochise County Superior Court clerk’s office, announcing a delay in the issuance of the cards.

“Due to unforeseen technical issues the full production of the passport card has been delayed until the first week of August,” according to the notice.

But, on Monday, Steve Royster, spokesman for the State Department in Washington, D.C., said that notice was sent out “erroneously.”

“We haven’t changed our posture. We are still looking to get up to production of those in July,” he said. “We regret the confusion in that notice. What we are going to have to do is probably follow up to the agencies that may have received that notice and set them straight that what is on travel.state.gov/passport continues to be controlling. We just had someone who simply issued something they shouldn’t have without checking.”

Currently, individuals who travel across the border at a port of entry must bring citizenship evidence documents, such as birth certificates or naturalization certificates, along with a driver’s license or similar card. Starting in summer of 2009, people will be required to bring a passport book, passport card or similar document.

People interested in checking on the status of their application can call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778.