If you plan to travel by air shortly, time is quickly running out before you will require one.
REAL ID
.
Starting from this coming Wednesday, May 7, every traveler aged 18 and above within the U.S. will be required to show either a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification when going through airport security checks. This federal identification card, which features a tiny star symbol at the top right corner, has taken roughly twenty years to develop into compliance standards.
“The REAL ID Act mandated incorporating specific anti-counterfeiting technology into these cards,” explained Jose Flores, the TSA Illinois Deputy Federal Security Director.
However, not all are prepared yet. Across the country, only 56% of licenses adhere to the updated requirements, as reported by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa is leading the way with 76% adherence, whereas Illinois falls significantly short.
“And for those from Illinois, we stand at around 35%, so we still have some distance to cover,” Flores stated.
For individuals lacking a REAL ID, various alternative documents can be used, such as a U.S. passport or a military identification card.
“Flores pointed out that there are 15 additional valid forms of identification, including a U.S. passport or a U.S. travel card.”
Visitors landing at the Quad Cities International Airport exhibited varied levels of preparedness. A woman informed News 8 that she did not possess the necessary updated identification. However, individuals such as Nichole Merten were well-prepared.
“Yes, I received mine some time back,” she stated. “The procedure was quite simple; I just completed the application at the Secretary of State’s office and they sent it to our address.”
In order to bypass lengthy queues or postponements, the TSA suggests getting to the airport no less than two hours prior on May 7th.
“At Moline, we’ve conducted a few pilot tests, and they have gone exceptionally well,” Flores stated.
The TSA cautions that individuals arriving without acceptable identification might experience delays, additional scrutiny, or could potentially be denied boarding altogether.
Here’s a complete listing of
valid identification options
.
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