REAL ID Deadline Looms: 5 Key Points to Remember This Week

(NEXSTAR) — Following multiple postponements, the REAL ID
enforcement deadline
It will begin on Wednesday; from then onward, you’ll require
compliant identification card
To embark on a domestic flight and access particular federal installations.

Implementation of the ID mandate, which dates back to
laws enacted after the September 11th terrorist strikes
It formally starts on Wednesday, May 7.

Here are five points to keep in mind before the REAL ID enforcement date arrives.

Is my ID a REAL ID?

Before you head to the DMV for an appointment, take a look at your wallet; you might already possess one.
A REAL ID-compatible driver’s license or state-issued identification card
Many states have been producing compatible IDs for several years now.

If there is
a star on your driver’s license or state ID card
, you possess a REAL ID-compliant card. This card might feature a star that can either be black or gold and could appear fully filled in or merely as an outline. Regardless of these specifics, your card meets the requirements.

Some states —
Minnesota
,
Michigan
,
New York
, and
Vermont
— Issues REAL ID-compliant IDs and provides enhanced driver’s licenses (only available in Washington), which feature a flag instead of a star and come with a chip for simplified entry into the U.S. via land or sea routes from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, as stated.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
. REAL IDs
cannot
can be utilized for border crossings.

Am I able to obtain a genuine REAL ID?

The brief response is affirmative: REAL IDs will continue to be issued beyond the May 7 enforcement deadline. Nevertheless, if you plan to fly domestically shortly and lack a REAL ID, you must carry additional identification alongside your standard driver’s license for boarding purposes (details follow later).

If you’re in a rush to get one, however, you may be out of luck. Several states have reported a lack of appointments to get a REAL ID in recent weeks, including offices in New Jersey, Illinois, and Kentucky, the Associated Press reported.

What steps should I follow to obtain a genuine REAL ID?

Should you be lucky enough to schedule an appointment for a REAL ID (if that’s necessary in your state), you’ll want to make sure you
have the necessary documentation
.

At least, you’ll have to verify your complete legal name, your date of birth, your Social Security number, at least two documents proving your address for your primary home, and your immigration status.

Will you be able to board an airplane without a REAL ID following the May deadline?

Four documents — your birth certificate and your Social Security card (or, in some cases, just the number), plus a bill and a pay stub — could help you meet all of those requirements. You may, however, need different or additional documents
depending on your situation
.

In the end, you should consult your nearby DMV to find out the required documentation and approximately how long it will take for your REAL ID to be issued.

What happens if you don’t possess a REAL ID?

You might still be allowed to board an airplane or participate in activities that typically necessitate a valid driver’s license.

If you lack a REAL ID and have a domestic flight scheduled for takeoff after the May 7 deadline, there’s no need to worry: You can still use an alternative acceptable form of identification to get on your flight.

TSA
lists severa
as seen on its website, including:

U.S. passport book or passport card
Foreign government-issued passport
Veteran Health Identification Card
DHS trusted traveler cards
Defense Department ID (which includes those given to family members)
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
Accepted forms of identification include official photo IDs provided by a federally recognized Tribal Nation or Indian Tribe, such as Enhanced Tribal Cards.
HSPD-12 PIV cards
Canadian provincial driving license or INAC card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Work Permit Card (Form I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

For additional information regarding TSA’s screening procedures, you can look into their processes further.
here
.
The TSA notes
that even if you arrive at the airport without a valid form of identification, you may still be able to fly by completing an identity verification process with a TSA officer.

Is a REAL ID required for me?

It varies. REAL IDs are
optional
And the requirement for one will differ depending on your circumstances.

You don’t need a REAL ID for activities such as driving, voting, obtaining state or federal benefits and services, purchasing alcohol, entering non-ID-required federal facilities (such as post offices), going to hospitals, or participating in law enforcement processes like serving on a jury.

Can TSA agents prevent you from traveling due to marijuana in your baggage?

Typically, when traveling within your country, or if you plan to visit places such as nuclear power facilities, military installations, or any location with specific identification rules set by the government, you might require a REAL ID.

Kids younger than 18 years old don’t have to show ID when traveling inside the U.S.

The Associated Press provided contributions to this report.

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