Real ID Deadline Looms on May 7: Essential Tips You Need Now

REAL ID
enforcement begins May 7.

Following the deadline, individuals are barred from domestic air travel and restricted from entering specific federal sites and nuclear power plants unless they possess a REAL ID or another approved form of identification, as stated by regulations.
United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
.

The identification
has a star
, features a “Enhanced” label or indicates “REAL ID compliant” on its face, according to the department.

You can initiate the application procedure even after the deadline has gone by. Below are additional details regarding the Real ID requirements:

What should I do to travel by air without a Real ID after May 7?

For some reason, if an individual fails to obtain their Real ID by May 7, according to what the U.S. has stated, this will be the case.
accept other forms
of identification at the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
checkpoint. Those include:

State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License.
U.S. passport.
U.S. passport card.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s secure travel documents include Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST programs.
The U.S. Department of Defense identification card, which includes cards provided to family members as well.
Permanent resident card.
Border crossing card.
A valid photograph identification document provided by a federally acknowledged Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, which includes Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
HSPD-12 PIV card.
Foreign government-issued passport.
A Canadian provincial driver’s license or an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card.
Transportation worker identification credential.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766).
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential.
Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)

The
TSA
It now allows IDs that have been expired for up to one year from all the mentioned types of identification. Travelers aged under 18 do not need to present an ID for domestic travel in the U.S.; however, individuals are advised to check with their airline regarding particular ID needs, as stated by the administration.

The TSA apparently recognizes differences in suffixes between boarding passes and IDs—so, if there’s a suffix on your boarding pass but none on your identification, this discrepancy is considered acceptable.

Forms of identification that will not be accepted include a weapons permit or a provisional driver’s license.

What happens if you lose or have your ID stolen?

If a traveler arrives at the airport without an acceptable ID because it was lost, stolen or otherwise, they may still be allowed to fly, according to the TSA.

The TSA agent might request you to go through an identification check,” states their official site. “This involves providing details like your full name and present residence to verify who you are.” If this confirms your identity, they continue, “you’ll be permitted access to the security screening area, where further checks could take place.

An individual who opts out of presenting suitable identification, refuses to participate in the ID confirmation procedure, or whose identity cannot be authenticated will be denied access to the security screening area, according to the agency.

Passengers lacking proper identification are advised to arrive at the airport approximately three hours prior to their scheduled departure.

What does the Real ID star look like?

REAL ID-compliant cards
have a star
indicating on the top section of the card, as per the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“If the card lacks a star symbol, it is not compliant with REAL ID standards and will not be accepted as valid identification for boarding commercial airplanes,” according to the administration’s webpage.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that both Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) and Enhanced Identification Cards (EIC) can be used for boarding aircraft. These documents feature an image of the U.S. flag along with the term “Enhanced” at the top of the card.

A Real ID enables the bearer to:

Board federally-regulated commercial aircraft.
Access certain federal facilities.
Enter nuclear power plants.

In
California
, a Real ID driver’s license or identification card will feature a distinct emblem in the upper right corner—a California grizzly bear with a star. Here is an illustration:

Instances of other states and the appearance of their stars are illustrated here:

What prompted the implementation of Real ID enforcement?

The
Real ID Act
Was approved by Congress in 2005, this legislation followed a suggestion made post-9/11, advocating that the federal government establish guidelines for identification following the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
DHS
said.

It establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting ID from states that don’t meet those standards, federal officials said.

As per governmental standards, an approved identification enables the bearer to:

Board federally-regulated commercial aircraft.
Access certain federal facilities.
Enter nuclear power plants.

The initial deadline for Real ID compliance was set for 2008 but has faced multiple delays, as reported by the source.
Associated Press (AP)
In April 2021, the DHS allegedly pushed back the deadline until May 2023, citing COVID-19 as the reason making it more difficult for states to provide new IDs.

The lingering effects of the coronavirus led to an extension from May 3 to May 7 of this year, as reported by the Associated Press in late 2022.

What steps should I take to apply for it?

If you aren’t residing in California, please click.
HERE
To find out how to obtain a REAL ID in your state, check this out: In California, the process goes as follows:

According to the
Californian Vehicle Administration Agency (CVA)
To obtain a REAL ID in California, also known as the Golden State, you will need to provide various documents such as proof of identification which includes your date of birth and complete name (including first, middle, and last names). This required documentation may be selected from the provided list below:

A valid U.S. passport or passport card is recommended.
An original or certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate issued by a city, county, or state vital statistics office must be provided. Please note that “abbreviated” or “abstract” versions will not be accepted.
Valid Permanent Resident Card.
A foreign passport accompanied by a valid U.S. visa and an approved I-94 document.
Certification of Naturalization or Certification of U.S. Citizenship.
An official duplicate of a birth certificate issued by one of the U.S. Territories.
A legitimate Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card (Form I-766), or a valid/expired EAD card along with a Notice of Action (Form I-797C).
Valid Green Card along with either a Notice of Action (I-797 C) document or an Approval Notice (I-797).
U.S. Birth Certificate Issued Overseas or Consular Record of Birth Abroad for U.S. Citizens
A valid foreign passport marked with “Processed for I-551.”
Documents reflecting TPS benefit eligibility.

After proof of identity, you must present two different printed documents showing your California mailing address. If you use a P.O. box, one document must show both your P.O. box and physical (residence) address. One document may show only the P.O. box.

Here are the documents that qualify as proof of California residency:

Home utility bill or cellular phone bill (Preferred)
Information from any state or national bank, state or federal savings association, trust company, industrial loan company, state or federal credit union, as well as data from any organization or body that has provided a credit card
Insurance papers covering areas such as health, dentistry, sight, existence, housing, leasing, or transportation
Medical documents
A paper released by an organization affiliated with the federal government, indicating the body responsible for overseeing a nation, region, county, town, borough, district, division, section, or another administrative part of a country or state.
Mortgage bill
Employment documents
Tax return (whether from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), which is a faith-based document containing the name and contact information of the organization).
Lease or rental contract featuring signatures from both the property owner/landlord and the tenant/resident
Documents from a public or private elementary, middle, high school, college, or university that list the applicant’s birthdate should be provided. In case an application uses a document from a foreign educational institution, it needs to be sealed by the school and feature a photo of the applicant as they appeared when the records were issued.
Confirmation of Address Change by the U.S. Postal Service
Property tax invoice or declaration
A letter confirming the applicant’s residence in California provided by a homeless shelter, an organization supporting abused women, a nonprofit group, a religious institution, an employer, or a U.S. governmental department.
Document of ownership for a home
Confirmation letter or card for voter registration sent by the California Secretary of State or a local California county elections official
Evidence of payment for resident tuition fees at a college or university in California
A pristine copy of the approved Application for Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption (BOE-266) submitted to a local California County Assessor has been obtained.
Court documents that list the applicant as a resident of California
California Certificate of Vehicle or Vessel Titles or registration
A DMV No Fee Identification Card Eligibility Verification (DL 933) form, filled out and signed.

Should your name be absent from any residency papers, you can provide a birth certificate, marriage license, or domestic partnership registration document as proof of connection to the individual listed on the residency paperwork.

Should the residency document bear a different name compared to the tracing document because of a name alteration (such as through marriage, divorce, or legal decree), supplementary proof regarding the name modification must be provided as validation of this change.

Should your name not be listed, you may submit a birth certificate, marriage license, or domestic partnership registration certification as proof of your connection to the individual whose name is featured on the residence documents.

Should the residency document bear a name distinct from the one in the trace documents because of a name alteration (such as through marriage, divorce, or legal decree), supplementary proof of this modification must be provided.

A minor under the age of 18 can utilize a residence document bearing their parent’s name by submitting a tracking document (like a birth certificate) that demonstrates the familial connection. Young individuals can use one of these documents to establish their relation to the person named on the residence documentation:

Agency-Group Residence Contract (Document SOC 154)
Foster Care Placement Agency — Foster Family Agency Contract (Document SOC 154A)
Foster Parent Agreement – Agency Form (SOC 156)

Complete the driver’s license/ID card application form online.

Prior to completing the application, the DMV advises creating an online account with the agency beforehand.

Have your Social Security number along with essential details such as your name, date of birth, and address ready at hand. Typically, this process takes around an average amount of time.
complete the application
Nine minutes have passed; the application shuts down due to privacy and security reasons after 15 minutes.

Should you be unable to finish the application all at once, you have the option to save your progress and return to it later.

At the conclusion of your application, the DMV will ask you to upload the identification and proof-of-residence documents you have chosen. They accept most file types and images, including those saved in the “.HEIC” format.

Visit a field office

Once your driver’s license/ID card application is complete, you must go to a field office to finalize the procedure—this can be done through scheduling an appointment or visiting unannounced.

You can locate the nearest DMV field office to your location.
HERE
.

Please bring along your documents and the confirmation code for your application. You may use this confirmation code as you would an appointment token.

You can view the waiting times for the office
HERE
before you go.

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