No need to
clear
your schedule to book a Real ID appointment — there’s a way to travel without it.
Starting tomorrow, May 7, US citizens must have a Real ID to fly on planes.
But with DMVs across the country swamped with requests for appointments, many Americans are now in a position where they won’t be able to get a Real ID before the deadline.
Luckily,
there are options
for those set to take to the skies before they can lock down a coveted booking.
CLEAR
, the identity security company that’s been a long-time partner of the TSA, is
offering solutions
for both existing and non-existing CLEAR members.
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Anyone who is a current member of CLEAR Plus can simply scan and upload their passports to the CLEAR App, giving them immediate access to a Real ID-compliant document.
Keeping this document readily available can prevent hold-ups or additional paperwork when you reach the airport.
Non-members can enroll in CLEAR from their phone using just the app and their passport and follow the same steps — no appointment or visit required.
CLEAR is able to automate most users’ identity verification for TSA screenings using their data, including fingerprint and iris scans, so having a passport scanned into the app will allow for easy access to CLEAR lanes.
“The technology that we’ve built to authenticate your passport means that now you can leave that passport at home,” Kyle McLaughlin, executive vice president of travel and aviation at Clear,
told The Points Guy
last week.
“And when you get to the airport, you’re going right through the verification lane again, so it’s as if you have a Real ID if you’re a Clear member and you’ve done the leg work ahead of time.”
In order to fly domestically, all travelers over 18 will need a Real ID — unless they have another TSA-approved form of identification, such as:
- US passport
- State-issued Enhanced driver’s license
- DHS trusted traveler cards (GlobalEntry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- US Department of Defense ID (including dependents’ IDs)
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Accepted forms of identification include those issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe.
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driving license or INAC card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Work Permit Card (Form I-766)
- US Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)
CLEAR’s membership enables travelers to have their TSA-approved ID accessible directly from the palm of their hand, eliminating stress and worries throughout the security procedure.
For travelers worried about the news they’re seeing and wondering what the airport will entail, with just a straightforward Clear enrollment process that can now be completed completely online,” McLaughlin stated. “This allows you to head directly for the security check.
The annual fee for CLEAR membership is $199 per person, and extra charges apply for family plans.
In the meantime, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Tuesday that individuals traveling without a Real ID after the deadline should theoretically still be permitted to board flights. However, she warned that these travelers might have to go through additional procedures, as reported.
Associated Press
.
Flyers who do not possess a Real ID might face “an additional screening process or be redirected to a separate queue,” according to Noem. “However, travelers will still be permitted to board their flights. We aim to ensure this transition occurs smoothly.”
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