As Americans rush to their nearby DMV offices to secure their
REAL ID
Before the deadline, many might be curious about which additional types of personal ID will be acceptable at airports.
On May 7, every air traveler
older than 18 years old
Will require compliant identification to clear U.S. airport security checkpoints. Lacking this, their domestic travel might face delays.
The mandate originates from the 2005 REAL ID Act, which set forth “basic security requirements for driver’slicenses and identity cards issued by states,” as stated.
the Department of Home Security
.
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Although this encompasses REAL IDs — which are state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards featuring a star symbol at the top — there are additional accepted forms of ID for those Americans who have not yet upgraded their licenses when traveling through airports.
This is the information travelers need to be aware of.
REAL ID compared to Enhanced ID
Certain Americans might already possess an Enhanced ID, described as a “‘state-issued enhanced driver’s license’ that serves as evidence of both identity and U.S. citizenship for individuals crossing the U.S. border via car,” as stated.
DHS
Currently, they are issued by five states—Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont, and Washington—as an easy method for entering Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean.
Although not every Enhanced ID features the star symbol, these documents are recognized as a valid form of identification and can serve as an alternate option to a REAL ID when traveling via air. You can identify them by the U.S. flag emblem and the term “enhanced” printed at the top.
What items can serve as proof for obtaining a Real ID?
According to the
Transportation Security Administration
These are the approved formats for REAL IDs:
- Government-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification (EID)
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS approved traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense identification card, which includes cards provided to family members
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- A valid photograph identification provided by a federally acknowledged Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, which includes Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Is it possible to travel using a passport?
Certainly. Both a passport book or card serve as acceptable alternatives to a REAL ID for domestic trips, as stated by the TSA.
website
And when journeying across international borders, passports remain mandatory.
What is the deadline for obtaining a Real ID?
It’s approaching quickly. Starting Wednesday, May 7, you will require either a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification.
Real ID requirements
Before obtaining your Real ID, there are three items you will require.
You will require either your birth certificate or a non-expired U.S. passport as well.
If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you’ll need to bring other forms.
You need two forms of residential address.
This includes a valid NJ driver license/non-driver identification card, a utility or credit card bill issued over the past 90 days, a checking or savings account statement from a bank or credit card union issued in the past 60 days, an original, unexpired lease or rental agreement, a tax bill, statement or receipt, or any letter from the IRS or tax office within the past year, first class mail from any government agency in the past six months, and, if under 18, a statement from parent or guardian certifying the address of the applicant.
You also need proof of a full Social Security number.
This includes a Social Security card, a pay stub with name and full social security number, a W-2 or a 1099 Form issued within the past year, or if you know your Social Security number and will enter it on the application, and the Motor Vehicle Commission will verify it electronically.
New Jersey last in securing Real ID
A
research conducted by CBS News earlier this month
Indicated that the Garden State has the lowest compliance among 49 participating states in the study. As of April 18, only 17 percent of New Jersey residents possessed a Real ID.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has been tirelessly assisting numerous qualified residents of New Jersey in obtaining their Real IDs. The issues we face aren’t exclusive to our state; each state across the country is experiencing comparable strains as the deadline looms closer. For over five and a half years now—dating back to September 2019—we have offered Real IDs here. At present, we issue around 23,000 RealIDs weekly with an unwavering commitment to providing prompt services and ensuring all qualifying individuals get theirs,” stated William Connolly from NJMVC to CBS.
The Murphy administration asserts that various elements distinguish New Jersey from other states. According to them, these aspects set New Jersey apart.
- Certain individuals qualified for driver’s licenses in those areas might not meet the requirements for obtaining a Real ID. As an illustration, New Jersey issues driving permits to undocumented immigrants, thereby reducing its overall approval rate.
- In New Jersey, an appointment-based system is used, so you won’t find long queues at NJMVC offices.
- One of the highest percentages of New Jersey residents possess passports, affecting the number of individuals obtaining Real IDs currently.
- New Jersey has expanded the scheduling of Real ID appointments, initiated Real ID Thursdays with an emphasis on processing these IDs at their licensing centers, provided options for weekend bookings including Saturdays, and dispatched four mobile units statewide to assist further. Additional measures have also been implemented.
According to
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission site
, the agency will
offer emergency appointments
Beginning on April 24, individuals will be permitted to board domestic flights if they have essential travel needs within 14 days due to critical circumstances, such as imminent family bereavement or pressing journeys.
NJMVC launches ‘REAL ID Tuesdays.’
Governor Phil Murphy along with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) unveiled on Friday the introduction of “REAL ID Tuesdays” at various licensing centers, beginning May 20. This new program will create around 5,200 additional bi-weekly appointment slots aimed at assisting residents in obtaining a REAL ID ahead of the federal implementation deadline set for May 7, 2025.
Expanding upon the current “REAL ID Thursdays,” new appointment slots will become accessible every Tuesday beginning Monday, May 5th via the NJMVC website. Governor Murphy highlighted the state’s
commitment to expanding access
as the deadline approaches.
NJMVC Acting Chief Administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd highlighted the expanded appointment slots designed to address customer demand. She additionally advised residents that a valid passport continues to be accepted as a form of federal ID.
Starting May 7, 2025, the federal government will mandate REAL ID-compliant IDs for domestic flights within the U.S. as well as access to particular federal buildings. In parallel, the NJMVC is continuing its initiatives related to REAL ID, such as deploying mobile services.
To learn more about the REAL ID prerequisites in New Jersey, inhabitants can check out the official website.
REALID.nj.gov
.
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
REAL ID deadline approaching this week: All details for residents of New Jersey
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