It is not a new law
Many people may be surprised that the law bringing Real ID into existence did not happen after 2016. The law came into effect in 2005 and has given States 15 years to get their identification card and driver’s licenses in compliance.
What the Real ID Act does is provide American States with a minimum boundary for security standards. The key here is that not every state complies with the Real ID Act and it is on you to see if your State ID is compliant with the ACT or not.
If it isn’t you won;t be allowed to fly domestically.
It is not the Star of David
Every State ID that is complaint with the Real ID Act will have a black or gold star on it. This is not to identify your race, religion, or other details historical governments have used to identify a certain group of people.
The star is a normal star you see in most decorations especially around Christmas time. There are 5 options for this star to appear on your State ID and black and gold are the two colors used to signify your ID is compliant with the Real ID Act.
One elaborate designed that shows compliance is a star cutout in a grizzly bear. All these symbols say is that the ID you have meets federal regulations and you can enter airports.
You still have some time
The good news here is that the mandatory date for having Real ID is still 9 months away. You have time to check with your State’s agencies to see if your identification card or driver’s license is compliant with the Real ID Act.
The one hitch in this issue is some States may not have become compliant. But that does not mean you cannot fly. If your State has applied for an extension then your regular ID is still valid and you can fly.
There is an unlimited amount of extensions so you just have to verify with your State agencies concerning the status of your ID cards. Also, you may have seen that star already. Some States have been compliant for a long time now and have quietly placed the star on your driver’s license or ID card without telling you.
The big question
Do you really need Real ID? It is a good question as many people may not know how this federal Act applies to them. There are 3 basic criteria that lets you know if you need Real ID or not. If you meet just one of those criteria then you will need to obtain yours. Here are those criteria:
- You want to fly domestically using your state ID
- You do not have a passport or other TSA approved ID
- You want to visit a secure federal facility
The other big question is ‘when do you not need Real ID?’ If you are under 18 years of age, then you do not need it. If you only need ID for normal life activities like voting, cashing checks, serving on a jury and so on.
Finally, you do not need Real ID if you have no problem carrying your passport, (or other TSA approved ID), when flying or going to a secure federal facility.
How do you obtain a Real ID
The good news is that only 3 states are not in compliance so you should already have yours by now. Only Oklahoma and Oregon are under extensions at the moment and New Jersey is under review.
If you do not have your Real ID, and it is easy to check to see if you do or not, then here are the steps you must follow to get one:
#1. Go to your local DMV office. Make an appointment first.
#2. Bring proper documents with you. These documents include but not limited to, passport, social security number proof, US birth certificate, W-2 form, rental lease, electric bill, marriage certificate and so no.
#3. pay the money. The fees vary from state to state so check first with your local DMV office before arriving without enough money to pay.
Some final words
These real IDs are not transferable from state to state. That means that if you move you have to do the process all over again. Also, it i snot mandatory that you get one. You just have to use another approved TSA ID card.
Time is running out so make your plans quickly.
Sources:
https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-frequently-asked-questions
https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/resources/realid_factsheet.pdf
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
https://upgradedpoints.com/real-id-act
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