What is REAL ID?

The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005, and created federal standards for the issuance of official identification cards like driver’s licenses. When the law is fully implemented, you will need to have an ID that meets REAL ID standards in order to enter Federal facilities, military bases, or nuclear power plants. Most importantly for  travelers, you will need a REAL ID in order to board any flight in the US, domestic or international.

When will REAL ID go into effect?

As of today – October 11, 2017 – only about half of US states and territories have complied with REAL ID standards for their driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards. The remainder of the states and territories had been given extensions, extra time to update their process of issuing ID cards. The big news is that all those extensions expired on October 10, 2017!

Does this mean that if your license isn’t a REAL ID, you won’t be able to board your domestic flight tomorrow? No. The Department of Homeland Security is giving a grace period to the non-compliant states. Until January 22, 2018, the REAL ID requirement won’t be enforced for TSA security at the airport. You can keep using your regular license until then.

Even on January 22, you are likely to be allowed to continue to use your current license, even if it isn’t REAL ID. All of the states whose extensions expired have applied for an additional extension. As of this writing, a new extension has already been granted to the State of Virginia. Virginians can now keep using their non-REAL ID licenses at the airport until October 10, 2018.

You can check the current status of your state below, to find out if your state has already started issuing REAL ID licenses.

My state issues REAL ID licenses. I have nothing to worry about, right?

Not so fast! If your driver’s license was issued several years ago, it might not actually be a REAL ID. You can check by looking for a gold star on your license. These are usually at the top right corner of your license. If you don’t have a star, you can renew your license to get a new one that will be REAL ID.

My state doesn’t issue REAL ID licenses. Is there anything else I can use as REAL ID?

Driver’s licenses aren’t the only form of REAL ID out there. You can also use your passport book or passport card as REAL ID. Other accepted identification documents include military ID cards (including military dependent cards), Global Entry or other Trusted Traveler cards, or an Enhanced Drivers License issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington.

State by State Review – Is Your State ID a REAL ID?

• Alabama issues REAL IDs
  
• Alaska does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• American Samoa does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
• Arizona issues REAL IDs
  
• Arkansas issues REAL IDs
  
• California does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Colorado issues REAL IDs
  
• Connecticut issues REAL IDs
  
• Delaware issues REAL IDs
  
• District of Columbia issues REAL IDs
• Florida issues REAL IDs
• Georgia issues REAL IDs
  
• Guam does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
• Hawaii issues REAL IDs
  
• Idaho does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Illinois does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Indiana issues REAL IDs
  
• Iowa issues REAL IDs
  
• Kansas issues REAL IDs
  
• Kentucky does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Louisiana does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Maine does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Maryland issues REAL IDs
  
• Massachusetts does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Michigan does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Minnesota does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Mississippi issues REAL IDs
• Missouri does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Montana does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Nebraska issues REAL IDs
  
• Nevada issues REAL IDs
  
• New Hampshire does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
• New Jersey does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• New Mexico issues REAL IDs
  
• New York does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• North Carolina issues REAL IDs
  
• North Dakota does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Northern Marianas Islands does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
• Ohio issues REAL IDs
  
• Oklahoma does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Oregon does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Pennsylvania does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• Puerto Rico does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
• Rhode Island does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• South Carolina does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• South Dakota issues REAL IDs
  
• Tennessee issues REAL IDs
  
• Texas issues REAL IDs
• Utah issues REAL IDs
  
• Vermont issues REAL IDs
  
• Virgin Islands does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
• Virginia does not issue REAL IDs, but has been granted an extension until October 10, 2018
  
• Washington does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
  
• West Virginia issues REAL IDs
  
• Wisconsin issues REAL ID
• Wyoming issues REAL IDs
  

The post REAL ID: Identification Requirements Changing for Domestic Flights appeared first on G3Passports.

When you apply for your first US passport, you will need to go to a Passport Acceptance Agent to have your identity and citizenship verified.  You’ll need to show official identification that displays your full name and photo.  If you have a valid, in-state driver’s license, that’s all you’ll need to prove your identity!  You can also show one of the following cards instead as primary proof of your identity:

• Valid US Military ID, or military dependent ID
• Valid in-state non-driver identification card
• Expired, undamaged US passport
• Government employee ID with photo
• Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, with your photo

What if your driver’s license is issued by a different state?

Let’s say you have a valid driver’s license issued by North Carolina, but you are applying for your passport at a Passport Acceptance Facility in Virginia.  Since your driver’s license was issued out of state, you’ll need to submit a secondary proof of identity.  If you have another form of identification that shows your name, date of birth, and photo, you might be able to use just that ID to support your out of state driver’s license.  But just to be safe, we recommend you bring as many forms of secondary identification as possible.

Secondary Proof of Identity

Don’t have a driver’s license or other state-issued ID?  Or perhaps you have a driver’s license, but it’s a temporary license, or it’s expired.  You’ll need to show a combination of secondary IDs.

There isn’t a hard and fast rule about how many forms of secondary identification you’ll need to show, but we recommend that you try to bring at least five.  Look for documents that show your full name.  It’s also good if the documents include your photo or date of birth.  The more official the issuing organization, the better!

Here are some suggestions of secondary ID options:

• Social Security card
• Learner’s permit or temporary driver’s license
• Expired driver’s license
• Voter registration card
• Employee ID
• Student ID
• Foreign passport (even expired)
• Selective Service (draft) registration
• Medicare or health insurance card
• Welfare card
• Union membership card
• Professional license (such as nurse, beautician, etc.)
• Membership card for a club or social organization
• Credit card or bank records for the past year
• Copy of lease or mortgage
• Income tax records or W-2 forms for the past year
• School diplomas or yearbooks
• Baptismal certificate or other religious records

December is New Passport month on the G3Passports.com blog!  All month we’ll be focusing on topics relating to first time passports for adults.  If there are any subjects you’d like us to address, tell us in the comments!

The post Identification Requirements for New US Passports appeared first on G3Passports.

You May Need a Passport to… Get a Driver’s License

The REAL ID Act of 2005 set national standards for state-issued driver’s licenses. In order to get a REAL ID compliant driver’s license, you now need to show conclusive proof of your identity and citizenship. If you have a valid passport, this will be easy. If you don’t have a passport, you’ll need to provide a lot more documents in order to get your driver’s license.

You May Need a Passport to… Board a Domestic Flight

Starting in 2016, you will need to show REAL ID compliant identification in order to get through TSA security to board both domestic and international flights. If you are flying internationally, you will have to have a Passport Book, but even for domestic flights, you may need to pull out your Passport Book or Passport Card. Residents of Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York are particularly affected, as their states don’t yet issue REAL ID driver’s licenses. If you live in any other state, you may need to use a passport if you haven’t renewed your driver’s license in several years and still have a non-REAL ID license. You can check your license by looking to see if there is a star in one of the upper corners. If you don’t have a star, you’re going to need your passport to get on your flight!

You May Need a Passport to… Buy Alcohol

You’re probably used to pulling out your driver’s license to prove your age when you order a glass of merlot at a restaurant or pick up a six-pack of beer at the convenience store. However, you may run into problems if you are a twenty-something who still has a vertical driver’s license. Some states, like New Mexico or Arizona, have a “vertical license ban” that forbids them from selling alcohol to anyone with a vertical driver’s license, even if the birthdate shows that you are over 21.

We have also heard about travelers from smaller jurisdictions like the District of Columbia who have been denied alcohol when traveling in the US. Store clerks in other states weren’t familiar enough with the license to be certain it was real.

Your passport is conclusive proof of your age… we’ll toast to that!

The post Staying in the US? You May Still Need a Passport! appeared first on G3Passports.