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.

Why Do I Need to Provide Identification to Replace My Stolen Passport?

As part of the process to replace your stolen passport, you will need to appear in person at a Passport Acceptance Facility. It’s the responsibility of the Passport Acceptance Agent to make sure you are who you say you are! Most people who are applying for a first-time adult passport or a replacement for a lost, stolen, or damaged passport use a driver’s license for their proof of identity. Since your driver’s license is gone with the wind, you’ll need to find a different form of identification.

Alternative Proof of Identity

If you’ve lost both your passport and your driver’s license, you’re going to need to prove your identity in a different way. There are two different ways to submit proof of identity to get a passport. The easiest way is to provide a document that’s considered “primary identification.” This would be a government-issued document that has your name and photograph. If you don’t have any other primary identification, you can bring multiple items with your name to serve as “secondary identification.”

Primary Identification to Replace Your Stolen Passport

You can use one of the following items as primary identification instead of a driver’s license.

• Expired or cancelled US Passport. Do you still have your previous US passport? Great! You can use this to prove both your identity and your US citizenship. But keep in mind this should be a relatively recent passport, so the photo will still look like you. Don’t try to use the passport you got when you were in elementary school!
• Passport Card. If you’ve got a valid or expired US passport card, this is a great way to prove your identity.
• Valid Military ID. Are you an active member of the US Military, or a military dependent? You can use your government-issued military ID card.
• Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship. Since these documents include your photo, you can use them as proof of identity as well as proof of US citizenship.
• Government Employee ID. Do you work for the federal, state, or local government? You can use your government employee ID badge to apply for your replacement passport.

Secondary Identification Options

Your driver’s license was stolen. You don’t have an old passport to submit, or any of the other primary identification options. What do you do now? Gather as many documents as you can to serve as secondary proof of identity. You’ll want to look for items that list your name. The more official the organization that issued the document, the better. Ideally, you also want documents that show your photo or other personally identifiable information like your birth date. Here are some ideas of the kinds of documents you can use for secondary identification:

• Social Security card
• Employee ID
• Professional license (such as a medical license or beautician’s license)
• Trusted Traveler Card (Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI)
• Student ID
• Learner’s permit or temporary driver’s license
• Expired driver’s license
• Voter registration card
• Medicare or health insurance card
• Welfare card
• Foreign passport (even expired)
• Selective Service (draft) registration
• Union membership card
• Membership card for a club, gym, or social organization
• Credit card or bank records for the past year
• Copy of your lease or mortgage
• Income tax records or W-2 forms for the past year
• School diplomas or yearbooks
• Newspaper or magazine articles that show your name and photo
• Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or your childrens’ birth certificates
• Baptismal certificate or other religious records

Try to bring as many items as you can – we recommend at least five! You’ll need to bring the original documents as well as photocopies of each item.

The post Proof of Identity Options if Your Passport and License are Stolen appeared first on G3Passports.