The deadline to have a Real ID for air travel has been pushed back again, to Spring 2023, to give us all more time to get identification that meets updated security requirements.The new extension is due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, including obstacles faced for us to renew driver’s licenses and other official ID such as a passport and Global Entry.
A compliant Real ID will be required by travelers 18 or older to board a plane, enter a federal building or a military base. Passports, military IDs or Global Entry cards also will qualify to get through airport security.
Americans must undergo a more stringent ID check when applying for a REAL ID-compliant card, which incorporates enhanced security features that prevent counterfeiting, including scannable bar codes, digital photos, even holograms.
According to DHS, state licensing agencies in several states have shifted to appointment-only scheduling amid the pandemic, closing the window of opportunity for many Americans to update their licenses.
DHS also says that various state agencies also need time to implement requirements mandated by the REAL ID Modernization Act, which includes changes to streamline processing by allowing some documents to be submitted online.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), about 119 million of the 274 million state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs are REAL ID-compliant, or about 43%.
The most recent deadline for a Real ID was October 2021, so this is a 19 month extension. The October 2021 date itself was pushed back from October 2020, to give more time to states to create an updated and compliant driver’s license. This time, the delay is Pandemic-related.
“Protecting the health, safety, and security of our communities is our top priority,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. “As our country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the REAL ID full enforcement deadline will give states needed time to reopen their driver’s licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card.”
Why You Need a Real ID
A compliant Real ID has a star symbol at the top of the card
The Real ID Act was passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks after several of the hijackers improperly obtained state IDs. All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four of five U.S. territories are covered by the REAL ID Act, which includes Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005, sets standards for which forms of identification are accepted by the federal government, including the TSA, to board any commercial flight and enter federal facilities including office buildings and military bases.
In other words – I’m putting this in bold for emphasis –
You will not be able to get into a federal building building without identification that meets REAL ID requirements.
You will need Real ID-compliant identification to visit an IRS office to defend yourself in an audit, or a US courthouse to defend yourself against a criminal charge. Your accountant or attorney also will need a Real ID to help defend you.
You will need Real ID compliant identification to get into a US Passport office to apply for a passport. If you are renewing, no problem, because you need your expiring passport to renew, and that is acceptable REAL ID identification.
Check the official DHS Real ID website page to make a plan with your state DMV to update your license in time for the May 2023 deadline.
Images courtesy DHS
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