Despite the multiple extensions of the deadline for actual identification, there are still many Americans who do not have them and face the final deadline next month.
If you are among those who do not have the new identification or who have not yet applied for one, here is what you need to know to obtain it as soon as possible and be able to travel at the national level until you do it.
The Real ID Act, approved by the Congress in 2005, aimed to improve security and minimize fraud in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11 by an establishment of a national standard for identification.
The deadline of origin to have a real identity document to allow Americans to travel at the national level or to enter federal facilities such as military bases or federal courthouses was May 2008. The new deadline is May 7.
Funding challenges, concerns about travel interruptions and the pandemic have delayed the government with the implementation of the real identification requirement for almost two decades.
Even if people have had a lot of time to apply for their real ID, a recent analysis of CBS News data carried out from April 7 to 18 revealed that at least 30 states are less than 70%. This means that in more than half of the country, around three out of 10 travelers may not be able to go through an airport checkpoint from May 7.
Twelve states and the Columbia district have declared compliance rates above 90%, CBS reported.
On January 1, more than 18.5 million residents in California now have their real identity document, compared to the count of 16.9 million in January from last year according to recent data from California Department of Motor Vehicles. The CBS analysis said that California had reached compliance of almost 55%.
There is still a long way to go for the state to reach total compliance. More than 35 million Californians have either an identity document, both an identity document and a driving license or an identity document for people under the age of 16.
Can I travel at the national level without a real identity document?
If you do not have a real identification or if you have applied for one but that it will not arrive by the deadline of May 7, the Security Administration Transportation will accept other forms of identification with the TSA control points.
TSA accepts:
- American passport
- American passport card
- Trusted travel cards of the Ministry of Internal Security (World Entrance, Nexus, Sentri, Fast)
- ID of the United States Ministry of Defense, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An identity document with acceptable photo published by a tribal / Indian tribe tribe recognized by the federal government, including improved tribal cards.
- HSPD-12 personal identity verification card
- Passport issued by the foreign government
- Canadian provincial driver permit or Indian and northern Canada card
- Transportation of identification workers
- Employment authorization card for Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States (I-766)
- US Merchant Mariner Contality
- Veterans’ health identification card
Travelers who do not have a real identification or another acceptable identification can “expect delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being authorized in the security control point”, according to the IDF.
Currently, 81% of travelers from the TSA control points have an acceptable identification, including a real ID issued by the State, the ASD said in a press release.
Do I still have time to respect the deadline of May 7?
To obtain a real identity document, you must ask for it through your local office of the ministry of motor vehicles.
From now on until June 27, 18 DMV offices will open at 7 a.m., an hour earlier, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to serve only people with appointments to obtain a real identity document.
To start the process, you must visit the DMV website and consult the document control list for what you will need to prove your identity and your residence. You can fill out an online request, download the required documents and make an appointment in your local DMV office.
These DMV offices will open an hour earlier:
- PLEASANTON (6300 W. LAS Positas BLVD.)
- Fremont (4287 Central Ave.)
- Folsom (323 E. Bidwell St., Suite A)
- Carmichael (5209 North Ave.)
- Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida de Los Arboles)
- Van Nuys (14920 Vanowen St.)
- Arleta (14400 Van Nuys Blvd.)
- Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks BLVD.)
- Pasadena (49 S. Rosemead Blvd.)
- Culver City (11400 W. Washington BLVD.)
- Westminster (13700 Hoover St.)
- Costa Mesa (650 W. 19th St.)
- San Clemente (2727 via Cascadita)
- Rancho Cucamonga (8629 Hellman Ave.)
- San Diego Clairemont (4375 Derrick Drive)
- San Marcos (590 Rancheros Drive)
- El Cajon (1450 Graves Ave.)
- POWAY (13461 Community Road)
The DMV recently announced that 11 offices will be open on May 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate customers who wish to obtain the real identity document. Before the deadline. No other service will be provided on this date to these locations.
The offices listed below will be opened by appointment only:
- Concord (2070 Diamond Blvd.)
- FULLERTON (909 W. Valencia Drive)
- Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks BLVD.)
- Oakland (5300 Claremont Ave.)
- POWAY (13461 Community Road)
- Riverside East (6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd.)
- Roseville (7200 Galilée Road)
- San Clemente (2727 via Cascadita)
- San Jose (111 W. Alma Ave.)
- Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida de Los Arboles)
- West Covina (800 S. Glendora Ave.)
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