New York – The deadline to obtain real identification is almost here, after almost two decades of postponements and delays.
While it was initially said that it could not fly nationwide without a real identification or other form of identification approved by the TSA once the deadline of May 7 arrives, the national security manager said Tuesday that travelers may still fly, but they should be prepared for additional steps in the TSA.
If you still do not have your real identification and you are confused about how to get one, or ask why you even need one in the first place, here are some things you should know:
It is a license or identification card issued by the State that meets the Federal that the DHS says that it is a safer way of identification. This is because obtaining real identification requires more personal documentation than is required to obtain a regular license.
In addition to needing real identification to fly nationwide, you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.
When the Royal ID Law was promulgated in 2005, it promulgated a recommendation from the September 11 commission that the Government established security standards for licenses and driving ID issued by the State.
“Real ID is a coordinated effort of the federal government to improve the reliability and precision of driver’s licenses and identification cards,” said John Essig, director of Security of the Administration of Transportation Security for Airports in the New York City region in a press release on April 3. “The improvements are intended to inhibit the ability of terrorists to evade the detection of fraudulent detection.”
It was supposed that the Royal ID law would begin to be implemented in 2008, “but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and Covid-19 pandemic,” said Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director of Travel + Leisure. “The combination of various state processes and changing deadlines has joined the general confusion around Royal IDs and probably led some travelers to take the deadlines less seriously.”
If you have received a new identification in recent years, it could already be real of ID.
“I also listen to travelers who are confused in terms of whether they already have a real identification or not,” Ruggiero said. “Some people who have recently renewed their license may already have an identification of compliance and not know,” so it is possible to verify yours before starting the process.
A driving license that meets real identification has a symbol ( In most states, a star ) in the upper corner of the card.
If you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont or Washington, you may have an “improved” identification card, which allows you to fly nationwide and cross the borders of land and sea in Mexico and Canada from the United States, however, it does not allow you to fly to any of those countries.
Improvements IDs will have an icon of the American flag, as well as the word “improved” on the top of the card.
The requirements vary according to the State, so you should visit the website of the driver licenses of your status to find out the specific steps, including if you must make an appointment in a DMV and what documentation you will need when you get there.
Secretary of National Security Kristi calls On Tuesday he said that those who still lack an identification that comply with the real identification law “can deviate to a different line, have an extra step.”
Noem also said that security points will accept passports and tribal identification when the deadline arrives on Wednesday instead of real identification.
“But people will be allowed to fly,” he said. “We will make sure it is as fluid as possible.”
In mid -April, a group of Kentucky state senators asked the agency to delay the implementation of the new requirements once again. They said that the State has limited appointments available for people looking for new cards and that there have been a hurry to meet the deadline of May 7.
However, the TSA spokesman Dan Vélez told the AP that the agency does not intend to delay the real identification deadline again.
At the end of April, 81% of travelers at TSA control points had an acceptable identification, including a real identification issued by the State, according to DHS.
