The REAL ID deadline is tomorrow. Here's what you need to know
Starting Wednesday, you'll need a REAL ID or passport to fly domestically, and at this point, getting an appointment at the RMV isn't easy.
James Bocock just got his REAL ID at the RMV in Braintree on the last day before the deadline.
'It was pretty difficult, I tried several days in a row and often I think they would go live at 9 a.m. and five or ten minutes after they were just booking as I was trying to accept for here, it would say it's no longer filled,' said Bocock.
He says his wife had to drive well over an hour away to an RMV with a free appointment to get that REAL ID.
They're in a rush, since they're traveling to Disney in a few weeks.
'My wife and I, we have a little girl, and we want everything to be as wrinkle-free as we possibly can,' said Bocock.
The Department of Homeland Security says if you don't have a REAL ID yet, you'll still be able to fly, for now.
'What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line and they will issue their ID and show it, if it's not compliant, they may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step but people will be allowed to fly,' said Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary.
Secretary Noem says they're not expecting too many delays since more than 80 percent of travelers already have ID's that are compliant with the new requirement, whether that's a REAL ID or passport.
'We're going to try to do this with as little interruption to operations as possible,' said Dan Velez, TSA New England spokesperson.
The TSA says if you don't have a REAL ID yet, you'll need to be pulled aside to go through extra screening.
'If you don't have a REAL ID or a REAL ID compliant ID, we do suggest you get to the airport quite a bit earlier than you normally do,' said Velez.
You'll also need a REAL ID to enter any federal buildings starting Wednesday.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Your Costco Membership Card? No, It Is Not a Replacement for Real ID.
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Buzz Feed
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Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
TSA Just Banned Costco Cards at Airport Security
Since May 7, 2025, travelers have needed a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID to board domestic flights. And now, TSA is putting its foot down, telling travelers that their Costco cards do not count as a valid form of ID to travel with. TSA posted the following message on Facebook: "We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not." Several people flocked to the comments section of the Facebook post, writing things like, "I mean at least it has a STAR on it," and "Im pretty sure that the Costco card is stronger than some passports." Another jokingly wrote, "So, you're saying we should bring you a chicken?" The post garnered over 15k reactions as of June 7, with over 700 comments. The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission to "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.' The process has taken 20 years to implement, per the Associated Press. At this time, all states are issuing REAL ID-compliant cards. In response to the question, "How do I get a REAL ID?" TSA's site reads, "Visit your state's driver's licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a REAL ID. At a minimum, you must provide documentation showing: 1) Full Legal Name; 2) Date of Birth; 3) Social Security Number; 4) Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence; and 5) Lawful Status." The confusion over the Costco cards likely stems from the prominent gold stars on members' cards. Real ID-compliant cards either contain a star— a lone star, one in a circle, or one in a Just Banned Costco Cards at Airport Security first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2025
