Real ID deadline is one month away. Just 58% of RI residents have it. How to get yours
If you've been putting it off, now is the time to get your Real ID.
Domestic flight travelers will be required to have a Real ID seal on their identification card or driver's license beginning May 7, unless they choose to use an accepted alternative form of ID for traveling.
That's just one month away.
Here in Rhode Island, residents need to renew their license with the Division of Motor Vehicles to be Real ID-compliant.
About 58% of active credentials in the state are compliant as of April 1, a DMV spokesperson said. That means lots of people could be scrambling to book appointments in the coming weeks.
To update or license or ID to a Real ID, you'll have to book an in-person appointment at either a DMV office or AAA branch for members.
Appointments for both the DMV and AAA can be scheduled online.
Residents need to bring four required documents to their Real ID appointment. They are:
Proof of identity
Passport or original birth certificate
Proof of social security number
Social security card or W-2 form
Two proofs of Rhode Island residence
Lease, mortgage, utility bills
The full list of acceptable documents is available on the DMV website.
The cost of upgrading to a Real ID in Rhode Island depends on whether or not the license is also being renewed, according to the DMV.
Customers who are applying for it within their renewal period don't have to pay any additional costs. Outside your renewal period, it will cost $27.50 to upgrade to a Real ID.
After upgrading to a Real ID at an in-person appointment, it will take two weeks for the credential to come in the mail, according to the DMV.
No, you don't need a Real ID, but if you're planning on flying domestically, it would make the process easier. It's also needed to enter some federal buildings.
If you don't have a Real ID after May 7, you can also use an accepted alternative form of identification, such as a passport. TSA's website has a full list of accepted forms of ID. A passport will still be required for international travel.
A Real ID is a form of identification that meets certain security standards to enter federally-regulated buildings, aircrafts and nuclear power plants.
Real IDs are easily distinguishable from regular IDs because they have a yellow star in the corner.
The requirement is part of The Real ID Act of 2005, which put in place certain security standards for licenses and identification cards, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The original Real ID deadline was set to take effect in 2020 but was pushed back several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Melina Khan is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY Network - New England, which serves more than a dozen affiliated publications across New England. She can be reached at MKhan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Real ID deadline is one month away. How to get it in Rhode Island
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