Latest news with #RealID-compliant
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Planning to fly without a Real ID license? You'll need one of these documents
The deadline to obtain a Real ID-compliant license before TSA screeners require them at airports and some federal facilities passed weeks ago. If you still haven't upgraded, you could be kept from traveling or you'll face additional airport screening, but there are other options. It can take up to four weeks to receive a new Michigan license after filling out paperwork through the Michigan Secretary of State's office, which means you can't ask for one and receive it the same day. Instead, you will have to rely on other forms of approved identification. Even if you don't have an alternative approved form, TSA officers may simply ask you to complete an identity verification process that includes collecting information, such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the security screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening. If you don't have one of the approved alternatives, you need to take steps to obtain a Real ID compliant license or one of the other ID forms. Teens/ children typically don't need identification to fly with a parent or guardian. "Transportation Security Administration does not require children under age 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States," according to the Michigan Department of State. Here's what to know about Real ID alternatives. If you have a passport, you can use that instead of a REAL ID to board domestic flights, according to the Department of Homeland Security. If you want the convenience of using your driver's license or identification card to board domestic flights, then you'll need to get a REAL ID. Passports (or passport cards in some cases) are always required for international travel. Routine passport applications take 4 to 6 weeks to process. Expedited applications take 2 to 3 weeks. Urgent requests can be completed in person in 14 days. TSA-approved Real ID alternatives include: U.S. passport U.S. passport card Michigan enhanced driver's license DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Border crossing card An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) The deadline to have a Real ID-compliant identification was May 7, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security offers an online tool to check whether you have acceptable ID. Real ID compliance is part of a larger act passed by Congress in 2005 to set 'minimum security standards' for the distribution of identification materials, including driver's licenses, USA TODAY reported. "Transportation Security Administration does not require children under age 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States," according to the Michigan Department of State. More: Your guide to Real ID in Michigan: Deadline, how to get it, what it looks like, more The law means certain federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security, won't be allowed to accept state-issued forms of identification that don't include a Real ID seal. Yes, the Michigan Secretary of State will continue to offer Real ID-compliant licenses in the future. You can upgrade your license when you renew or by making an appointment. More: Can I still travel without a Real ID? Here are the alternatives You can update your ID by visiting your local Michigan Secretary of State branch office. You'll need to bring the following documents, per the department: Your current Michigan driver's license or ID. A valid, unexpired U.S. passport, birth certificate, or other proof of legal presence document. A certified legal name-change document, if your name is different from what is on your birth certificate. From Feb. 23 to May 17, the Michigan Secretary of State said, workers issued 202,571 real ID-compliant driver's licenses or state IDs to Michiganders. The week of May 4 was the busiest of the year, with 28,289 converted IDs issued. More than 76% of Michigan residents have compliant licenses, the SoS said. Michigan had about 7.0 million licensed drivers as of 2020, according to the Federal Highway Administration. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Real ID rules are in effect. What you need to get onto a plane
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Memorial Day travel surge: How to fly smoothly under new Real ID guidelines
CHICAGO () — Freeways and airports across the United States continue to fill up as more people make their getaways for the long Memorial Day weekend. Even as politics and the nation's aging air traffic infrastructure rattle the U.S. travel industry, paired with new Real ID guidelines, Americans are expected to travel in record numbers. In Chicago, 1.86 million travelers are expected throughout the weekend at O'Hare and Midway International Airports, marking a 5% increase from last year. AAA predicted 45.1 million people across the country will travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend. The holiday's previous domestic travel record of 44 million was set 20 years ago. After years of postponements and delays, the REAL ID compliance deadline arrived in early May. Those who are over 18 years old must have a Real ID-compliant driver's license to fly. An Illinois Real ID is denoted by a gold star in the upper right-hand corner of a driver's license or state identification. Those without a Real ID can still fly but must go through a screening process that includes giving personal information to TSA agents. People who do not have a Real ID can use the following identifications to fly: U.S. passport or passport card Permanent resident card Border crossing card Military identification card Trusted Traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) For a full list of identifications that can be used in place of a Real ID, click here. Airport officials are urging travelers to arrive early, giving them plenty of time to go through security while others get accustomed to the new guidelines. Real-time updates for O'Hare TSA checkpoints are available at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can green card, visa holders fly in the US under new Real ID rules? Here's what to know
Many people across the nation are clamoring to replace their driver's license and state IDs with the Real ID-compliant cards now required for U.S. domestic flights. As of May 7, all U.S. citizens over 18 must show proof of identification that meets the 2005 Real ID Act's rules. But this change in federal travel requirements is creating some confusion about what it means for noncitizens. Passed two decades ago by Congress in response to the bipartisan 9/11 Commission's recommendations after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., the aim of the program was to raise security standards for domestic travel and federal and nuclear facility access. But immigration experts say the law's enactment during the second Trump administration has left noncitizens — including some of the 13.5 million people legally in the U.S. on green cards, work and student visas and humanitarian parole — uncertain about what the rule change could mean for their own travel. President Donald Trump has promised and prioritized mass deportations of criminals and people illegally in the U.S. But in practice, his policies have swept up U.S. citizens and people with a legal immigration status. He has also tried to end legal pathways that allowed people to temporarily live and work in the U.S. Many of these actions are being challenged in court. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about Real ID and its effect on citizen versus noncitizen travel. The Department of Homeland Security says the aim of the Real ID requirements was to bring consistency to the minimum documentation requirements needed for state-issued IDs — driver's license, learner's permits and nondriver all states issuing Real ID-compliant cards require people applying for those cards to present certain documentation. The exact requirements vary by state, but in most cases the minimum documents needed include: Proof of identity in the form of a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or a green card. Social Security Number in the form of a Social Security card, W-2 form, or a pay stub. Two proofs of address of principal residence, which may be a utility bill, bank statement or mortgage statement. Lawful status proof, including a valid employment authorization document, Social Security Number or a valid unexpired visa. A Real ID card bears a black or gold star or a U.S. flag in its upper right corner. State-issued ID cards that don't have these markers will not be accepted as proof of identity to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities. No, you can still travel domestically provided you have another form of identification that is Real ID-compliant. The Transportation Security Administration lists many other forms of acceptable IDs, including options for people who are not U.S. citizens. Among them: State-issued enhanced driver's licenses or enhanced IDs, which provide proof of identity when crossing the U.S. borders in a vehicle. U.S. passports or U.S. passport cards. Foreign government-issued passports. Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards under programs such as Global Entry, which let U.S. citizens, green card holders and some foreign nationals to go through expedited lanes at airports. U.S. Department of Defense IDs, including IDs issued to dependents of people in the military. Lawful permanent resident cards, also known as green cards. Border crossing cards, a document used by Mexican citizens to enter the U.S. Acceptable photo IDs issued by federally recognized tribal nations, including enhanced tribal cards. HSPD-12 PIV cards, which are used by federal contractors to access facilities and systems. Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cards. Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Cards. U.S. Merchant Mariner Credentials, which show evidence of a mariner's qualifications; and Veteran Health Identification Cards (VHIC). There's one big caveat: TSA says the list of acceptable IDs is subject to change without notice and advises travelers to check the list before traveling. Although numerous forms of ID are accepted for noncitizens, the Real ID policy could have a chilling effect on travelers whose documentation differentiates them from citizens, immigration experts told PolitiFact. As one example, immigration attorney Prerna Lal said that, in any interaction with federal authorities, carrying a foreign passport could lead to scrutiny of that person's identity if they lack legal immigration status. "Even with valid foreign passports, undocumented individuals and mixed-status families may avoid traveling due to concerns about interactions with TSA or law enforcement, despite passports remaining acceptable documentation," Lal said. "This fear of enforcement, rather than access to IDs, is the primary chilling effect on the immigrant community." A TSA officer may ask a person to complete an identity verification process. If the identity is confirmed, that person will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. Yes, the Real ID regulations define an individual in a "temporary lawful status" as a person who has a pending application for asylum; has a pending or approved application for temporary protected status; has approved deferred action; or has a pending application for lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident status. The Real ID Act lets states issue temporary, Real ID driver licenses and ID cards to people with temporary status. People with a temporary immigration status are usually granted temporary valid employment authorization and Social Security numbers, which they can use to apply for Real IDs. Their temporary Real ID will remain valid until their lawful status expires. Florida is one exception: The Sunshine State requires almost all immigrants with lawful status to renew their IDs annually. Green card holders in Florida don't have to renew a REAL ID every year; their Real ID is valid until their green card expires. Most green cards are valid for 10 years, but people can apply for a renewal. Also, people with valid student or work visas can present their unexpired passports, visas and I-94 form, a document that shows a person's authorized period of stay in the U.S., for proof of identity and legal status and get a Real ID. States that provide non-Real ID compliant ID cards to people without legal immigration status can still do so, according to DHS, but the cards must clearly state that they are not acceptable for Real ID purposes and must have a unique design or color to differentiate them from compliant cards. These non-Real ID compliant ID cards cannot be used as a form of identification for domestic travel. Lal told PolitiFact that a Real ID alone does not prevent an arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or confirm a lawful immigration status. Although Real ID-compliant identification requires proof of lawful presence for issuance, it is not proof of current immigration status. "ICE conducts its own verification, and possessing a Real ID does not grant immunity from enforcement actions," Lal said. Lal said that people should present to ICE valid, government-issued documentation that shows their current immigration status, such as a green card, employment authorization card or visa. Phone interview with Ediberto Roman, professor of law & director of Immigration and Citizenship Initiatives at the Florida International University, May 8, 2025 Email interview with Jasleen Singh, counsel in the Brennan Center's voting rights program, May 8, 2025 Email interview with Immigration attorney Prerna Lal, May 8, 2025 How to get a Real ID and use it for travel, updated April 14, 2025 State motor vehicle services, accessed May 8, 2025 DHS, Real ID Frequently Asked Questions, accessed May 8, 2025 TSA, Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint, accessed May 8, 2025 FindLaw, What Is a Real ID, and Do I Need It to vote?, Feb. 14, 2024 VoteRiders, What is Real ID?, accessed May 8, 2025 NCSL, Voter ID Laws, updated April 16, 2025 News4Jax, Florida enacts stricter driver's license rules for legal immigrants, May 5, 2025 Federal Registry, Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, accessed May 8, 2025 Get a Passport Card, accessed May 8, 2025 U.S. Passports and Real ID, accessed May 8, 2025 TSA, Real ID, accessed May 8, 2025 Who can and cannot vote, accessed May 8, 2025 USCIS, How do I renew or replace my permanent resident card?, accessed May 12, 2025 GSA, Federal credentialing services, accessed May 12, 2025 Maritime Institute, GET MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL (MMC), accessed May 12, 2025 DHS, Enhanced Drivers Licenses: What Are They?, accessed May 12, 2025 Pew Research Center, What the data says about immigrants in the U.S., Sept. 27, 2024 PolitiFact, Can Donald Trump use a 1798 law to carry out mass deportations?, Oct. 18, 2024 PolitiFact, Ask PolitiFact: What evidence does the government need to deport green card, visa holders?, March 26, 2025 The Washington Post, Here are the U.S. citizens caught in Trump's immigration crackdown, updated May 3, 2025 PolitiFact, How spin and falsehoods propelled Trump's immigration crackdown in his first 100 days, April 28, 2025 This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Can green card, visa holders fly in the US under new Real ID rules?
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Real ID: Why No One Seems To Be Ready After 20 Years of Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Wednesday, May 7, the long-anticipated implementation of Real ID laws finally came into effect, and Americans now need a specific identification on their driver's license (or a passport) for air travel. What is Real ID? The Real ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. As of May 7, 2025, travelers need a Real ID-compliant license or another accepted form of identification, like a passport, to board federally regulated commercial aircraft and access certain federal facilities. Real ID-compliant cards are marked with a star at the top and require applicants to provide documents that prove their identity, Social Security number and lawful status in the U.S. Stock image of an airport sign with 'REAL ID' on it. Stock image of an airport sign with 'REAL ID' on it. Photo by Tanaonte / Getty Images "Real ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens," Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem explained in a press release. "Enforcing federal law will help keep American travelers safe." Delays in Implementation The implementation of the Real ID Act has faced multiple delays since its passage in 2005. The federal government extended the compliance deadline several times due to logistical challenges and public readiness. Initially set to go into effect in 2008, the deadline was postponed repeatedly. One of the major reasons for these delays has been the uneven pace at which states upgraded their ID systems to meet the law's stringent documentation and verification requirements. Millions of Americans lacked Real IDs, which would have created major travel disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the issue, as DMVs closed down and limited their appointments. In 2020 and again in 2022, the DHS cited pandemic-related challenges when extending the deadline. Social Media Reacts Posters on the Reddit forum r/TSA debated whether people should have been prepared for the change. One user noted that the Real ID change has been in the works for a very long time, adding that while they have a passport, they "feel for others" who might not be prepared. "Some people were like 2 years old in 2005, and people didn't bring this deadline stuff back up until people started saying 'May 7th,'" they wrote. "All while the past 20 years, we have been getting state IDs we thought were going to be useful because DMVs and other offices weren't pushing them when we were getting IDs." "Why are any states even giving out non-Real IDs anymore?" "I literally just renewed my license and didn't realize until after they didn't give me a Real ID," another user commented. "Had to go back and they were like, 'Well, you didn't ask for one.' "Why are any states even giving out non-Real IDs anymore?" In a message to Newsweek, the user said they have Global Entry, a military retired ID, a passport and a federal employee ID. "I just didn't expect Washington to make me jump through extra hoops," they wrote. "They could have had some kind of warning on the website that says: 'This isn't Real ID compliant' or something. I might have missed it, but I'm extremely computer competent, so if I missed it, what about everyone else?" In the Reddit thread, a Virginia resident noted, "When I last renewed my license 7 years ago, they didn't even mention Real ID, and when I renewed this year, it was framed as 'it's cool if you don't want to bother with the extra effort'." "Honestly? A lot of people don't like the idea and were hoping it would go away before it ever went into effect," another Redditor added. Some users, however, were less sympathetic. "Nahhh, there were literal signs at airports throughout the years," one wrote. "I vividly remember going through TSA security and reading 'REAL ID 2016'." Newsweek reached out to posters requesting further comment on Friday, May 9.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Travelers passing through Manchester airport fly through security on first day of Real ID
Darcie Wigfall of Salem didn't have any delays getting through airport security for her girls trip to Florida on Wednesday. With a Real-ID compliant and newly designed New Hampshire driver's license, she sailed through the Transportation Security Administration's checkpoint at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. It was the first day every traveler 18 or older was required to have a Real ID or passport, or face extra screening to fly within the U.S. For Wigfall and most others, it was a breeze, even with the redesigned IDs, which gave some TSA agents scanning troubles in other parts of the country since the new licenses rolled out in January. Wigfall gave a thumbs-up as a TSA agent quickly checked her in, just as fast as one of her companions who all had Real IDs. 'They better not (have difficulties). Not today,' Wigfall said of the new license before going through security. 'They better not give me a hard time.' They didn't. Nor did TSA agents in Orlando, Florida, give a hard time to Gilford's Becky Orton, who flew back to New Hampshire on Wednesday morning without a Real ID-compliant driver's license. Orton made it with only a brief pause for extra screening, which was mostly just security agents swabbing her hands while verifying she was who she said she was. 'I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but they just pulled me aside and basically swabbed my palms,' Orton said. 'That was it. I gave my license. Oh, and they called me non-compliant.' How long did it take? 'Two seconds,' Orton said. Before coming home though, Orton did do her due diligence by having her passport mailed to Florida because she anticipated extra scrutiny flying back the day Real ID enforcement went into effect. Sadly, her passport didn't arrive in time, but thankfully it wasn't a big deal, she said. Nearly everyone who came through Manchester-Boston Regional Airport had a mostly normal experience Wednesday, said Elizabeth Selecky, federal security director for the TSA in New Hampshire. 'We've had a really strong showing of folks who are arriving with compliant IDs. Initially, it started out in the morning around 98% compliant, and we're still hovering around the 90% area,' Selecky around 12:30 p.m. Passing the test in NH John Marasco, the state's Division of Motor Vehicles director, said earlier this week the TSA informed him 62% of the credential authentication technology scanners had been upgraded nationwide. The other 38% of machines are expected to be able to accept the state's new licenses by May 12, he said. The Department of Homeland Security certified New Hampshire's new design as compliant on March 27. The CAT scanner upgrades were given priority in Manchester and the state's two other commercial airports in Portsmouth and Lebanon. Some problems have persisted at other smaller airports scattered around the U.S., and some Granite Staters coming into Boston Logan International Airport had reported scanners rejecting the new licenses earlier this year. Last week, the DMV and TSA tried to assure residents anyone with the new licenses or state-issued IDs should be able to travel without long delays. Both urged residents to bring a passport just in case. Public awareness pays off Not only has the DMV executed a media blitz for the last year to make sure residents understood how, why and when they should get a Real ID, the TSA did its part as well. Leading up to the deadline, Selecky and officials from the Manchester airport and Londonderry Police had a table near the entrance to the TSA checkpoint with games and information for travelers to help make something as mundane as having the proper ID fun and engaging for the public, she said. 'Because people were traveling out ahead of the kickoff date, they'd be traveling back after Real ID enforcement went fully into effect. So, it was just a good opportunity to answer those questions ahead of kickoff,' Selecky said. She said most travelers were well-informed and already had compliant IDs. Safety in the air The Real ID Act came about after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The goal of the program was to establish national safety standards and be able to verify the identities of anyone flying commercially or entering a federal building or nuclear power plant. Selecky said the bottom line is public safety. 'It's an additional layer of security and also something where it helps ensure that people are who they say they are,' she said. For more information about the Real ID, visit dpierce@
