21-04-2025
Make a list, check it twice when applying for Real ID
The best possible advice for Massachusetts residents seeking to upgrade their regular driver's licenses to a federal Real ID comes from Santa Claus, who makes a yearly list and checks it twice.
Anyone venturing to one of the 21 Registry of Motor Vehicles offices throughout the state should study the list of required documents, write it down and check it at least twice before venturing out.
The deadline for upgrading to a federal ID, required for domestic airplane flights and entrance to federal buildings, is May 7. It can be differentiated from a standard Massachusetts driver's license by a white star on a gold background in the upper left corner.
Vanessa Hunter traveled from Randolph to Cambridge to pick up her mother, Rosemarie, and take her to the Boston location after learning through news reports that all RMV offices across Massachusetts were accepting walk-in requests.
While walk-ins can be accommodated in certain circumstances, the women were turned away in the afternoon when the lines at the Boston office threatened to snake down the stairs and out the door.
'We were told that we would just be given another day to come back,' Vanessa Hunter said. She had meticulously gathered her mother's paperwork to ensure they had every paper they needed. "The line was so long, it was frustrating."
So what paperwork do Massachusetts residents need to upgrade to the federal document?
First: proof of legal presence in the United States. This could be a birth certificate issued by an American municipality or an American passport.
Second: proof of legal residence in Massachusetts. This could include a standard driver's license and two proofs of residence, such as a bank statement, credit card statement, utility bill, car insurance card or registration. There is a list on the RMV website.
And finally, proof of having been issued a Social Security number. This could be an unlaminated Social Security card, a tax return showing the full number or a pay stub also showing the full number.
A spokesperson for the agency suggested residents familiarize themselves with the documents listed on the agency's website. Next, check that they carry all the paperwork with them.
A woman from Roxbury stood in line for hours only to be told to come back another day. She had forgotten her pay stub with her Social Security number and proof of Massachusetts residency.
A Somerville woman who waited a month for her appointment also had the misfortune of forgetting one of the crucial documents, one that proves she lives in Massachusetts. But she was assured she could return April 22 and walk right in to deliver her paperwork.
Residents who had made appointments said the process was smooth, despite having to wait a month between scheduling the appointment and being seen.
According to a spokesperson, the state agency releases new appointment times and dates every hour during business hours. If there are none available in Worcester when a resident first goes online, they can check back an hour later to see if appointments have opened up.
One caveat: To acquire a Real ID, residents must already have a valid, unexpired ID. A Dorchester college student learned the hard way: Lacking a valid state identification card, she had to apply for that first and will have to return to the RMV once she receives it to apply for her Real ID.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Make a list, check it twice when applying for Real ID
