Real ID questions
October 1, 2018 6:59 AM Subscribe
I'm flying within the United States in November. How do I comply with TSA ID requirements?
I'm a US citizen with a non-Real ID California drivers license. I want to travel domestically in November. As best I can understand I can use my license until October 10th or possibly October 18th because California is considered a non-compliant state. Past California's compliance deadline I can't use my license to board a flight unless California is granted another extension. From what I can gather it seems that it's likely that California will be granted another extension mid-October. Getting a birth certificate copy, which is necessary for getting a Real ID compliant license, will take up to 20 days. I'll start that process tomorrow. I also have an old passport that expired in 1996. I think I can use that expired passport to get another passport under a rush program. That's another track. Here are the questions:
Is it likely that California will be granted an extension on non-compliance and when will we know?
My passport is really old and has two holes punched in the cover. I think that my appearance has changed but not enough to make me unidentifiable from my 1986 passport. It's possible I'm delusional. Will the holes in the old passport or the age invalidate the passport for the purposes of applying for a new passport?
I'm a US citizen with a non-Real ID California drivers license. I want to travel domestically in November. As best I can understand I can use my license until October 10th or possibly October 18th because California is considered a non-compliant state. Past California's compliance deadline I can't use my license to board a flight unless California is granted another extension. From what I can gather it seems that it's likely that California will be granted another extension mid-October. Getting a birth certificate copy, which is necessary for getting a Real ID compliant license, will take up to 20 days. I'll start that process tomorrow. I also have an old passport that expired in 1996. I think I can use that expired passport to get another passport under a rush program. That's another track. Here are the questions:
Is it likely that California will be granted an extension on non-compliance and when will we know?
My passport is really old and has two holes punched in the cover. I think that my appearance has changed but not enough to make me unidentifiable from my 1986 passport. It's possible I'm delusional. Will the holes in the old passport or the age invalidate the passport for the purposes of applying for a new passport?
Apologies if I’m confused/misinformed, but I also just renewed my CA DL, and their page says that REAL ID doesn’t go into effect until 2020:
Valid California driver license/ID cards will be accepted to board a domestic flight and to enter secure federal facilities until October 1, 2020.
posted by mykescipark at 7:28 AM on October 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Valid California driver license/ID cards will be accepted to board a domestic flight and to enter secure federal facilities until October 1, 2020.
posted by mykescipark at 7:28 AM on October 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
mykescipark is correct, see also this recent question.
posted by solotoro at 7:29 AM on October 1, 2018
posted by solotoro at 7:29 AM on October 1, 2018
Not only will you not need a REAL ID in November, you can fly without any ID at all.
posted by suncages at 7:37 AM on October 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by suncages at 7:37 AM on October 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Is there a reason you don't want to get a new California ID? I did it a few months ago and it only took two weeks for me to get my new one.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:31 AM on October 1, 2018
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:31 AM on October 1, 2018
Apologies if I’m confused/misinformed, but I also just renewed my CA DL, and their page says that REAL ID doesn’t go into effect until 2020:
Valid California driver license/ID cards will be accepted to board a domestic flight and to enter secure federal facilities until October 1, 2020.
There's an answer on Travel StackExchange that does a good job of explaining what's going on with California IDs. The California DMV is assuming that they'll either be granted an exemption or be in compliance by the middle of this month. If neither thing happens, then no California IDs (Real ID or otherwise) will be accepted by the TSA. And even if one of these things does happen, everyone will need a Real ID by October 2020.
It seems to me that politically, the chances that the licenses of 26 million people will suddenly become invalid for flying are extremely remote. But stranger things have happened.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:48 AM on October 1, 2018
Valid California driver license/ID cards will be accepted to board a domestic flight and to enter secure federal facilities until October 1, 2020.
There's an answer on Travel StackExchange that does a good job of explaining what's going on with California IDs. The California DMV is assuming that they'll either be granted an exemption or be in compliance by the middle of this month. If neither thing happens, then no California IDs (Real ID or otherwise) will be accepted by the TSA. And even if one of these things does happen, everyone will need a Real ID by October 2020.
It seems to me that politically, the chances that the licenses of 26 million people will suddenly become invalid for flying are extremely remote. But stranger things have happened.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:48 AM on October 1, 2018
TSA: Travel » Security Screening » Identification
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.
posted by ellenaim at 9:55 AM on October 1, 2018
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.
posted by ellenaim at 9:55 AM on October 1, 2018
I'm flying at the end of October, and realized I need to get a REAL ID. I sent for a birth certificate (it didn't take 20 days; it did take more than a week), which required me to find a notary to fax in the request form. Until recently, the DMV page was saying you needed REAL ID by mid-October this year.
I refreshed the DMV appointment page several times, looking for one that was more than two weeks before my flight. My appointment is Wednesday; I've been warned to bring a book and a lunch and plan to be in line all day. I can let you know how it goes.
I expect an extension to be granted, because nobody wants the clusterfuck of drama of people being turned away at the airport for holiday flights they booked in March. News about REAL ID has been scarce; there hasn't been a solid push to inform people, "you will not be able to fly if you don't have this card by [date]." I know there'll be some surprised people no matter when the cutoff date is, but right now, I think the numbers of people who don't have REAL ID are high enough to scramble the airlines badly--there'd be a number of demands for refunds, based on "airline didn't tell me I'd need this to fly," and a lot of canceled flights, including "whole family cancels because the college kid doesn't have the right ID yet."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:36 AM on October 1, 2018
I refreshed the DMV appointment page several times, looking for one that was more than two weeks before my flight. My appointment is Wednesday; I've been warned to bring a book and a lunch and plan to be in line all day. I can let you know how it goes.
I expect an extension to be granted, because nobody wants the clusterfuck of drama of people being turned away at the airport for holiday flights they booked in March. News about REAL ID has been scarce; there hasn't been a solid push to inform people, "you will not be able to fly if you don't have this card by [date]." I know there'll be some surprised people no matter when the cutoff date is, but right now, I think the numbers of people who don't have REAL ID are high enough to scramble the airlines badly--there'd be a number of demands for refunds, based on "airline didn't tell me I'd need this to fly," and a lot of canceled flights, including "whole family cancels because the college kid doesn't have the right ID yet."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:36 AM on October 1, 2018
If and when you get your passport sorted, apply for a US passport card as well. TSA specifically accepts the passport card as ID for domestic flights, and it can be used for land crossings of the the Canadian and Mexican borders.
posted by hanov3r at 12:43 PM on October 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by hanov3r at 12:43 PM on October 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Honestly, if you are anywhere near a passport office, just do an in-person expedited renewal with your old passport. It’s easy and then you have a passport.
posted by dame at 9:46 PM on October 1, 2018
posted by dame at 9:46 PM on October 1, 2018
Update: California's exemption has now been extended to January 10, 2019.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:25 AM on October 9, 2018
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:25 AM on October 9, 2018
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posted by Liesl at 7:03 AM on October 1, 2018 [1 favorite]