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Real ID appointment

Real ID Appointment

When you’re looking for a Real ID appointment, the phases can differ from state to state because traffic regulations differ from state to state. Each DMV or Department of Motor Vehicles will establish the guidelines that you must meet to request your appointment, something that can be done online.

Similarly, there are WhatsApp groups created for this purpose or you can do it from your home or office, with a phone call. Since the decreed pandemic, the agencies in charge have designed exclusive methods for scheduling appointments, for example, in Florida, with GoRenew.

There are certainly some differences, but making an appointment for a Real ID, or even a driver’s license, in the United States can be summed up this way:

  • Go to the official website of the DMV where you live.
  • Consult the online services that this dependency has for its users.
  • Locate the term “appointment” or appointment, and try to schedule one for the office that suits you best.

With these simple steps, you can get an appointment, which you must attend on time, taking the necessary documentation with you. Even if you had to “upload” some documents when requesting the appointment, it is always advisable to bring them on the day of the appointment.

What is Real ID?

The DHS or Department of Homeland Security of the United States will begin to enforce this law in May 2023, as we already mentioned. Previously, it was for October 2021, but it was restated due to the issue of the pandemic and the imbalances that this caused.

There was an apparent inability in several states to issue driver’s licenses that were REAL ID compliant, thankfully all of this has now been overcome. Today, to expedite these procedures, you must present the documents in person, at DMV or Department of Motor Vehicles locations.

This law was conceived in 2005, after the events of September 11, where it is required that you have a document with an improved method. These will be required at the posts where they control security at each airport, in addition to access to certain federal buildings.

These buildings include military platforms, but it will also be possible to present your passport or a specific federal document, as an alternative to REAL ID.

Appointment to get the REAL ID

So that you can get the precise REAL ID, first of all, the appointment for the Real ID, then in the dependency, you present the respective documents. The Department of Motor Vehicles must verify your identification, your age, Social Security numbers and exact address or address, among other information.

This means that your statement before an official is considered irrefutable unless proven otherwise, but they may request some documents to support it. For this reason, it does not hurt that you present a birth certificate or a travel credential, the W-2 tax form, and proof of address.

Find the REAL ID office nearest you

Select your State and you will find all the offices available by County. You will have all the information regarding address, contact telephone and opening hours, as well as any other information regarding your visit.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California North Carolina South Carolina Colorado Connecticut North Dakota South Dakota Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Luisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pensilvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington DC Washington Wisconsin Wyoming

What to bring to the Real ID appointment?

Once you have made the appointment for Real ID, you should consider that there are Real ID licenses, with certain prerogatives extended to their holders. This demand quite specific requirements that are common in each case because they were implemented by the TSA or Transportation Security Administration.

Under the TSA, each applicant must declare and prove their identity with a valid travel document or one of the following:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage certificate, if there was a change of surname
  • US passport card
  • DHS travel card or token, be it Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST
  • Department of Defense identification
  • Permanent citizen file
  • Border crossing file
  • Photo ID, registered by the federal government
  • HSPD-12 PIV file
  • Passport issued by a foreign government
  • Local Canadian Driver's License or Indian or Northern Canadian Affairs card
  • Carrier identity document
  • Card or token authorizing employment, from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (I-766).
  • US Merchant Mariner's Certificate
  • Veterans Health Identification (VHIC)

Remember that from May 2023, Real ID licenses will be the only acceptable documents to enter the federal, military or nuclear infrastructures. Similarly, it will be required to board domestic flights.

How do I know if my license or ID card is REAL ID compliant?

REAL ID compliant cards will have one of the following markings on the top of the card.
If the card does not have one of these five-pointed star badges, it is not REAL ID compliant and will not be accepted as proof of REAL ID.

example of a real ID

Why are REAL IDs being rolled out?

The implementation of the REAL ID comes on the occasion of the terrorist acts of September 11, when the government adjusted some regulations. It emerged in 2005 as an initiative of Congress after the 9/11 Commission commissioned to apply federal standards to identify people.

REAL ID Checklist

Just as an example, we cite the state of Texas and the requirements for the issuance of the REAL ID, but in general terms they are common. If you want to get your driver's license or ID under REAL ID, you should verify that your list contains the following:

  • Original or certified copy of a US birth certificate, booklet or passport card, but must be current
  • Social Security Card
  • Valid vehicle registration or title deed
  • A current car insurance policy or, failing that, a vehicle insurance statement
  • If your name has changed, you must bring legal documents showing the name change compared to your birth name

Reason to get a REAL ID

The real reason is because it is ordered by a Federal Law, and its implementation will be from the year 2023. In this sense, those who need to access a federal facility or make a national trip, will not be able to do so if they do not have a REAL ID.

A REAL ID is not a national identity card or token, per se; is a REAL ID Law passed in 2005 in the US Congress. This law requires that each state issue identification cards or tokens that meet certain security parameters.