Did you get your Real ID (License) ?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not just 50 states but 5 territories that issue driver licenses. Puerto Rico wanted to be different and didn’t put the star in the circle.

But as far as training goes, wouldn’t the common sense thing to do be to actually have employees look through pages of sample ID images? It just seems basic to me.

The main issue with recommending a passport card is that not all people who would otherwise be eligible for a Real ID compliant driver license is eligible. Permanent residents and certain nonimmigrant residents can’t get a US passport card, although a permanent resident would have a green card. Any TSA agent (even working a small airport in the middle of nowhere) who can’t recognize a green card should be summarily fired for incompetence.

Yes I know other territories, regardless they'll have more experience with it than you or I probably ever will given their job that was kinda my point. However, no one is perfect. I don't know what their process will be or is presently right now if they don't easily recognize the validity of an ID but I get a person's concern regarding the TSA themselves I just don't think it will be a significant issue or be part of TSA workplace culture issue in regards to recognizing various acceptable IDs with respects to Enhanced, REAL ID, non-REAL ID ID, etc as they already are responsible for recognizing many different forms presently. Purely my opinion.

The reason on their DMV's website that Oregon gave for a Passport card is that it was less expensive option than a passport. Personally I'd get the passport itself but with Oregon's proximity to Canada that may be more of a reason a passport card makes more sense to recommend in addition to the cost. Here's exactly what their website says: "

• If you are going to fly after October of 2020, you should think about getting a passport card. It’s cheaper than a full passport book ($65 vs. $145 - and if you already have a passport, the card is only $30). You can apply at one of the over 75 acceptance centers in Oregon, the requirements are similar to that of an Oregon Real ID compliant card (proof of citizenship – like a birth certificate, passport photo, photocopy of your driver license), and it only takes about four to six weeks.
• The best thing is that you can get that passport card now! No need to wait until July of 2020.

I think their recommendation is more aimed at people who are eligible for a passport card to begin with but hey it's their wording lol.

 

[bcla]

TSA has never questioned our DLs. My husband was in Maryland a couple years ago at a Texas Roadhouse. The bartender thought his DL was fake because she'd never seen a KS DL. She actually bent his license in the middle try to 'check' that it was real. I was so pissed as you should never do that to see if it's fake; she should have asked around or like you described an ID guide of some sort. I have a lot less faith in a bartender in a random state than I do in the TSA agents who are more used to seeing various DLs from all over on a daily basis.

Where I saw this was at Chili’s in Santa Clara, California. Now this might have been because of the area. Silicon Valley gets a lot of visitors and transplants.

I have seen someone trying to use a foreign driver license as ID. At least in my state that wouldn’t be an affirmative defense if there was sale of alcohol to a minor. Also not accepted by TSA.

 

[Hikergirl]

Yes of course. LOL, the key word is should. My concern is that all TSA agents are properly trained to recognize different types of “Real-ID compliant” licenses from certain states with symbols that may be different from the star, which is apparently the most common.

The NY enhanced license actually required more documentation (and cost more) to get than the “regular” Real ID (including proof of US citizenship). We shall see.

There are also a handful of states that received extensions to the deadline and are not yet issuing Real IDs. Then there will be a mad rush by everyone to the DMV offices in those states by everyone who wants one to get it in a short period of time. Will they be prepared for that? Who knows?

I guess my point was that it is Real ID compliant so he should have no issues traveling. Even if it is questioned by a TSA agent who isn't trained properly, it is easy to prove that the EDL is valid for domestic travel.
I have no plans to travel until a couple months after it goes in to effect, if someone stops me because my NY license doesn't have a star I don't see it being that big of a deal to get it straightened out right then and there.

 

[Hikergirl]

Yeah that’s gonna be fine in your home airport but do you really think the agent in some small out of the way spot across the country is gonna know every rule for every state?

Not me.

What good is their access to a data base gonna do while you are standing in the check point line?

They are Federal employees. They don't need to to know the rule of every single state, they need to know the rules for the federal government. All they need to know is that any of the State's EDLs are valid for federal purposes, which includes domestic air travel. There are only 5 at this point, so it should be fairly easy.

 

[bcla]

They are Federal employees. They don't need to to know the rule of every single state, they need to know the rules for the federal government. All they need to know is that any of the State's EDLs are valid for federal purposes, which includes domestic air travel. There are only 5 at this point, so it should be fairly easy.

I'm trying to figure out what exactly is likely to go wrong. Either they know what an ID looks like or they'll pull up a reference with sample images. Any TSA agent who hasn't been trained on enhanced driver licenses needs to go back to class and learn what to look for. I mean - these are people who are supposed to be looking out for weapons and explosives. They need to have seen sample images of every possible current US ID, as well as SENTRI, NEXUS, etc.

When I'm at line waiting for the screening, I've seen IDs from around the country as well as foreign passports being presented. This can happen anywhere. Anyone in that job who gets phased out by (for example) a Washington state enhanced ID) doesn't deserve the job.

Now the thing that is probably the most frustrating is that closed-loop cruises from US ports still allow travel on an ID plus a birth certificate or CRBA. Since birth certificates don't expire, there can be thousands of different forms issued by cities/counties/states, including some odd ones. That's is going to be tough for CPB agents who have to handle those, as well as minors crossing back from Canada or Mexico who can use a birth certificate.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yeah but the point was the person didn't have an ID and the PP was saying the process to allow the individual in question to still fly was different between the two airports.

You can still fly without an ID but the TSA uses vague wording "The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. You will be subject to additional screening, to include a patdown and screening of carry-on property. You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if your identity cannot be confirmed, you chose to not provide proper identification or you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process."

My only point was maybe they are asking different information to verify one's identity or their process in verifying one's identity is different at each airport. I get the PP's point though regarding differences in TSA personnel. The common goal is verifying one's identity so as long as that occurs that's the main thing.

The TSA folks would tell you that that isn't a bug, but a feature. They claim that they deliberately vary procedures to throw would-be terrorists off their game. I think it's just an official justification for scrimping on training costs, myself.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The TSA folks would tell you that that isn't a bug, but a feature. They claim that they deliberately vary procedures to throw would-be terrorists off their game. I think it's just an official justification for scrimping on training costs, myself.

Well that's not quite what I'm meaning.

Airports utilize different security procedures yes on purpose (such as belts, small electronics, etc) and they switch up the 'policy' at any given time. I doubt it's scrimping on training costs. It takes the same training to tell someone you need to remove electronics larger than a phone out of your bag as it does to say all belts must be off. That doesn't mean that an airport will utilize both of those procedures. I really don't know if it is keeping people that would do harm on their toes but I'm not necessarily sure it's a simple cost-saving measure.

Verifying one's identity if no ID is present is something that all airports would be utilizing. I was meaning that one airport may be asking different questions or maybe in a different order but the end result is the same across all which is verifying your identity in the event you don't have your ID. Maybe one airport is able to verify someone's identity faster depending on which questions are asked in a specific order. IDK that's more what I meant.

 

[plygph]

Got mine FYI Electronic versions of D/L are NOT acceptable for TSA

 

[mjkacmom]

Unfortunately I need to renew my license in person by February, and my state isn’t offering real ID until the fall.

 

[Disney Doll]

Brought a few things...marriage license to prove name change, passport, utility bill, bank statement. i think they copied the passport, the utility bill and the marriage license.

I went to a AAA office to do it since the MVD here is a beast. Took about 10-15 minutes start to finish.

 

[Hikergirl]

Unfortunately I need to renew my license in person by February, and my state isn’t offering real ID until the fall.

Wow, considering this goes in to effect in Oct that is a really bad decision by your state.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, considering this goes in to effect in Oct that is a really bad decision by your state.

Which reminds me, time to get our passports renewed! DH flies several times for work every year.

 

[AngiTN]

Brought a few things...marriage license to prove name change, passport, utility bill, bank statement. i think they copied the passport, the utility bill and the marriage license.

I went to a AAA office to do it since the MVD here is a beast. Took about 10-15 minutes start to finish.

one way to look at it is you need anything that documents why your current name doesn’t match your birth name
So for me I needed to show why my middle name is what it is, which is my former married name (kept it so that matched DD) and then needed to show my current last name
So birth certificate
Divorce papers
Marriage license
Then proof of where I live, voters registration and existing license handled that

I would have been able to use the automated system but they’d done something to my number and it needed human interaction to click on a specific option. The dmv guy told me but I’ve forgotten now

I told DH we should consider passports but really living in the center of the country we have no access to cross any border easily and no plans to travel near where we would

 

[debster812]

Got mine back in August. I went to our local AAA office that does RMV transactions (in MA). I had the fun added wrinkle of having just lost my wallet, so I did not have my actual current license. I took my passport, they were able to look up my AAA card, and I then brought utility bill, pay stub, last year's tax form, and a few other things.

No fuss, no muss, and easier than I thought it would be considering my wallet went missing about 10 days prior to my license actually expiring.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I'll deal with it at some point this year

 

[KPeterso]

Hoping it comes quicker. I am also in CA and was told I should have mine within 2 weeks. I can update when I get it. I renewed on Monday so even building in an extra week for the holiday, I am hoping to have mine by 1/13 (should be 1/6 based on DMV).

Just wanted to report back. My new license/RealID arrived on Monday 1/6. I figured with 2 holidays in there that it would take a little longer, but it came exactly when I was told it would.

 

[Kennywood]

I took a plane trip last month. I asked the TSA agent if a passport card would be acceptable in lieu of the passport itself. I was told that it would be acceptable. So, if you're traveling and having yet obtained your Real ID drivers license, you can us your passport card.

I just stick my passport card in my walled behind my drivers license. That way, I don't have to carry my actual passport.

 

[aprilgail]

I give up- have to get my moms done but because NY is now issuing licenses to illegals the lines around the DMV are insane- hours and hours long and no appts into Feb.

 

[Brianstl]

Not just 50 states but 5 territories that issue driver licenses. Puerto Rico wanted to be different and didn’t put the star in the circle.

But as far as training goes, wouldn’t the common sense thing to do be to actually have employees look through pages of sample ID images? It just seems basic to me.

The main issue with recommending a passport card is that not all people who would otherwise be eligible for a Real ID compliant driver license is eligible. Permanent residents and certain nonimmigrant residents can’t get a US passport card, although a permanent resident would have a green card. Any TSA agent (even working a small airport in the middle of nowhere) who can’t recognize a green card should be summarily fired for incompetence.

The agents are just going to need to scan each Real ID. They won't need to refer to a book. All individual issued Real IDs are in a database TSA will use.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I went on 12/30 and received my real ID in the mail on 1/6. Waited in line 10 minutes at the BMV. Took my SS card, passport, copy of paycheck, and card mailed to me from the BMV.

I found my birth certificate and marriage license before our move last summer, but now sure where it is in the new house. Luckily I did not need.

I will always have a valid passport. I do travel out of the country occasionally and sometimes close to last minute. In case I ever lose my DL it is backup ID.