Did you get your Real ID (License) ?

For what purpose?

We have relatives/good friends that live outside of the US. If we're traveling and there's an emergency I want to be able to hop on a flight from wherever we're at and not have to go home first. Sometimes it's as simple as visiting friends in northern NY and wanting to get Chinese food and the closest place is in Canada, or visiting friends in Arizona and we decide to go into Mexico at the last minute to see other friends.

So you're complicated, but all those things are easy to prove -- each event is easily documented.

Of course I can get the documents, but it's a hassle. Since I always have a current passport, there's no need for me to do put myself through the inconvenience and expense.

Eh, my sister-in-law, who was married out of state (but in America), got a copy of her marriage license the same way.
Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Some places DO pay attention to those expiration dates. I had a small check to cash, and I handed over my old license at the bank (didn't even think about it), and they wouldn't take it -- I pulled out that temporary print-out, and they took it.
 
Both of our DLs expire in 2022 but we're probably going to just go ahead and get the Real ID before the deadline even though we have our Passports. It's not just air travel you'd need a Real ID for after that date (federal facilities that require an ID will also need the Real ID). Initially I was weighing the pros and cons but it'll probably just be easier to get the Real ID prior to the DL expiration date.
 
Both of our DLs expire in 2022 but we're probably going to just go ahead and get the Real ID before the deadline even though we have our Passports. It's not just air travel you'd need a Real ID for after that date (federal facilities that require an ID will also need the Real ID). Initially I was weighing the pros and cons but it'll probably just be easier to get the Real ID prior to the DL expiration date.
Passports can be used all the same places a Real ID is requested.
 

Passports can be used all the same places a Real ID is requested.
No of course. I didn't say otherwise :)

I don't carry my passport around me 24/7 in the off chance that I will be going to a federal facility that will require an ID for instance. I do however carry my DL around me 24/7...hence why my husband and I came to the conclusion it would likely just be easier to do the Real ID. That way we just don't have to worry.
 
No of course. I didn't say otherwise :)

I don't carry my passport around me 24/7 in the off chance that I will be going to a federal facility that will require an ID for instance. I do however carry my DL around me 24/7...hence why my husband and I came to the conclusion it would likely just be easier to do the Real ID. That way we just don't have to worry.
I don't know about you, but I can count on 3 fingers the amount of times I've entered a federal facility in the last 25 years. Wedding license and passports/renewal for our kids.
 
I don't know about you, but I can count on 3 fingers the amount of times I've entered a federal facility in the last 25 years. Wedding license and passports/renewal for our kids.
It's been more for us but I totally know what you mean. Originally I wasn't really thinking I would do it but then my husband was talking about it and the more we got to thinking the less we wanted to deal with any potential issues. It's $8 for a photo fee so for us it's not the worst and that probably weighs in on it. I know for some people it's quite costly and if you've already spent the money for a passport you may not want to pay even more--I get that for sure.
 
I just applied for a Real ID license in Ohio. I needed only my passport, my Social Security card, my current driver’s license, and 1 utility bill with my name and address. I brought another bill, but the clerk said my current driver’s license with my current address counted as the 2nd proof of residence.

Because all of the documents are in my married name, I didn’t need a birth certificate or a marriage license. In the eyes of the state, my name at birth apparently doesn’t matter — the US government verified my name change when I was issued a passport.
 
Yep. Several weeks ago
Took same exact documentation as PreCheck so I had everything to bring with me already
 
What state? At least my AAA affiliate (Northern California, Nevada, and Utah) only has certain registration services. I’ve gotten a registration card and sticker at one, and once I processed a lienholder removal when I paid off my car loan and my lender sent me the pink slip. However, in California it’s restricted to AAA members. Apparently DMV services have to be available to anyone in Nevada or Utah.
Both RI and MA allow many Registry functions at AAA if you are a member. I have used them in both states.
Denise
 
I don't know about you, but I can count on 3 fingers the amount of times I've entered a federal facility in the last 25 years. Wedding license and passports/renewal for our kids.

What was with the wedding license? It's almost universally a county and/or state function in the United States. Maybe a city function in some places like NYC.
 
We have relatives/good friends that live outside of the US. If we're traveling and there's an emergency I want to be able to hop on a flight from wherever we're at and not have to go home first. Sometimes it’s as simple as visiting friends in northern NY and wanting to get Chinese food and the closest place is in Canada, or visiting friends in Arizona and we decide to go into Mexico at the last minute to see other friends.

New York State actually has three types of drivers licenses now, a standard license, Real ID, and Enhanced license (EDL). The Enhanced gives you all the benefits of Real ID, plus allows you to enter Canada or Mexico by land or sea as well as some of the Caribbean islands by sea, as an alternative to a passport. (A passport is required to fly to those countries.)

Four other states, Vermont, Minnesota, Michigan, and Washington (as well as a few Canadian provinces), also issue Enhanced ID/drivers licenses for this purpose.
 
Decided to go look at my license since I haven't gotten one in about 6 years, turns out the one I have is already a Real ID with the star on it. I did't even realize I had that.
 
New York State actually has three types of drivers licenses now, a standard license, Real ID, and Enhanced license (EDL). The Enhanced gives you all the benefits of Real ID, plus allows you to enter Canada or Mexico by land or sea as well as some of the Caribbean islands by sea, as an alternative to a passport. (A passport is required to fly to those countries.)

Four other states, Vermont, Minnesota, Michigan, and Washington (as well as a few Canadian provinces), also issue Enhanced ID/drivers licenses for this purpose.

Washington state has Enhanced driver licenses/IDs, but has decided not to issue the standard Real ID versions with the star in the corner. One has to be a US citizen (or I suppose a US national) to get an Enhanced DL/ID, but permanent residents, refugees, and other nonimmigrants with legal status can get regular Real ID driver licenses. I'm not sure why, but that's they way they do it.

Although many states’ REAL ID-compliant identification cards can be recognized by a star at the top of the card, Washington’s REAL ID-compliant Enhanced Drivers License and Enhanced ID do not have a star on them.
The Washington EDL and EID can be identified by an American flag featured on the ID, by the pink banner at the top of the ID, or the words “Enhanced Driver’s License” on the pink banner. Standard ID cards will have a blue banner, and standard ID issued within the last year will have the “Federal Limits Apply” at the top as well.​
The DOL says it is working with TSA to ensure Washington’s EDL/EID is recognized at security checkpoints.​
 
I always travel with a passport, even when traveling domestically, so it's not an issue for me. We travel internationally a lot so I always have a current passport.

I tried to get the real ID but where I live it's a major hassle. I've been divorced once and married twice. They want my birth certificate, 1st marriage license, divorce decree and 2nd marriage license. They wouldn't take the passport as proof of ID.

That is nuts that they would not take a passport as your proof since the passport has already gone through the steps to verify who you are. How is it the the DMV thinks that they need a better standard of proof then the passport agency. It's nuts. I don't think that your local DMV understands how passports work.
 
I don't know about you, but I can count on 3 fingers the amount of times I've entered a federal facility in the last 25 years. Wedding license and passports/renewal for our kids.

Jury duty for me. :(
 
Decided to go look at my license since I haven't gotten one in about 6 years, turns out the one I have is already a Real ID with the star on it. I did't even realize I had that.

Same with us. Our state has actually asked for birth certificate for many, many years now and several years ago asked for proof of residence. So they had all of the on file and the last time that I renewed my licence online, it came with the real ID already. I did not have to go in with all of this info that everyone else is talking about. And on top of that, when you changed your name, you went to get your social security card first and then went to the DMV to have your name changed. So being married-divorced-remarried, the steps had already been taken at the time so you don't have to go back and show them all of the same info again. I imagine that most states had done that but are being "extra" careful to show them again. I can't imagine a state issuing a DL to someone who's name had changed without any proof of it at the time.
 
Although many states’ REAL ID-compliant identification cards can be recognized by a star at the top of the card, Washington’s REAL ID-compliant Enhanced Drivers License and Enhanced ID do not have a star on them.
The Washington EDL and EID can be identified by an American flag featured on the ID, by the pink banner at the top of the ID, or the words “Enhanced Driver’s License” on the pink banner. Standard ID cards will have a blue banner, and standard ID issued within the last year will have the “Federal Limits Apply” at the top as well.​
The DOL says it is working with TSA to ensure Washington’s EDL/EID is recognized at security checkpoints.​

Yes, New York is the same or similar. DS got the EDL because he was living in western NY and occasionally drove across the border into Canada. His license has an American flag and the words “Enhanced license”, but no star in the upper right corner like the Real ID license. I hope he does not encounter problems flying in the future, with airport employees unfamiliar with it. And the standard NY license says “Not For Federal Purposes” in place of the star.

I have a feeling there will be issues when this all goes into effect come October. It can be confusing. The fact that different states are handling it differently with inconsistency in the ID requirements and have rolled out the changes at different times (in some cases, many years apart), only adds to the frustration some are experiencing. They should have just made it a federal document, like the passport card.
 
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Decided to go look at my license since I haven't gotten one in about 6 years, turns out the one I have is already a Real ID with the star on it. I did't even realize I had that.
Mine did as well but I received an email from the MD DMV last spring stating that my husband an I were not Real ID compliant. We had both gotten new license in the past 2 years. We had moved and needed to bring proof of residence when we got the new license. I was confused and called and DMV said we didn't have all the required documentation on file even though we had the correct license. We made an appointment and they scanned in our documents, passports, ss cards, and proof of residence. They didn't issue a new license or charge us and the clerk said the license we had would have been accepted as Real ID compliant.
 












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