Starting on May 7, the TSA will require REAL IDs for adult travelers flying domestically within the US.

[Celerity]

Is your driver's license REAL ID ready? What to know before May 7

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/2025/04/22/how-to-know-you-have-real-id/83165101007/

Beginning on May 7, the Transportation Security Administration will require REAL IDs for adult travelers flying domestically within the United States, marking the end of a regulation journey that took 20 years to complete.

In just over two weeks, the TSA will stop accepting state-issued identifications that lack enhanced standards. The 2005 law enacted the Sept. 11, 2001 commission’s recommendation to approve stricter federal requirements for issuing identification cards, although enforcement has been postponed multiple times.

“Every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant ID, which is a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or another acceptable form of ID, such as a U.S. passport,” by next month the TSA said in a statement. “If you do not have a REAL ID by May 7, your air travel may be delayed.” With enhanced identification becoming mandatory next month, here is what you need to know about getting one.

What is the difference between a Real ID and a non-Real ID?

According to DHS, Real ID-compliant cards will have a star marking on the “top portion of the card.” In states like California, the star is placed on an outline of a bear, while in other states, a simple golden star is added to Real IDs.



snip

[marble falls]

1. Internal travel documents??? Like in Russia or North Korea or China????

[MineralMan]

2. They kept putting this off and putting it off.

Now, it's about to hit. In states like Minnesota, the lines are around the block of people finally getting theirs. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

For many people, having a passport is an exotic sort of thing. For many others, this is the first time they've heard of Real ID. For many more, they still haven't heard about it, and won't until they try to fly to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. Many people do not read any news publication, watch any news on TV, or listen to any news on the radio. Life is always a mystery for them.

And then there's me, and others like me, who have had a passport for decades and a Real ID since the first license renewal when it was available. Why wouldn't you?

[Celerity]

7. great reply, agree on all fronts with you on this

[moonscape]

18. Then there are people like me who

knew about Real ID but procrastinated about it. I did renew my passport last year and got a passport card as well and am passing on Real ID mostly because it’s just another thing to do. I very rarely fly and when I do I’ll take my passport card.

But yeah, I’m still not in a line around the block anywhere.

[tritsofme]

3. Even if they let the deadline pass, how many days of disruption until they pass yet another extension?

My money is on no more than 3.

[Sky Jewels]

4. I believe a passport will be allowed in place of a Real ID for flying.

[Celerity]

9. yes, as a US passport is REAL ID compliant

[lindysalsagal]

5. Glad I won't be flying domestically very soon. Gonna be huge backups.

Not fun.

[superpatriotman]

6. Who is keeping track of us?

And why?

[waldnorm]

8. Thankfully . . .

I have Global Entry/pre-TSA so this line should theoretically cover the real ID's already occurring, but I still anticipate that everyone should plan to get to the airport at least a half hour earlier than they would.

[Celerity]

10. What are the alternatives to a Real ID? TSA-approved alternatives include:

U.S. passport

U.S. passport card

DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

Border crossing card

An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe

HSPD-12 PIV card

Foreign government-issued passport

Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

Transportation worker identification credential

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

[fujiyamasan]

11. Ever since it was announced

Im not sure why all drivers licenses, either new or renewed were not real ID compliant automaitcally. I could be wrong but I thought the forms to renew my last license or two asked if I would like it real ID.

[jmowreader]

12. The Republicans screamed about the "intrusiveness" of Real ID

But yeah, I got mine at the first chance I could.

[tinrobot]

13. This is not new at all, I got a Real ID years ago.

But interesting that it's finally hitting now.

[brakester]

14. NC has been severely understaffing

all their Drivers Licence offices for years! A blue state that has been gerrymandered to within an inch of its life, with a corrupt state legislature with a red majority, since 2010 has been on a mad crime spree to take away our rights and destroy a proudly progressive state.

Last time I needed to renew my driver's license, I ran into a major stumbling block. The line was out the door, longer than I had ever seen it, but I had a couple of days before the due date, so I didn't panic. The line was moving slower than molasses on a winter day and by the time I reached the entrance, it was getting late in the day and I found out why the long wait. There was a sign up at the office, where a single employee was at work. The sign instructed us to sign up to a new list online (in essence, losing my place in line), something I had never experienced before. I signed up and waited inside the building until closing time, and headed home without being helped. The next day, I was there before opening time, faced with another long line! Thankfully a kind man gave me the new link and I signed up again this time outside, many hours earlier than the day before. Finally, hours later I was inside the building faced with the rest of the line with no place to sit down. and waited more hours. Finally, near closing time, I did get in.

Later I read a few news stories about this puzzling extreme reduction of staffing. One was that understaffing was a general ideological fad for starving the government of money instead of making the billionaires pay their fair share of taxes.

But it went beyond that here. The cherry on top was voter-suppression and the beginning plans for instituting a Real ID, an idea whose origin was post 9/11 legislation.

[mnhtnbb]

15. Two years ago I received a postcard from NC DMV

that I would need to renew my driver's license within six months prior to my next birthday. It provided a link to go online and make an appointment, which I did for three months prior to my birthday. It also gave me a link to list all the documents I would need to bring to the appointment to get a real ID.
When I arrived at 9:15 am for my 9:30 appointment, I checked in and was directed to chairs. About 10 minutes later I was called to an agent window. The agent looked at my passport and current license and said she didn't need anything else! I had dug out my birth certificate, marriage license, Social Security card, etc and she didn't care about seeing any of them. Maybe it helped that I was a friendly, little old white woman.
I was out of there in half an hour with my temporary license renewal and my Real ID arrived in the mail in less than two weeks.
Maybe the difference in our experience was the County? I'm in Durham County .

[brakester]

16. Thanks for your post

detailing your experiences in Durham.
I'm in Haywood County.
That could be the difference. If only Haywood County had Durham's politics!

I'd be dancing in the streets!


Here's Google's AI summary:

The North Carolina DMV is experiencing staffing shortages at its driver's license offices, leading to long wait times and delays for customers. The agency has requested more positions from the legislature, but state law limits the number of employees allowed in driver's license offices. Efforts to alleviate the situation include offering one-time bonuses to retain existing staff and encouraging customers to use online services whenever possible.
Here's a more detailed look:
Vacancy Rate:
While the vacancy rate has improved from over 25% in September 2021 to under 11% in December 2023, the DMV still needs more staff.
Legislative Limits:
The General Assembly sets a cap on the number of employees in driver's license offices, currently at 568. The DMV says it needs 70 more employees to fully operate all 115 offices.
Reasons for Shortage:
The DMV attributes the shortage to a combination of factors, including population growth, increased demand, and difficulty attracting and retaining qualified staff.
Efforts to Mitigate:
The DMV is exploring various solutions, including:
Increased Pay and Bonuses: The state legislature has provided funding for raises and bonuses to attract and retain employees.
Extended Hours: Some offices are now open earlier or later to accommodate more customers.
Online Services: Customers are encouraged to use MyNCDMV.gov for certain services to reduce in-person wait times.
Closing Offices: In some cases, offices have been closed temporarily or indefinitely due to lack of staff.
Impact on Customers:
The staffing shortages are causing significant delays and long lines at DMV offices, impacting the ability of customers to renew licenses, register vehicles, and complete other necessary services.

Now, my mind goes to the "why."

[mnhtnbb]

17. My experience was entirely painless.

Having the appointment was a lot of it, but I also got lucky with the agent. My license is good until 2029, but at 74 now, who knows whether I'll still be here to renew! The appointment system seems to be the way to go --if you have to go in person--and it will allow you to make an appointment at any office that has appointments available. Maybe it would be worth it for you to drive to a larger office with more staff? There were about 10 or 12 agent counter positions staffed at the Durham office I went to which is in south Durham near my home and only one of several Durham DMV offices. Plus, I could have chosen to go to a Wake County office if I wanted, but the time of the closest available appointment in Durham was fine with me. I did make the appointment six months ahead of time, for a time that was almost three months until my birthday. It might be more difficult to find an appointment without that kind of lead time.

The 'why' makes no sense to me that the number of staff is capped, given the growth rate in the state. I suspect not a lot of people know that and the Repubs--who control that number as long as they control the legislature that sets it--can let people complain about ' not well run government services' as though it's Dems not running the services adequately. It makes no sense otherwise. It's just stupid and that's the Hallmark of Republican thinking.