The 200 million Americans who do not yet have Real ID will be allowed to submit their documents online to their local Department of Motor Vehicles offices, according to USA Today.
While almost 100 million Americans now have compliant driver’s licenses, it’s just seven months until the October 1 deadline—after which travelers will no longer be able to use non-compliant licenses to pass through security at the nation’s airports. And the Department of Homeland Security is concerned about the 200 million who still do not.
The ability to file online will be especially helpful in states like New York, for example, where the wait times at DMV offices often are four hours or more. Travelers still will be required to bring their documents to DMV in person, but having everything already online will speed the process.
To get a Real ID-compliant driver’s license in New York, for example, applicants must show proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or passport; proof of a Social Security number, such as an original Social Security card, a W-2 form with their Social Security number or a letter from the Social Security Administration; proof of birthdate; proof of lawful status in the United States, such as citizenship or green card; and two proofs of residence, such as utility or mortgage bills.
Travelers without acceptable licenses still will be able to use a passport, military ID or Global Entry (but not TSA Precheck) card to pass through airport security. But an estimated 100 million Americans have neither a compliant ID nor a passport, and the U.S. Travel Association estimates that 57 percent of Americans are not even aware of the new requirements.
"DHS' announcement—for which U.S. Travel has been a vocal advocate— is a step forward in streamlining the compliance process while upholding the security requirements of the REAL ID Act," said U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes. "However, the challenge remains that tens of millions of Americans do not yet possess REAL ID-compliant identification, and we won't solve this issue by pushing people to the DMV."
Just yesterday, NBC News quoted Kevin Burke, President and CEO of the Airports Council International-North America, as saying, “we’re going to have a real crisis come October 1.” And in Oregon, for example, Tom Fuller, a spokesman for the transportation department, said “if we worked 24/7, we’d have to do seven a minute to get the number of licenses out by October. But there’s no way we could do seven a minute.” He suggested Oregonians apply for passports instead.
DHS has specifically called upon travel advisors to help spread the word among travelers heading for the airport after October 1.
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