TRAVELERS can pay an extra $80 to skip long waits at the DMV to get their REAL IDs ahead of the looming deadline.
But there’s a catch – not everyone will meet the required criteria to be eligible for this expedited program.
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Starting May 7, TSA will no longer accept standard ID cards for boarding domestic flights.
Passengers will need a new ID called a REAL ID or another form of acceptable identification such as a passport.
With less than two weeks left to get a REAL ID, DMVs have been extending hours and adding staff to account for last-minute patrons.
The New Jersey DMV has been overwhelmed with its website showing a “0 appointments available” notice last week.
Starting today, some New Jerseyans will get to skip the line – but it will cost them.
The state’s REAL ID Emergency Issuance Program allows qualified DMV customers to get a compliant ID card quicker than others.
Customers who need to fly domestically within 14 days for “life-or-death” reasons or for “urgent travel plans” and do not have another acceptable form of identification will qualify for the program.
Travelers will need to show proof of their eligibility for the program and pay $80 to get the REAL ID shipped within a few business days.
“For years, the NJMVC has been issuing REAL IDs and preparing for the start of federal REAL ID enforcement,” Acting New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd said.
Littles-Floyd continued: “Anticipating the recent increase in demand, which is being seen all over the country, we have made many additional accommodations to service as many customers with REAL ID as possible, including with this new emergency program.
“Our efforts will continue through the start of enforcement on May 7 — and beyond.”
TSA OFFICIAL WARNS OF DELAYS
A senior TSA official said that those without a REAL ID-compliant form of identification should “expect additional screenings” at the airport, in a recent interview with Forbes.
The official said the extra screenings could cause “delays and the possibility of not being allowed into the checkpoint, and that includes our TSA PreCheck passengers.”
He advised passengers without acceptable identification to arrive a whopping three hours early at the airport to account for the probable extra screenings.
Applying for a REAL ID
The process varies by state, but residents will need a few documents to apply for a REAL ID before the deadline.
No matter the state, the application process can be started online by scanning and uploading the necessary documents, basic information, and Social Security numbers. Once submitted and reviewed, an in-person visit to the DMV or your state’s department agency is necessary for an attendant to verify the documents.
From there, a thumbprint will be recorded in the system, and a photo will be issued for the ID before it’s mailed.
The documents needed are those that show:
- Full legal name (previous driver’s license, passport, etc)
- Date of birth (like a birth certificate, or an official copy of one)
- Social Security number (Social Security card)
- Two proofs of residence (like a utility bill or voter registration card)
- Lawful status
Source: Department of Homeland Security
WHAT’S THE POINT OF A REAL ID?
While the REAL ID might seem to be just another hassle for travelers, it was established for good reason.
The new form of identification comes from the REAL ID Act passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 terror attacks – when al-Qaeda hijacked four domestic flights.
The act created minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs.
It also banned some federal agencies from accepting identification from states that do not meet the standards.
The original deadline for travelers to carry a REAL ID was 2008, but it took more than a decade for all 50 states to make their driver’s licenses REAL ID-compliant.
The COVID-19 pandemic also caused some delays.