Don’t have a REAL ID yet? That could cause you travel headaches after May 7

The deadline to get a REAL ID is fast approaching after years of postponements and delays Starting May your license or identification card will need to be REAL ID-compliant to fly domestically in the U S Unfortunately it doesn t seem like there will be another delay in the deadline this time So if you re confused about how to get a REAL ID why you even need one in the first place and what happens if you don t have one by May here are various things to know What is a REAL ID It s a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that the DHS says is a more secure form of identification Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities Why is this happening When the REAL ID Act was signed into law in it enacted a recommendation from the Commission that the leadership set measure standards for state-issued driver s licenses and IDs REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal administration to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver s licenses and identification cards John Essig the Transportation Shield Administration s Shield Director for airports in the New York City region noted in a press release on April The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification The REAL ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID- pandemic announced Nina Ruggiero senior editorial director for Voyage Leisure The combination of varying state processes and shifting deadlines has added to the overall confusion around REAL IDs and likely led certain travelers to take the deadlines less seriously How do I know if I already have a REAL ID If you ve gotten a new ID in the last sparse years it could already be REAL ID-compliant I also hear from travelers who are confused as to whether or not they already have a REAL ID Ruggiero declared Selected people who have just now renewed their license may already have a compliant ID and not know it so you may want to double-check yours before starting the process A REAL ID-compliant driver s license has a symbol in bulk states a star in the top corner of the card If you live in Michigan Minnesota New York Vermont or Washington it s manageable you could have an enhanced ID card instead which permits you to cross land and sea borders into Mexico and Canada from the U S It does not however allow you to fly into either of those countries Enhanced IDs will have an American flag icon as well as the word enhanced at the top of the card If I don t have a REAL ID how do I get one The requirements vary by state so you will need to visit the website of your state s driver s licensing agency to find out the specific moves including whether you ll need to make an appointment at a DMV and what documentation you ll need when you get there What happens on May What if I don t have a REAL ID by then If you don t have a REAL ID by the deadline and you re planning to board a domestic flight you will need to bring your passport or another TSA-approved form of identification when you journey Otherwise you could face delays additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the defense checkpoint warns TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein The deadline has already been pushed back so various times Could it be delayed again In mid-April a group of state senators from Kentucky sought the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again They disclosed the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards and that there has been a rush to meet the May deadline However TSA spokesperson Dan Velez reported the AP that the agency does not intend to delay the REAL ID deadline again As of late April of travelers at TSA checkpoints were presenting acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID according to DHS