A few weeks ago, the Transportation Security Admnistration announced in the Federal Register that it would be setting up a verification program for passengers who show up at the TSA checkpoint without a Real ID, passport or some other acceptable form of identification.
To cover the costs of the alt-ID program, which is set to roll out on February 1, 2026, the agency said it would charge passengers an $18 fee for the service. The fee will non-refundable, even if verification is unsuccessful.
Now, just a few weeks after announcing the program, TSA says it will be not be charging an $18 fee for the TSA Confirm.ID program, afterall.
Instead it will more than double the charge to $45, which will be good for a 10-day period.
According to a TSA statement there will be an option to pay the fee online before arriving at the airport, but the procedure for the alternative verification program may be different at each airport.
For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee ahead of time, TSA says there will posted information at or near the checkpoints about how to pay the fee, but warns that however they pay, “travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at an airport should expect delays.”
Citing the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public’s ability (and reluctance) to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, federal officials have once extended the deadline for when fliers must have a federally compliant REAL ID.
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the deadline for enforcement of REAL ID has been extended from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025.
That means states and travelers now have two more years to meet the deadline of making sure travelers have compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.
During the pandemic, many states closed license centers or severely limited the hours of operations. Many states also extended the expiration dates on driver’s licenses and moved all operations online. That made it difficult for states to make real progress on issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.
“We welcome the DHS announcement postponing the implementation of REAL ID requirements for individuals boarding commercial aircraft,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) in a statement. “Despite previous extensions to REAL ID implementation, the saturation of REAL ID compliant licenses and identification cards remains low.”
How low?
According to the U.S. Travel Association, an estimated 83 million Americans (34%) currently do not have any form of ID that meets the REAL ID requirements.
What is REAL ID ANYWAY?
Passed by Congress in 2005 following a 9/11 Commission recommendation, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Under the regulations and the new deadline, beginning May 7, 2025, every traveler 18 years of age or older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification (i.e a passport) to pass through security checkpoints for domestic air travel.
IDs – driver’s licenses and passports – are one of the top items left behind at airport checkpoints. And TSA destroys IDs that remain unclaimed after 30 days.
Replacing a driver’s license is a hassle. Replacing a passport is an even bigger hassle. So we don’t advise using your passport for domestic travel instead of getting a REAL ID compliant license or ID card,
If one of the many things worrying you during this pandemic has been how to get to a Department of Motor Vehicles office so you can get a driver’s license or identification card that is REAL ID compliant, you can relax.
The Department of Homeland Security has decided to delay the deadline for this. Yet again.
The latest deadline for this was supposed to be October 1, 2021. But now the deadline has been pushed back 19 months to May 3, 2023.
“Protecting the health, safety, and security of our communities is our top priority,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “As our country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the REAL ID full enforcement deadline will give states needed time to reopen their driver’s licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card.”
What is the big deal about REAL ID?
After the terrorist hijackings on September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Real ID act with the idea of adding extra layers of security to the driver’s licenses and other identification documents travelers show when seeking to board an airplane.
Many states have had a hard time (or were opposed to) meeting the stricter requirements, so enacting the law has been delayed many times already.
Now, if nothing else causes the READ ID deadline to be pushed back yet again, beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification (such as a passport) at airport security checkpoints for domestic air travel.
How do you know if you have a driver’s license that’s REAL ID compliant? In most states, there is a star in the upper, right hand corner. To see what the procedure is in your state, check the DHS REAL ID page.
Americans who obtain a REAL ID are getting a “REAL” upgrade. By May 3, 2023, a REAL ID-compliant license, identification card or acceptable ID is needed to board domestic flights, enter nuclear power plants, and access certain federal facilities. https://t.co/0UrFkItRtC
The Los Angeles-based duo creates performances that explore alternate universes populated by colorful and playful monsters.
During their residency at SAN, lumpy, musical monsters will be visiting the airport and interacting and engaging with passengers with exaggerated gestures and operatic vocalizations.
It could be fun. Or scary.
San Diego International Airport has been hosting artists-in-residence since 2016. The first group to move in was a circus.
REAL ID at Anchorage International Airport
In what seems like a super-helpful, no brainer, Alaska’s Department of Motor Vehicles has created a way for citizens to get the new REAL ID driver’s license at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
Beginning February 3, you can book an appointment to get a REAL ID at our North Terminal – which means you can skip the DMV. Remember: you need a REAL ID, valid passport or U.S. military ID to fly starting this October.
This saves a time-consuming separate trip to the DMV offices.
Starting October 1, 2020, only REAL ID driver’s licenses will be accepted by the TSA at airport checkpoints. So here’s hoping airport DMV desks pop up at other airports too.
ANC and the AK DMV have teamed up to help Alaskans get a REAL ID quickly and easily. Book your appointment online (https://t.co/7gVXJJNhnM) to get your REAL ID at our North Terminal.
My story this week for USA TODAY tries to break down what you need to know about getting that REAL ID we’ve been hearing about.
The deadline is coming up on October 1, 2020, so now it is getting real.
Here’s the story:
Take a look at your driver’s license.
Go ahead, we’ll wait while you fish it out of your wallet.
If your driver’s license doesn’t have a star in the
upper corner of the card and you foresee flying on a domestic commercial flight
any time after Oct 1, 2020, then your license is not Real ID compliant.
You’ll need to take action, make some decisions, or
wait for your state to get its act together.
What’s
Real ID?
The Real
ID Act is legislation passed in 2005 (in response to the
9/11 terrorists attacks) that set new and higher minimum security standards for
driver’s licenses and identification cards that will be accepted at airports,
other Federally regulated facilities and nuclear power plants.
Debates and pushback
from some states over the impact of Real ID have created confusion and delayed
the official rollout of the Act’s enforcement, but October 1, 2020 is now
considered the firm date for enforcement at commercial airports.
“The main pushback on
REAL ID is that it’s too big brother,” said Jeff Price, an aviation security
expert with Leading Edge Strategies, “It’s a move to make everyone in the U.S. have
identification, which tends to upset those who enjoy life off the grid or don’t
like any more government intrusion into their lives more than what is
necessary.”
But, Price notes,
nearly every state has come into compliance, “And there hasn’t been the big
brother/illegal shakedown issues that some people predicted,” he said.
How do you get a REAL ID compliant license and
when can you get?
Here’s where things can
get tricky.
The Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) has been phasing in enforcement of the REAL ID Act in
an effort to give states time to become compliant with the rules and to begin
issuing enhanced driver’s licenses and ID cards in time for the October 1, 2020
deadline.
Most states are
currently in compliance (see this map) with the REAL ID Act and are able to issue upgraded licenses and IDs.
Seven states (Oregon,
Oklahoma, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Maine), plus
American Samoa, have been granted extensions with varying deadlines for meeting
the rules. (Some have until August 1, 2019 while others have until October 1,
2019).
California’s status regarding REAL ID compliance is listed as “Under Review” with a much shorter deadline of May 24, 2019 for achieving compliance.
It is possible these extensions will be extended if the states show they’re making progress. But time is running short.
What this means:
If your current driver’s
license or ID card is from a compliant state, TSA will accept it at airports
until September 30, 2020. Starting October 1, 2020, though, licenses and IDs from
these – and every state – will need to bear a star or special symbol that shows
it has been upgraded to conform to the new minimum security standards.
If your current license
is from one of the seven states that has been given an extension, or from
California, then it is good until the date the extension expires. After that,
if the state isn’t given another extension, is it possible TSA will require an
additional or alternate form of ID (i.e. a passport) between the extension
expiration date and September 30, 2020.
Come October 1, 2020,
though, licenses from these extension states will also need to have the star or
symbol that shows is has been upgraded to meet the new minimum security
standards.
Getting ready for October 1, 2020
Signs about the REAL ID
deadline are going up now in airports across the country.
October 1, 2020 seems
far off, but it is ‘just’ a year a half away. And there’s sure to be continued confusion
and delays in getting upgraded licenses and ID cards from state agencies.
For that reason, the Transportation
Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, airports and
travel agents are urging travelers to renew their driver’s licenses or state
IDs early and to be sure to opt for the ‘enhanced’ or ‘compliant’ versions
which, we should warn you, require additional paperwork and may cost more than
the ‘for-driving-only’ or ‘unenhanced’ versions in some states.
Or, you can decide if you are comfortable flying domestically with your passport (if you have on; only about 40% of Americans do ) or with one of the other forms of approved identification on this list.
