How to make sure your ID is the REAL thing
Starting May 7, all domestic airline flights and access to many federal facilities will be limited to those who have something called REAL ID. The star at the top right of this sample ID denotes this driver’s license is Ohio REAL ID compliant.
Starting May 7, all domestic airline flights and access to many federal facilities will be limited to those who have something called REAL ID.
The term derives from the Real ID Act of 2005, which Congress enacted in that same year and was designed to fulfill the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to enhance identification requirements for air travel and to access certain federal facilities including nuclear power plants.
The law prohibits federal agencies from accepting, for certain purposes, driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not meeting minimum REAL ID Act standards. States whose ID requirements weren’t as robust were supposed to upgrade requirements for obtaining state identification if they wanted that state identification to be something an individual can use in the above contexts: boarding a flight, entering a federal facility, et cetera.
The law requires states verify the supporting documents an applicant produces to obtain a driver’s license. States also are required to verify an applicant’s Social Security number or determine an applicant’s ineligibility to obtain a SSN. Regulations the government put in place in 2008 also require states to verify an applicant doesn’t have multiple REAL ID compliant identities under different names.
It’s taken almost 20 years for this requirement to become effective as the date has been pushed back numerous times over the last two decades, but beginning May 7, you will need to have one if you plan to fly on an airplane.
Here are the steps you can take before May 7: first, determine if your current Ohio driver’s license or state ID is REAL ID compliant. You can do this by examining the ID. An Ohio REAL ID compliant license will include a star on the front of the ID. If it does not have a star, it will say “Not for Federal ID.” If you determine, based on the above, that your ID is not a REAL ID, then to obtain a REAL ID, gather documents needed to establish and verify your identity.
The Ohio BMV said an applicant must provide proof of full legal name, date of birth, legal presence in the U.S., Social Security number, Ohio street address and proof of name change if applicable.
Two documents from the acceptable documents list must be provided to establish and verify identity. These include U.S. birth certificate or consular report of birth, U.S. passport, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, permanent resident card, foreign passport with visa, employment authorization document, supplemental U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services documents proving legal presence, Social Security card, W-2 wage statement, 1099 or paystub. If you have changed your name, you can provide a divorce decree, marriage certificate or other court order showing the name change. Finally, two documents from the above list also must show your Ohio address.
If you choose not to get an Ohio REAL ID, be prepared after May 7 to apply for and use a passport to fly domestically because your noncompliant driver’s license won’t meet the new requirements. More information about Ohio’s REAL ID process can be found at www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx.