People In The USA Will Soon Need A Real ID If They Plan On Flying Anywhere In The Country

In 2005, congress passed the REAL ID Act, which was in response to the attacks that occurred on 09/11. Now, it appears that a little over two decades after these attacks, the USA is finally going to put this act into action. This means that wait times at the DMV could get longer as people hurry in to ensure they do what is needed to get a Real ID.

Requiring people to obtain a REAL ID before being able to travel on domestic flights is being done to verify peoples' identities and addresses in a more secure way. While the act has been put off for quite some time, on May 3, 2023, it will be a requirement. The commissioner of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, Wayne Goodwin, got his Real ID recently and made himself available to answer any pressing questions people may have had. He commented that it wasn't very hard to finish the process but that people should make appointments ahead of time and make sure to bring all of the needed documents.

Obtaining a REAL ID is similar to obtaining a regular driver's license. The main difference is that more documents are needed to finish the process. Most people will need to bring at least four documents, including a social security card or tax document with their full social security number, a passport or birth certificate, and two ways of verifying their address. Verifying an address includes vehicle registration, a current driver's license or state ID, a utility bill or bank statement, a voter registration card, or any government correspondence.

A REAL ID is only needed if a person plans on flying anywhere in the country, entering a federal courthouse or prison, or entering a military base.