My S-I-L is panicked...can't get appointment for REAL ID to fly to see us in two weeks!!

[geist1223]

I simply have no sympathy for the folks that have delayed for years. But in truth the Federal Government contributed by constantly putting off the mandatory start date: and, the State Governments contributed by delaying producing accept able State ID. Patti and I each have 4 forms of valid ID for travel - Real ID Driver' License, Passport, Passport Cards, Military ID.

 

[isisdave]

You have to show proof of INTERNATIONAL travel to get an expedited passport.

Book a fully refundable international flight.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Book a fully refundable international flight.

Lol. There is always a way. I just use std post-office to renew. The lady who handles it has been there since we moved here, and she is hilarious. Well worth the trip.

 

[Tia]

CO has had real ID on drivers Licenses for years now.

 

[davidvel]

CO has had real ID on drivers Licenses for years now.

This is well beyond that. She went to CT DMV on Wednesday, "took the whole day off," but failed to bring the correct documents, so got a regular license instead. The website shows everything you need for a real id.

Learn how to get a REAL ID | CT.gov

Learn what you need to get your REAL ID in Connecticut in order to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings.

portal.ct.gov

 

[Cornell]

Book a fully refundable international flight.

I know someone who did this specifically to get an appt for an expedited passport to get around Real ID.

 

[davidvel]

I know someone who did this specifically to get an appt for an expedited passport to get around Real ID.

Lots of people do it even for international travel to get passport quicker. They book a cheap refundable Southwest ticket to Mexico.

 

[Passepartout]

Like others, I have little sympathy for those who, after YEARS of prodding by local, state, and federal authorities that the day IS COMING when Real ID WILL be required, still haven't procured it.

Too bad, so sad.

JIm

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

My SIL went to AAA today, she will get it in one or two weeks.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

This is well beyond that. She went to CT DMV on Wednesday, "took the whole day off," but failed to bring the correct documents, so got a regular license instead. The website shows everything you need for a real id.

Learn how to get a REAL ID | CT.gov

Learn what you need to get your REAL ID in Connecticut in order to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings.

portal.ct.gov

Her Marriage License didn't have a "Seal" on it.....that's what they said was the problem.
Seems like maybe that could have been overlooked, given she had the rest of what she needed.

 

[easyrider]

Like others, I have little sympathy for those who, after YEARS of prodding by local, state, and federal authorities that the day IS COMING when Real ID WILL be required, still haven't procured it.

Too bad, so sad.

JIm

I bet most people aren't even aware of the Real ID requirement even today. Especially people like me that rarely watch the news. I bet most people under 45 don't watch the news as much as those over 70.

Bill

 

[DrQ]

Helpful advice given to me early in my career by the manager of the secretarial pool when I was pushing to get a document completed I should have given her several days earlier.

Being a Military Brat, I was born overseas. My birth certificate is typed up on onionskin paper and is as fragile as wet toilet paper. I have to get certified copies from the State Department. My parents registered the birth certificate in Mower County MN, so there were other stamps of pages of where it was recorded on the document. It took me 3 tries to get a certified copy (I purchased 2) that are now much more robust.

At the same time, I ordered certified copies of:

• DW's Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate

DW was in a panic when she went to renew her drivers license until I casually pulled out the certified copy of her birth certificate which I had ordered years ago. The marriage certificate just came in handy when I applied for her to get spousal benefits after I started receiving Social Security which increased her SS check by $600/month.

It was funny that DW's previous DL did have a gold star (Real ID), but she never needed her birth certificate until this last renewal. I also tried to warn her to make an appointment with the DMV for a renewal and she found out the hard way that there was a huge backlog for in-person appointments. It's not the old DMV where you can just walk in for a same day appointment.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Being a Military Brat, I was born overseas. My birth certificate is typed up on onionskin paper and is as fragile as wet toilet paper. I have to get certified copies from the State Department. My parents registered the birth certificate in Mower County MN, so there were other stamps of pages of where it was recorded on the document. It took me 3 tries to get a certified copy (I purchased 2) that are now much more robust.

My mother was born in rural North Dakota in 1917. This was before births were recorded there, and most deliveries were home deliveries. When documentation was needed, family Bibles or baptism records were used.

Some time later, after the local government started keeping records, my grandfather provided sworn statements of birth for the children. When my mother was in her 70s, she needed a passport for a trip to Haiti. The statement provided by my grandfather was accepted in lieu of a birth certificate.

 

[davidvel]

Her Marriage License didn't have a "Seal" on it.....that's what they said was the problem.
Seems like maybe that could have been overlooked, given she had the rest of what she needed.

You originally said "They simply don't tell you EVERYTHING you need." It is pretty standard that you always need certified records in these types of transactions. But CT DMV certainly is not to blame. The first paragraphs of the REAL ID document checklist says (emphasis added):

To obtain a new learner’s permit, driver’s license or identity (ID) card, or to obtain a verified driver’s license or ID card, you will need to provide valid/unexpired, original documents, or certified copies. ...
Photocopies, notarized photocopies, non-certified copies of forms that require certification, and damaged or mutilated documents are not acceptable. DMV will scan and store images of all original documents.

In specific reference to marriage license, it states:
[ ] Marriage or Civil Union Certificate (certified copy issued by town/city)

 

[beejaybee]

2 things come to mind:
a) were they expecting to die in the next 6 months, 2 yrs ago?
b) talk about not understanding the USA society of the last 25 years!!!!! There is 1 direction. More govt. More intrusion. More monitoring.
Within 40 yrs, they will need a Real ID to shop for groceries

Sooner than 40 years! Soon we'll need to have Real ID on our person even if we are just bringing our trash to the curb for pickup!

 

[Snazzylass]

Her Marriage License didn't have a "Seal" on it.....that's what they said was the problem.
Seems like maybe that could have been overlooked, given she had the rest of what she needed.

So, it sounds like she has her issue resolved? Let's hope this is the last Real ID post, too. It's a surprise that this happened. AZ was one of the last states to implement it and just started offering it a few years ago. Still, it's been widely advertised.

When I got an IN DL 15+ years ago, the gal at the BMV joked she'd never be able to fly as the name tracking for married women does sound like a bit of a hassle. On the other hand, I had to travel with mine (to track my name) along with a notarized letter from my Ex when traveling my kids internationally, giving me permission to leave the US with them. In general, people just need to have more respect for documents requested. You know the people at the BMV at not getting rich doing their jobs.

 

[PigsDad]

I guess another option is to travel by bus or train instead of taking a flight.

Kurt

 

[rapmarks]

My mother was born in rural North Dakota in 1917. This was before births were recorded there, and most deliveries were home deliveries. When documentation was needed, family Bibles or baptism records were used.

Some time later, after the local government started keeping records, my grandfather provided sworn statements of birth for the children. When my mother was in her 70s, she needed a passport for a trip to Haiti. The statement provided by my grandfather was accepted in lieu of a birth certificate.

My mother had a similar problem. Born in 1918 had a terrible time getting a certified birth certificate. In cook county Illinois, you had to go to the loop to get any documentation and my mother didn’t drive. She was quite elderly at the time and had to make several trips on public transportation.

 

[rickandcindy23]

CO has had real ID on drivers Licenses for years now.

My renewal in 2020 did not include Real ID. Rick's expired 8 weeks later, and his did have real ID. My guess is that CO started Real ID in that timeframe.

 

[Tia]

My renewal in 2020 did not include Real ID. Rick's expired 8 weeks later, and his did have real ID. My guess is that CO started Real ID in that timeframe.

Must be right I renewed during covid online and it was Real ID

 

[klpca]

My last drivers license renewed by mail during the covid shutdown so mine is the old fashioned kind. I need to get my real ID this year and I am not yet able to make an appointment because of the backlog of people getting their real ID. I have been carrying my passport with me for years when I fly, so this has had zero impact on me (I also have a global entry card - another real ID, although not everyone at TSA can wrap their heads around that one). I do feel sympathetic for folks who aren't regular flyers. The messaging on this has been all over the place. If you fly a lot you know. If you rarely fly, you may or may not know. I don't think this is an excuse - they need to get the correct form of ID of course - but not everyone is as astute as someone who is a frequent traveler.

Also for those of us who are married and made the archaic decision to take our husband's last name, to have to once again prove who we are is an extra PITA step. PSA for women - just keep your name and make the rest of your life easier!

 

[PigsDad]

My renewal in 2020 did not include Real ID. Rick's expired 8 weeks later, and his did have real ID. My guess is that CO started Real ID in that timeframe.

Not sure why you did not get a Real ID in 2020, but Colorado started issuing Real ID licenses in 2012 -- CO was one of the earlier states to provide these. I know I got mine in 2014 when I renewed mine that year. And I didn't have to provide any additional information -- I renewed online and they must have had all the info needed already.

Kurt

 

[SmithOp]

I renewed online and they must have had all the info needed already.

Kurt

This has been my beef with the CA DMV wanting me to bring in a birth certificate and a utility bill to prove my identity and current address. I've had a license in CA for over 50 years, it's all in their computer records. It was much easier to add $10 to my passport renewal and get the card to use as Real ID.

I went through the same with retiree benefits, we had to send in a certified marriage certificate to get spouse medical and dental coverage. They did not accept a printed copy I got years ago at the Vegas chapel, I had to buy a certified copy from Clark County.

 

[DrQ]

They did not accept a printed copy I got years ago at the Vegas chapel, I had to buy a certified copy from Clark County.

Yeah, we found that out decades ago when we applied for married student housing. The document the minister gives you is ceremonial only. The real deal is from the county where the marriage was performed.

 

[rapmarks]

Not sure why you did not get a Real ID in 2020, but Colorado started issuing Real ID licenses in 2012 -- CO was one of the earlier states to provide these. I know I got mine in 2014 when I renewed mine that year. And I didn't have to provide any additional information -- I renewed online and they must have had all the info needed already.

Kurt

Females who took husbands last name need marriage certificate. I bet you didn’t need that piece of proof.