Online Submission of REAL ID Documents Approved
Do you have your REAL ID yet?!
The Real ID is going to impact all American travelers over the course of the next few years. However, due to COVID-19, changes have been made to allow for the submission of documentation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While they have pushed its REAL ID deadline back to October 1, 2021, it is important to make sure you begin to have all your ducks in a row or begin filing your paperwork now!
October 2021 may seem like a long way off, especially during a pandemic but the months will fly by quickly and before you know it you will need a REAL ID. And if put off, you might not be able to fly domestically with your ID. But if you still don’t have REAL ID-compliant form of identification (more on that in a moment), good news: DHS will now allow you to submit your documentation electronically beforehand !!
State’s DMV website should have more information when you go online to complete the process. This should save time when you visit the DMV (or AAA office) to complete your application. That’s good news since two-thirds of Americans still don’t have a REAL ID-compliant license, with the DHS working to ensure all have a compliant ID. If you do submit electronically, you’ll still need to bring hard copies of your documents with you, but submitting them online will save time at the DMV and mitigate the risk of showing up with invalid or incorrect documents and having to start over.
New to Massachusettes but have a REAL ID from another state?
Massachusettes residents must transfer your out-of-state driver's license or identification card to Massachusetts upon becoming a resident of the Commonwealth. According to the Mass.gov website “For required documents and policies, see links in the Key Actions section below. To transfer a REAL ID from another state to a Massachusetts REAL ID, you must provide documents showing United States citizenship or lawful presence, in addition to other identification documents, as required by federal and state law.” You can start your application online at Mass.Gov/RMV and answer a few questions to determine exactly what identification documents to bring to the RMV when able too.
Other states and AAA facilities have followed suit. Check with your local government’s website for directions and information on how each state is processing these during this pandemic.
RELATED: Everything Travelers Need to Know About a Real ID!
What Is REAL ID, Again? The REAL ID Act of 2005 essentially established nationwide standards for the issuance of identification. Prior to this, each state sets its own criteria for acquiring an ID as well as its own rules for what information is included on the ID itself. However, after-9/11, the government decided this was less than ideal, passed a law fixing the situation, and gave states what turned out to be about 15 years to comply. The primary implication of the law concerns travel. Starting October 1, 2021, all domestic travelers must bring a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another form of identification when they fly. What type of ID are considered “REAL IDs”? fine the full list and more here.