Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve undoubtedly heard that the Real ID Act went into effect on May 7. This law states that you must have the Real ID in order in order to visit government buildings and board domestic flights within the nation.
Even though the rule was established in 2005 and went into effect this May, some people have yet to process their real identification.
For them, what happens? Simple—until they obtain it, they won’t be allowed to board domestic flights.
Does this, however, mean that you haven’t had time to release it? If the date has already gone, you will be fortunate because the DMV will add a few extra dates so you can renew or issue your license and get a Real ID. Below, we tell you everything.
What is the REAL ID?
One form of government identification that satisfies the nation’s security requirements is the Real ID.
Though it took more than two decades to become official, it was conceived as a preventative measure following the 9/11 attacks and is now in place.
Without one of these identifications, you will not be permitted to enter a federal building, travel on a federal aircraft, enter a military installation, or perform national security operations.
How can I tell whether my ID is authentic?
The easiest thing is this. Examine your identification or driver’s license carefully; if there is a star in the top right corner, it is a legitimate ID. If it doesn’t, hurry to the DMV that’s closest to you to request and renew it right away.
California has the longest wait times
California would give the most delayed people an extra day. On May 10, it opened 11 offices from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM for anyone who needed to process their real ID immediately (of course, by appointment only).
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The following were the offices:
| City | Address |
| Concord | 2070 Diamond Blvd. |
| Fullerton | 909 W. Valencia Drive |
| Glendale | 1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd. |
| Oakland | 5300 Claremont Ave. |
| Poway | 13461 Community Road |
| Riverside East | 6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd. |
| Roseville | 7200 Galilee Road |
| San Clemente | 2727 Via Cascadita |
| San José | 111 W. Alma Ave. |
| Thousand Oaks | 1810 E. Avenida De Los Arboles |
| West Covina | 800 S. Glendora Ave. |
How can I schedule a DMV appointment?
It’s very simple; just go to the California DMV’s official website and make an appointment.
What should I bring?
Three documents must be in order for you to proceed:
- A document (passport, birth certificate, etc.) attesting to your identification as an American
- Evidence of residency in California, such as a utility bill or rental agreement
- Your SSN.
The Real ID Act: What is it?
The 2005 federal law was a set of security measures implemented by the government in the wake of the 2001 attacks.
Its goal was to increase traveler security by making sure that the user’s residence and all of their data are validated in several ways.
At first, the legislation change may cause some chaos, but we must keep in mind that their main goal is to make our nation safer and, more importantly, to lower the number of document forgeries.
In order to prevent future issues, it is best to get it as soon as feasible rather than staying behind!
