What you know to get a real ID because the requirements of the airport approach

In less than a month, from May 7, travelers who fly from the United States airports have to show TSA agents their real ID-compliant driver’s license or another form of compliant identification in order to pass and make their flight. If you do not have any real ID, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), you could be permitted, additional screening or not through the checkpoint.

The real ID roll-out, which has been delayed several times since the original period in 2008, has confused some travelers about the requirements of their states and panicked when they try to make appointments for overwhelmed DMVs.

According to the federal documents, only about 56% of the driver licenses and IDS in circulation in circulation in circulation in January 2024 were a real ID.

The Department of Homeland Security estimated that only 61.2% of the driver and IDS of the driver will be compliant until the deadline on May 7th. A TSA spokesman told ABC News that 81% of traveling TSA checkpoints currently have real IDs or another compliant identification.

If you have not yet received your real ID license, you can know the following if the deadline approaches:

DMVS are struck

Nationwide, the department for motor vehicles report long waiting times, while travelers are trying to get their real ID leaderships, but some offer solutions for people looking for appointments at the last minute.

Some New York DMVs will remain open on Thursdays and publish new available time windows every day.

You will also edit real ID applications at the New York International Auto Show from April 18 to 27 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The California Ministry of Motor Vehicles announced that 18 offices in the whole state would be opened for real ID dates before four days a week. Illinois has created a “real ID super center” for walk-ins.

“You may just have to do the old-fashioned thing and refresh your browser every morning and see whether appointments are open,” said Aixa Diaz, AAA spokesman. “As with the doctors’ appointments, there will be inevitably cancellations.”

Diaz warned that applicants leave their appointment with a temporary paper copy of their ID. TSA will not accept this as valid, so you have to wait until you receive your actual ID by post.

Try AAA

According to Diaz, appointments can also be available in local AAA branches. Not all AAA offices process a real ID, and some only offer the members the service, so that Diaz asks travelers in advance. Applicants may also have to pay an additional fee.

What to bring to your appointment

Applicants can check the website of the Department of Homeland Security to recognize the specific requirements and documents of your state that you have to bring.

You can still use your passport

A valid passport is a compliant identification. So if you have problems booking an appointment, you can still use this after May 7th to go through the TSA checkpoint.

If you appear without real ID, you can expect delays

When travelers arrive at the airport after May 7th without compliant ID cards, TSA said that they could encounter delays and other difficulties at the control point.

“Passengers who present a state-based identification that is not a real ID-compliant and have no other acceptable alternative (ie passport) can expect to have delays, additional screening and the opportunity not to be approved in the security control point,” said TSA in a press release.