The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin enforcing the new Real ID requirement in early May. This requires any U.S. Citizen or permanent resident over 18 to have a Real ID or valid passport.
This new requirement, set to go into effect on May 7, came from a recommendation made to Congress by the 9/11 Commission in 2005 to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.”
As the academic year comes to an end and students make plans to leave Washington, D.C. this new restriction may complicate travel for some.
Spencer Clark, a sophomore computer science major from Oakland, California does not have a Real ID yet.
“I was trying to get my Real ID but it was a hassle because my birth certificate is at home and my passport is expired,” he explained.
The Real IDs are marked with black or gold stars on the top right corner for most states. California Real IDs are the exception, featuring a golden bear instead of the star.
Clark is preparing to potentially fly back home before the 7th so he can avoid being stuck on the East Coast.
Some students from New York automatically received their Real ID status after going to take a new ID photo.
Ian Sharps, a senior finance major from Mount Vernon, New York said the process was simple.
“They automatically did it for me [at the DMV],” he said.
The policy was originally meant to take effect in 2008 but was repeatedly postponed, according to CNBC. The latest delay occurred about two years ago when Real IDs were supposed to become mandatory on May 3, 2023, but due to increased backlogs to acquire an ID during the pandemic, were postponed until this year.
However, some students such as Clark, don’t think the new requirement is necessary.
“Ever since TSA became a thing after 9/11 I feel like going to an airport is one of the safest places you could be. I don’t think the Real ID policy will make me feel any safer,” he said.
Clark believes that people with less access to the resources necessary to get a Real ID will feel the effects of the new policy the most.
“If anything, some people will end up getting the short end of the stick because of how long the process may be for some people,” he said.
The Washington, D.C. DMV website states that upon approval, applicants will get a temporary Real ID that will be good for 45 days while the real ID will be mailed in 10 business days.
The site also says that to get approved for a Real ID, applicants must be ready to provide “1. Proof of Identity 2. Proof of Lawful Presence 3. Proof of Social Security Number 4. Proof of Current DC Residency (2)”
Since every state’s rules and application details may differ, federal officials encourage everyone to check their state’s DMV websites individually.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
