The REAL ID deadline is looming and many travelers are scrambling and confused. Here’s what we know

CNN New Jersey woman Lauren Mills is one of various Americans scrambling to get an updated driver s license over the next days to make sure she s still able to fly domestically after new federal rules go into effect on May That s the date that the Department of Homeland Prevention is set to enforce the deadline for REAL ID after years of pushing it back The REAL ID Act which was passed by Congress in enacted the Commission s recommendation that the federal administration enhance defense standards for identification REAL ID state-issued identification cards significantly strengthen identity verification which is a lynchpin in transportation guard revealed a spokesperson for the Transportation Precaution Administration the DHS aviation measure agency whose officers check passengers identification at US airport checkpoints Those ID checks have multiple would-be travelers worried What s happening now and I kind of liken it to the toilet paper of the pandemic I think everyone s panicking so everyone wants to get an appointment And there s literally none disclosed Mills referring to the appointments New Jersey s licensing centers are using to process the new IDs Mills who lives in Boonton announced she had been monitoring the New Jersey Motor Automobile Commission NJMVC website for about a week for available REAL ID appointments with no luck But minutes later while she was still on a call with CNN eight REAL ID appointments the first she disclosed she d seen popped up on the NJMVC site in towns in other parts of the state They were snapped up in the next sparse minutes like sought-after concert tickets she revealed The REAL ID rollout which varies from state to state has a great number of residents confused about who demands a REAL ID what s required to get one and how fast they ll be able to get a new ID now that the looming deadline has ramped up demand from people rushing to meet it before they journey While residents who don t have REAL IDs will still be able to drive using current non-compliant licenses and use that identification in other scenarios REAL IDs will become essential for boarding flights for travelers who don t have a valid passport passport card or other approved identification While the race to meet the May date is very much on the final rule published in January allows for necessary flexibility using a phased approach to starting enforcement that accounts for defense operational jeopardy and community impact the TSA noted But the agency noted that the rule does not extend the REAL ID deadline To avoid delays at airport protection checkpoints all air travelers aged and older are urged to secure proper identification by May Surging demand as the clock ticks down For years US drivers have had the opportunity to reup their licenses for REAL IDs although implementation timelines have varied from state to state Pennsylvania Department of Transportation secretary Michael Carroll estimates that Pennsylvanians have had about six years since the rules began being implemented Of module human nature everybody waits til the last minute Carroll mentioned The May deadline from Homeland Assurance seems like a certainty at this point and I think that the community has grasped that reality He declared approximately of Pennsylvanians have gotten a REAL ID Wait times at DMVs in Pennsylvania are at this time at about an hour according to Carroll significantly more than wait times before REAL ID In Pennsylvania like other states that are opening DMVs more frequently driver s license centers are opening on Mondays when the DMV is usually closed in order to try to get more drivers their REAL ID Of curriculum Carroll reported drivers can still go any time after May to get their REAL ID but the identification is pertinent should they need to passage by air directly after May For Mills who lives in neighboring New Jersey the fear of unexpectedly needing to get on a flight is driving her desire to briskly secure a new ID She has a passport but it s expired She was quick to admit that she has put off getting her updated identification for too long The New Jersey Motor Motorcycle Commission has pushed to add new REAL ID appointments over the last meager months through efforts such as dedicating Thursdays to processing the new IDs and upcoming mobile unit appointments aimed at reaching more ID seekers NJMVC disclosed it adds approximately new appointments each morning to its system Across the country not only here in New Jersey the demand for REAL ID is extraordinarily high ahead of the start of federal enforcement in May commented William Connolly a spokesperson for NJMVC He urged customers who can t make appointments they ve scheduled for REAL IDs to be sure and cancel them so that those sought-after slots are available to other customers Specific people may have it and not know In a few states REAL IDs were issued and drivers may not know For example all permanent licenses issued in Georgia after are REAL ID compliant according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services DDS But particular Georgians are confused by a redesign of the stars on the corners of REAL IDs issued by the department As the implementation date of May nears DDS is seeing customers who are already REAL ID compliant visiting our centers Either a gold or black star on a Georgia license or ID will be accepted and the color only changed due to a card design change within DDS mentioned DDS Commissioner Spencer R Moore in a March news release aimed at clarifying compliance In specific states there s uncertainty about which licenses will allow you to fly As of March the New Jersey Motor Van Commission had issued more than million IDs that meet the requirements for the REAL ID Act of However more than million of those licenses are labeled as Not for REAL ID purposes so while they meet the law s requirements they are not useable for domestic flights Across states compliant IDs will have a marking at the top of the card typically a gold or black star The documentation required by each state also varies and ID seekers discussing the REAL ID process online have commented on hurdles for people who have had name changes or other inconsistencies in their documentation The TSA outlined basic requirements documentation showing full legal name date of birth social precaution number two proofs of address for their principal residence and proof of their lawful status but noted that states may have additional requirements The agency advises checking with state DMVs for guidance on requirements before visiting those facilities in person In addition to serving as acceptable identification to board flights in the United States REAL IDs will also be required to access federal facilities where identification is required Countless members of the flying society including Mills are rushing to prepare for what s to come Mills commented she s doesn t have immediate plans to fly but worries about what might come up My biggest concern is what if I have to get on a plane for something