Driver’s licenses from New York, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and the American Samoa will no longer be enough to get on a domestic commercial flight.
Starting in 2016, travelers from four U.S. states will not be able to use their driver’s licenses as ID to board domestic flights—a pretty major development considering an estimated 38 percent of Americans don’t have passports.
The standard licenses from New York, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and American Samoa are considered “noncompliant” with the security standards outlined in the Real ID Act, which was enacted back in 2005 but is being implemented in stages. Why are these specific licenses deemed sub-par? In these five places, getting a license doesn't require proof of citizenship or residency.
The new rules will go into effect sometime in 2016 (the exact date has not been announced), and there will be a three-month forgiveness period, during which people with these licenses will be warned that their IDs are no longer valid for flights.
Here’s the breakdown: if you're from one of these states, “acceptable” IDs include passports and passport cards, as well as permanent resident cards, U.S. military ID, and DHS trusted traveler cards such a Global Entry and NEXUS.
The TSA will also accept Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, the kind that are currently used to replace passports for travel to and from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Of the noncompliant states, only New York and Minnesota issue enhanced licenses.
For families from these states, at least children under 18 years old do not need ID when traveling with a companion.
I'm confused by the citizenship part. My driver's license has never been sufficient to prove citizenship for airport immigration. Why would that matter for a domestic flight?
I have a passport so this won't affect really affect me, but it still makes me so grumpy. Thanks, Pawlenty.
it's going to be a nightmare for most people, but i can't even imagine how bad the airports (esp. major ones in NYC) will be backed up....
Totally agree. Our legislature essentially passed an act that says the state can't comply with the federal law on this. I was mad at them when they did it and I'm mad all over again now.
The quick answer is that yes, the majority of Americans do not have a passport. The percentage of Americans who have a valid passport, according to the most recent statistics issued by the State Department in January of 2014, is about 46% (this number excludes passport cards, which are identification cards that only allow sea and overland entry to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, and certain parts of the Caribbean, but not the rest of the world.)
I live in NY and I have a passport, so it's not a huge deal. But I really don't want to have to carry my passport with me when I fly. I'm also imagining the giant cluster this could likely cause at airports. I might just end up getting an enhanced DL.
Post by StrawberryBlondie on Sept 24, 2015 9:26:14 GMT -5
My parents are in their 60s and didn't get passports till it was required for their annual trip to Mexico. Because Mexico is the only foreign country they've ever been to.
I was thinking this was a huge cluster. I think it will be a huge issue for the 2 school breaks because folks won't know about the additional requirements.
Post by steamboat185 on Sept 24, 2015 9:35:58 GMT -5
We always travel with our passports. Several years ago we got stuck in Boston due to a snow storm for 4 days. Had we had our passports we could have gone through Toronto and been home 3 days sooner- Now I never leave for the airport without one.
I'm confused by the citizenship part. My driver's license has never been sufficient to prove citizenship for airport immigration. Why would that matter for a domestic flight?
A driver's license is not sufficient to prove citizenship for immigration purposes.
However, I do know that in Texas you can only get a driver's license that lasts for the duration of your approved status to be in the U.S. If you are a temporary US worker on a 1 year visa for example, you only get a 1 year driver's license. 3 year visa/I-94/DS2019 or whatever immigration document you have = 3 year license.
Perhaps all states except the ones listed in this article comply with that same requirement?
The good news is, passport cards are super easy to get and they are very convenient. I don't know what an "enhanced" DL is but if it is a pain to get, I'd just get a passport card and travel domestically and to Canada/Mexico with that.
Ugh. Passport for every freaking work trip now? It doesn't fit in my wallet well, so I hate carrying it. I'm not up for dealing with the DMV and getting (and paying for) an enhanced license years before my existing license will expire just because of this.
It's more than people from those states. Because many states didn't start transitioning to REAL IDs until very recently if you have an older drivers license from a state that is now compliant you will have to go IN PERSON TO THE DMV and bring all kinds of documentation to get one.
DC started issuing REAL compliant licenses in 2014, but my license is good until 2020 and I refuse to play any more security theater games than I already am so I'm not going to stand in line for an hour when I already have a perfectly good license that is accepted as ID for every other purpose under the sun.
On that note, does anyone know how I can get a Global Entry card? I joined before they were automatically issuing them, so I never received one. The web site is very unhelpful. I really don't want to have to lug my 100 page passport on domestic trips.
This is where I am at--I just got mine renewed last year and I remember them talking about Real ID, but I am not sure if I actually got it; I had a choice. I cannot remember what I did...and I fly monthly for work. Guess my passport will be used!
If the issue that these states aren't requiring things that make them compliant, then why can't you present the license plus an item that would bring you into compliance (i.e., license plus proof of residency and/or birth certificate)? Passports aren't free, it's really not fair to add that kind of burden for a domestic flight.
If the issue that these states aren't requiring things that make them compliant, then why can't you present the license plus an item that would bring you into compliance (i.e., license plus proof of residency and/or birth certificate)? Passports aren't free, it's really not fair to add that kind of burden for a domestic flight.
If the issue that these states aren't requiring things that make them compliant, then why can't you present the license plus an item that would bring you into compliance (i.e., license plus proof of residency and/or birth certificate)? Passports aren't free, it's really not fair to add that kind of burden for a domestic flight.
Is it NY?? Because that was the worst DL photo I've ever had! The lighting made it look like a damned mugshot.
CA was the best. Again, the lighting. It looked like a glamour shot. They know what they're doing.
it is! it's probably one of the best pictures i've ever had taken in my life, full stop.
i'm not bad looking in person but i'm not terribly photogenic. and it was 40 lbs ago and i don't want to let that go.
Lol! I just can't believe they got one right. Hold onto that for dear life .