Are You REAL-ID Ready?

Starting October 1 , 2020, security requirements at U.S. airports are changing, including at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, and all Americans aged 18 and up will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant identification at security checkpoints in order to board a flight. If you do not have a REAL ID (or an acceptable alternative like a U.S. passport or military ID) you are not REAL ID ready and you won’t be able to fly this fall. 

According to a study done by U.S. Travel Association, 99 million Americans do not currently have any form of ID that will be accepted after October 1. And about 57% of all Americans are unaware of the approaching deadline for full REAL ID compliance. If REAL ID were implemented today, it is estimated that nearly 80,000 travelers would be turned away at airport security on the first day.

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If you’re one of the many who feels caught off-guard, don’t panic: you’ve got time to get prepared. Here’s how:

  • Check your current license. In Ohio, you can tell your driver’s license is compliant if a black circle with cut out star appears in the upper right corner of your card. If it does not, you need to get a REAL-ID

  • Gather your Acceptable Documents

  • Get your questions answered with some FAQ’s

  • Head to your nearest BMV - it takes 10-14 business days for your new REAL-ID complaint licence to be mailed to you.

  • PRO-TIP: In Ohio at certain locations, you can get IN-LINE ONLINE first to reduce your wait times!

If you absolutely cannot get to the BMV before October 1, 2020, make sure you have an alternative form of acceptable identification, such as a passport, passport card, U.S. military ID, Global Entry card, among several other options. You can find this information on TSA’s website. 

The 2020 deadline is the culmination of the REAL ID law first passed by Congress in 2005, which mandated uniform standards for government-issued IDs in order to make them more secure. Implementation of the policy has been delayed for 14 years in order to give states, federal agencies, and the public time to comply, but now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced October 1, 2020, as the final date for full enforcement.

It’s critical we all do our part to make sure we’re prepared for October 1. Take steps now to get REAL ID ready and spread the word to your family and friends. A little bit of planning now will make all the difference next year. 

To learn more about REAL ID, visit tsa.gov/real-id or dhs.gov/real-id.

Beth Dekker