Deadline Looms for Real ID Driver's License

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Published on January 21 2020 10:04 am
Last Updated on January 21 2020 10:05 am

BY KAY SHIPMAN, FARMWEEKNOW.COM 

If you’re flying somewhere in the United States after Oct. 1 and lack a valid passport, you’ll need to apply for a Real ID driver’s license from the Illinois secretary of state.

Oct. 1 is the federal deadline requiring a Real ID driver’s license, valid passport or military ID to go through transportation security administration (TSA) checkpoints or enter a secure federal building, such as a courthouse. After the October deadline, Illinois residents may still use a traditional driver’s license for identification but those licenses will no longer be valid as federal identification.

An Illinois Real ID resembles the traditional Illinois driver’s license except for a star in a gold circle in the upper right corner. Dave Druker, spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White, recommended visiting online for answers to commonly asked questions and information to determine if you should apply for a Real ID.

Illinois residents may go to any of 138 driver service facilities across the state, Druker said, adding facilities in rural areas may have shorter waiting times than those in urban areas.

Each applicant must provide proof of identity. This can include a certified U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport. If an individual’s name is different from the one on the birth certificate, documents, such as certified marriage certificates, will be required to verify the name change. If individuals lack birth certificates, the secretary of state’s office will work with them and use other documents, such as school information that would indicate date of birth, according to Druker.

Applicants need proof of their full Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub with a full Social Security number.

Two current residency documents with the applicant’s first and last names must be submitted with a street address matching the information on the Real ID application. These may include a utility bill or a bank statement. Rural residents who receive mail at a P.O. Box must also provide two pieces of evidence of that address as well, according to Druker.

Applicants must provide proof of signature. These documents may include a credit/debit card, canceled check or current Illinois driver’s license.

The state charges the same fee for a standard driver’s license and a Real ID driver’s license. Individuals who recently renewed their licenses or whose licenses do not expire for more than a year may apply for a Real ID and pay a $5 fee. The Real ID will retain the same expiration date as the original license.

Since Dec. 30, White extended business hours in some driver service facilities in the Chicago area and northern Illinois and added days just for Real ID applicants to accommodate the increased demand. Druker encouraged Illinois residents who want a Real ID not to wait to apply, but take advantage of reduced demand.