Appointments booking fast before Real ID deadline
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Photo: Courtesy of Iowa Department of Transportation
After decades of delays, the TSA says you now must get your Real ID by May 7.
Why it matters: After that date, Real IDs or valid passports will be required for domestic air travel and entry into certain government facilities.
- It can take up to 30 days to get in the mail, and as of late last week, the earliest appointment available at some DOT license centers isn't until April — including the Polk County River Place station.
State of play: Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 after the 9/11 Commission recommended that the federal government have one standard source of identification rather than accepting state-specific driver's licenses.
- It looks like your current driver's license but has a symbol in the upper right corner. In Iowa, it's a yellow star.
Friction point: Some reasons for the series of delays include states not wanting federal oversight of their ID systems, low compliance with actually getting the Real ID and administrative hurdles caused by the pandemic.
Stunning stat: Almost 75% of Iowa drivers have their REAL ID compared with 60% nationally, Andrea Henry, a spokesperson for the Iowa DOT tells Axios.
You need a Real ID starting May 7 if:
- You travel on a plane in the U.S. (and don't have a valid passport)
- Visit a secure federal building like a courthouse
- Visit a military base
You DON'T need a Real ID, and only a driver's license, to:
- Drive
- Vote
- Open a bank account
- Apply for or receive Veterans' or Social Security benefits
- Enter a post office
- Visit a hospital
How it works: You must make an in-person appointment to get your Real ID; you can't do this online.
- You need proof of ID like a U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form.
- Here's a checklist of documents needed to obtain a Real ID.
Zoom in: The Real ID is free if you get it during your normal renewal process.
- It's $10 for replacement cards.
- Many of Iowa's license centers have appointments available within two days and emergency same-day service or walk-in service is provided when possible, Henry said.