Air travelers are getting a reprieve from the urgency to obtain their Real ID. The original deadline has been moved from Oct. 1, 2020, to a full year later, Oct. 1, 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) encourages MVD customers to hold off on getting their AZ Travel ID to reduce traffic at MVD locations. All AZ Travel ID appointments have been canceled. Only essential services that must be done in-person are being offered by appointment.
The new Real ID eventually will be required for all domestic flights within the U.S., for commercial flights and to have access into federal buildings and military bases. Some private businesses also may request such identification. Those who have a current passport, passport card, military ID, tribal ID with a photograph or a Global Entry card do not need the Real ID.
To see if your current driver’s license meets the federal requirements, the upper right-hand corner will have a small gold star. ADOT spells out how to get a Real ID on its website at
travel-id-documents.az.gov.
Specifically, there are four considerations to prove your identity before applying.
You need to have a physical street address and be able to present two physical documents that clearly show your place of residence. A bill or formal correspondence that contains that is acceptable.
You can use a birth certificate if it is certified. If you do not have one, you can order one from the Department of Vital Statistics in the state where you were born.
You can use your social security card. You also can use a recent W-2 form.
Your name must match the name on the documents you are using to prove identification. You can, if necessary, use marriage licenses or divorce decrees to show a name match.
Most MVD services are available anytime at servicearizona.com. For those with a license or permit set to expire between before Sept. 1, the expiration date has automatically been extended by six months.
The Real ID costs a minimum of $25. For more information, visit AZTravelID.com, or call 800-251-5866. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens and Ray Newton, FBN
