It was before covid hit that the Real ID was to become the norm for all US citizens for the following:
Accessing certain federal facilities
Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft
Entering nuclear power plants
and the deadline is finally coming up on May 7 to get them.
WHY have people waited so long?
We got ours 2 years ago and it was a piece of cake. If you have a passport, it's very simple because your credentials are already in the database. If you don't have a passport and are a married woman, you just need to bring the mandatory documents as well as your birth certificate with your given name and then your marriage certificate with your married name. If you've changed your name other than what's on those documents, you'll need to have the court documents for those. The birth certificate needs the official seal and it can't be a copy.
I'm seeing reports of people complaining that they can't get appointments to get in and get their Real IDs. WHY did they all wait until the last minute? We've known about this for years. I can't feel sorry for them because it's like a student who comes to class and forgot to do their homework after the teacher had been talking about it for weeks. It's about responsibility.
Just like anything, many people wait until the last minute to get things done. There's probably millions of people scrambling to get their taxes done by the end of today lol.
Just like anything, many people wait until the last minute to get things done. There's probably millions of people scrambling to get their taxes done by the end of today lol.
We've all known that this has been coming for years, so it's silly that this is an issue. I got this done at the DMV a little bit less than two years ago? No one likes going to the DMV, but it was a very simple process.
I don't really have much need for it since I don't really plan on getting on a plane and have no need to get into federal buildings or military bases, but I went ahead and got it just in case. I'd initially put it off partly because of not having a need for it and partly because I was just waiting for my next license renewal since I knew I'd have to go into the DMV anyways for my renewal. (Virginia only requires you to go into the DMV every other renewal cycle, and my previous (and first ever) renewal was done online. I also didn't want to have to pay for the new license at renewal, then pay again just to get the Real ID.)
Finally got it done about 3 years ago, two days before my license was set to expire. The worst part was I ended up paying twice anyways lol. When I provided documents for my Real ID, I had to use my then current address, which was an apartment. We signed on the house the next day. I was able to do my change of address and get my new license (which really, only the change of address was necessary, I didn't have to get a new license but went ahead and did it anyways just in case since I wouldn't be getting a new one for a while) online though since I'd already gotten the Real ID done, so I thankfully didn't have to go back into the DMV. It wasn't terribly difficult to get though. Went to the DMV, filled out the paperwork for the Real ID, presented my documents, had my picture taken (we can smile now!), got my temporary license, and went on my merry way to have lunch before I had to go to work. The most difficult parts were going to the DMV and making sure I had the right documents together, and that's honestly a stretch saying it's difficult. Could've lived without it either way since like I said, I had no need for it, but if I did, I definitely would've gotten it done a lot sooner instead of waiting until the deadline. Might not have had it by the deadline if it hadn't been extended as much as it was due to COVID.
The other nice part was I was able to make an appointment at the DMV, so that made the process easier. I didn't have to wake up super early in the morning to be one of the first ones there with the hopes that I wouldn't be there until lunch lol. Made my appointment for later in the morning, showed up and checked in, and I think I was in and out within 30 minutes with plenty of time to get lunch before work. COVID honestly made it a little easier to get to the DMV and get the whole process done by letting us make appointments, at least in Virginia.
Some people probably waited because their licenses or regular IDs haven’t expired yet, simple as that. There’s still a few years on those for a lot of folks, so unless they’re flying or need access to specific places, they didn’t see a reason to rush.
Honestly, most people avoid the DMV like it’s the plague unless they absolutely have to go. If they’re not traveling or their current ID still works for their daily life, it’s easy to put it off.
Does it make it less stressful? Definitely not. But are we really shocked people waited till the last minute? It’s human nature, no one wants to sit in a waiting room to deal with paperwork unless they’re forced to.
I’ve had mine for a few years now, but I do understand why people wait.
I went and got one back in 2022 before going to Las Vegas on vacay. It has a gold star on the drivers license. I honestly don't know why we need it because I grew up learning that a drivers license was seen as a real ID. But suddenly it's not? I mean why?
