US Passport renewal in 2021 and "Real ID" requirements

[375 Ruger Fan]

Two separate, yet related topics:

US Passport renewal in 2021. I mailed my renewal in on April 1st and just got the new one back on May 24th. YMMV.

Real ID: Back in January, my wife and I made an appointment to go the the Louisiana OMV to get Louisiana drivers license, since we were moving our primary residence from Texas to Louisiana. There were signs everywhere in the OMV waiting area saying "Need a Real ID?" It looked just like those "Got Milk?" signs. I had read somewhere about the new ID requirements coming for domestic airline travel and read where many or most of the states driver's license qualified. Well, it turns out we got the regular driver's license and they don't qualify as a "Real ID." Had we brought a few more documents (passport, SS card, etc), we could have gotten the Real ID for no extra cost. Now, we'll have to go back and for $17, get the Real ID.

For more info on the Real ID and how your state handles it, go to this link: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

If your current driver's license has a star on the upper right portion, it is a "Real ID".

The deadline for starting to enforce the Real ID requirement for domestic US air travel keeps getting pushed back due to COVID. The current deadline is May 3, 2023.

 

[R.M.C.]

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Edster]

Just use your passport for id while traveling domestic. I refuse to give them more money!!!!

 

[sierraone]

Also keep in mind that if you have a retired military I.D. you don't need a real I.D., but its rarely mentioned.

 

[Philip Glass]

Two separate, yet related topics:

US Passport renewal in 2021. I mailed my renewal in on April 1st and just got the new one back on May 24th. YMMV.

Real ID: Back in January, my wife and I made an appointment to go the the Louisiana OMV to get Louisiana drivers license, since we were moving our primary residence from Texas to Louisiana. There were signs everywhere in the OMV waiting area saying "Need a Real ID?" It looked just like those "Got Milk?" signs. I had read somewhere about the new ID requirements coming for domestic airline travel and read where many or most of the states driver's license qualified. Well, it turns out we got the regular driver's license and they don't qualify as a "Real ID." Had we brought a few more documents (passport, SS card, etc), we could have gotten the Real ID for no extra cost. Now, we'll have to go back and for $17, get the Real ID.

For more info on the Real ID and how your state handles it, go to this link: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

If your current driver's license has a star on the upper right portion, it is a "Real ID".

The deadline for starting to enforce the Real ID requirement for domestic US air travel keeps getting pushed back due to COVID. The current deadline is May 3, 2023.

When I did my last DL renewal it came with the star! I didn’t do anything extra.

 

[mdwest]

you have to love that you have to have a federal govt approved "real ID" to board a flight.. but that states want to debate whether you should have an ID at all to vote.. and resort to racism allegations if anyone thinks it should be necessary...

Another "real ID" other than a state issued DL is the "Passport Card" that you can now get for a few bucks more when you renew your passport.. basically a federal govt ID card that can be used for both domestic travel and for travel between the US, Canada, Mexico, and a couple of places in the Caribbean..

 

[rookhawk]

Mine took 6 weeks. Had to call State dept and passport center many times for escalations. Sent it overnight yet passport expedite PO Box is only checked every 1-2 weeks introducing delays.

DO NOT count on them adhering to even rush/expedite passport turn-around times during Covid. Plan well in advance and even then, use expedite/rush services at additional expense.

I got my new passport 3 days from departure. Old passport was still valid, but most African countries will not allow entry if you have less than 6 months remaining on a valid passport. CHECK your valid passport to ensure that its not nearing expiration either.

 

[Tanks]

A friend of mine had to get her congresswoman involved to expedite her passport. Got it just in time for her flight overseas.

In regards to real id, the Global Entry card is useful as well instead of a DL.

 

[wesheltonj]

The real ID is a pain. My 94 year old father went to renew his drivers licenses and because of the real id requirements TX DPS needed either a certified copy of his birth certificate or an unexpired Passport to renew as they did not have one on file. Mind you he's had a Texas Drivers licenses for 80 years. Unfortunately, he was born in NYC and I have been trying since mid March to obtain one for him without success, I was told they might get around to it after Memorial Day sometime, what a Cluster F, NYC is.

 

[rookhawk]

The real ID is a pain. My 94 year old father went to renew his drivers licenses and because of the real id requirements TX DPS needed either a certified copy of his birth certificate or an unexpired Passport to renew as they did not have one on file. Mind you he's had a Texas Drivers licenses for 80 years. Unfortunately, he was born in NYC and I have been trying since mid March to obtain one for him without success, I was told they might get around to if after Memorial Day sometime, what a Cluster F, NYC is.

I'm not suggesting this whatsoever as it would be illegal. But what many people have done as a criminal act, particularly hispanic immigrants that have been in this country a very, very long time, is they go over the the used bookstore market and find a nice old tabletop Bible. Since its the bestselling book in history their supply is great and the values of them are nil for collectors. Wouldn't you know it? A 100+ year old bible with several pages of birth, baptism, and death records get written in using several different fountain pens in slightly different colors of ink and there you have it, the family bible exists.

A family bible is considered legal as a birth certificate in the United States because, until the latter half of the 20th century, rural Americans would see their traveling priest, doctor, or pastor once a month when he came to town so he could make out baptism, home-birth, and other legal records.

You can only imagine the amount of fraud in this rule but it is a necessary one because the family bible is the birth certificate of record for tens of thousands of older Americans.

 

[Inline6]

I sent my paperwork in for my passport last June. I sent everything they asked for. They asked for additional paperwork towards the end of October. I requested that paperwork from the department of vital records. That requires was sent November 4th next day. They entered that paperwork November 30th, my request. I called every week was told 4-6 weeks then the next week was 6-8 weeks then it was 8-12 weeks then 12-16 weeks. Then I was told they are no longer giving time lines. I said I had a trip planned for 2 years and I do not plan on missing it. I was told to more the date. I called the passport people they gave different opinions of paperwork. I had to scramble to get that rounded up. I asked to have it expidited 3 different times. The last time I called the passport office I waited 1hour 18 minutes to talk to someone. I did not like the response, I asked to talk to a manager. My phone timer read 4 hours 2 minutes. I was calm had to be, we all know the saying. He asked how it was going I politely responded as well as one can be for being on hold for over 4 hours. I asked about my paperwork, my expidited request, and time frame. He responded that he seen my request and would add remarks, I had received what I needed from vital records. That why I called to see if me sending that would help move this along. He assured me that they had everything needed. It would be taken care of, 3-4 weeks later. They sent it, to my old address that I asked to have update no less than 6 times. I thought I had given myself plenty of time (1 year). I was very close to push my luck. I looked at my call log and between the two agencies I spent over 50 hours on the phone. I truly believe if I had not talked to the manager I would still be waiting.

I know they have their hands full and they have limited staff. Just be warned your problem is not their problem. They are not in any hurry to make things happen.

Good luck if you need a passport right away, I feel your pain and frustration.

 

[YancyW]

A friend of mine had to get her congresswoman involved to expedite her passport. Got it just in time for her flight overseas.

In regards to real id, the Global Entry card is useful as well instead of a DL.

Calling your member of congress is without question the fastest way to get your passport processed, I've lost count of the number of people I have helped get their passport when under a time crunch.

Global entry is worth every penny and then some, plus the card is another form of gov ID.

 

[Labman]

"we could have gotten the Real ID for no extra cost."

Your lucky. The greedy politicians in PA make us pay $30 extra for a real ID license. Doesn't matter if done at renewal or as a stand alone transaction. That's what people get when they elect a Democrat as governor.

 

[Edster]

Your lucky. The greedy politicians in PA make us pay $30 extra for a real ID license. Doesn't matter if done at renewal or as a stand alone transaction. That's what people get when they elect a Democrat as governor.

I carry a CDL license. The paperwork that has to be filed for renewal is more than what is required for the Real ID. The state of Maine wants an additional $20.00 for the Real ID option. WHAT A SCAM!!!! Like I said before I’ll just use my passport for domestic travel