REAL ID requirements in Ohio

WHAT IS THE REAL ID, AND WHEN IS IT STARTING TO BE ISSUED in Ohio?

The REAL ID is a new type of Identification card that you will have to get before October 1st 2021. This card is issued with more secure standards in every State. You will need this new card when you need to identify yourself for official purposes, and the Federal agencies will be obligated to request it to you in case you need to access any Federal Facilities, enter Nuclear Power Plants or even if you are about to board a commercial aircraft around the States.

The deadline to get your REAL ID card is set to October 1st 2021, by this time it is set that all the different States will be issuing them, and every legal resident in the United States would have to have this new type of identification to be able to move around the United States.

As we said before, the deadline to get your REAL ID is October 1st, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will only accept this new Identification cards and Driving licenses that comply with the REAL ID standards and given by a REAL ID compliant State. The Department of Homeland Security is working really hard to help and assist all the american territories for them to be able to issue the new REAL ID cards before October.

The REAL ID is not a national identification card, and it doesn't create a centralized federal database. We would like to leave clear that every State will keep issuing their own cards with its characteristics and will keep having their own records.

There are some Drivers licenses that are still acceptable, like the Enhanced Drivers licenses issued in Michigan, New York, Vermont, Minnesota and Washington.

To process your REAL ID card you will have to make an appointment on your current State driving license agency website and check the requirements and the papers you will have to present there, most of the States will request documentation that shows: Full name and date of birth, if you have your Social Security Number, your address and your legal Status.

If your card has one of the following marks (Check Image below), it may comply with the REAL ID standards, but if you are not sure that your ID is compliant with the REAL ID Identification card please look for assistance.

Anyway, if you have any doubts it is better to ask your State agency than to risk yourself being denied to board a commercial flight, or enter a Federal facility, because of not having a Valid ID.

The Transportation Security Administration also accepts other identification documents in case you have to travel, like the passport for example, just to be sure, before you have to use your ID visit the TSA website to check what are your other options.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A REAL ID in Ohio?

These REAL ID cards are designed to improve the way Every American citizen is identified. All american people must have a REAL ID card or an Identification card.

Some States regularly issue some identification cards to non citizens or immigrants with no documentation, in this scenario, the REAL ID allows this States to issue driver's licenses and IDs to this group of people, always with some different characteristics and or another color. If this is your situation and you want to check if there is a chance to get a REAL ID for yourself, we recommend you to visit the DHS website to check what are your options.

The REAL ID card can also be requested for those people who have an Employment Authorization Document and a Social Security NUmber. These kinds of cards are temporary, and expire when the EAD expires.

The REAL ID Act has been modified with some additions to it, so if you are not sure you are entitled to have this Identification card, we recommend you to ask for assistance to you local State Agency or to visit the DHS website.

Flying in a commercial aircraft after/before October 1st 2021.

Every person planning to fly around the States after October 1 2021, must keep in mind that a REAL ID will be mandatory to go through the checkpoint at the airport, if someone is not in possession of the new REAL ID, this person may be allowed to board and Aircraft by using the passport as an alternative way to be identified. Otherwise, if you plan to fly before this date, the DHS and the TSA will allow you to travel with all the current driver's license and identification cards issued by your State.

If you are travelling with a minor under 18 years of age, the REAL ID is not required, and a regular ID will be enough to cross the security checkpoint.

The REAL ID card does not replace a passport in any case, we have to leave clear that if you are travelling internationally, i.e into Canada or Mexico, or if you are boarding an international cruise, a passport will be the document to present as a valid identification. The REAL ID card can only be used to travel inside the United States, not to cross the border.

Non compliant States with REAL ID.

There will be possible solutions for you if by the time October comes your State doesn’t comply with the Standards of the new REAL ID - Please bear in mind that all States are now working really closely with the DHS to issue REAL ID cards by the deadline.

Report the situation to the DHS - In some scenarios there is the possibility that the jurisdiction will be granted with an extension, in which case the DHS will closely work with their officials to comply with this new rule ASAP.

You can apply for a regular ID card that does not comply with the REAL ID standards. If this becomes your case, you can make a good use of your ID, and it will be valid for certain purposes but NOT FOR OFFICIAL ONES. Check that your ID will have an inscription informing that the card is not valid for "Official purposes"), so in case you need to board an aircraft for a regional flight for example, you will have to bring your passport.

What is the Enhanced Driver's License:

These drivers licenses are acceptable as valid IDs to cross the border into Canada or Mexico. The list of States who comply and Issue this kind of cards are: New York, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington and Michigan. These cards are approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be used as border cross IDs by land or sea due to the fact that those have a Radio Frequency Identification Chip and comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

COMPLIANCE in Ohio