REAL ID requirements in Wisconsin

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

From the last quarter of this year, every State will have to start issuing a new identification card called REAL ID, which is a new type of identification with more secure standards on its issue process. Whenever a person needs to identify him/herself with official purposes, like i.e. if someone needs to enter a federal facility, board a commercial aircraft or enter a Nuclear power plant, he or she will have to present a REAL ID card.

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.

These new REAL ID cards are not a national identification card, and in any case create a centralized federal database. You will have to know clearly that every State will keep issuing their own cards with their own characteristics and will keep having their own records.

In some States, the security Standards are already set up to the REAL ID ones, so in this States, the card issue will work as a REAL ID. These States are: New York, Vermont, Minnesota, Michigan 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 you are not sure that your ID is compliant with the REAL ID Identification card, you can check if your card has one of these marks.

Keep in mind that, if you have any doubts it is better to ask your State agency than to risk yourself having any problem because of not having a Valid ID.

In the case you need to travel, The Transportation Security Administration also accepts other identification documents, like the passport for example, but we recommend you that just to be sure, before you have to use your ID visit the TSA website to check your valid options.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A REAL ID in Wisconsin?

The REAL ID is for all American citizens, every american must apply for a REAL ID before October first.

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.

Any person with an Employment Authorization Document can apply for a REAL ID card which will be temporary until its expiration date. (In this case you will also need to be in possession of a Social Security Number).

There are a lot of different scenarios that can ar cannot apply for a person to be able to request a REAL ID, to be sure of your options, we recommend you to ask for assistance to your local state agency or to visit the DHS website.

WHAT IF I HAVE A FLIGHT BOOKED?

If you are planning to fly around the States after October 1 2021, you must keep in mind that a REAL ID will be demanded by the authorities to go through the checkpoint at the airport, if you are not in possession of the new REAL ID, you may be allowed to board and Aircraft by using the passport as an alternative way to be identified, other way your boarding will be rejected. On the other hand, if you plan to fly before this date, the DHS and the TSA will allow you to travel with your current driver's license or the regular identification card 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.

Please bear in mind that the REAL ID does not allow people to cross the border into Canada or Mexico, nor even to travel in an International cruise, a passport instead will be the necessary document to make this international travel. REAL ID will be only used in this case to travel around the United States.

Non compliant States with REAL ID.

The DHS is working really hard with all the States to comply with the REAL ID by the deadline. In the case you find out yourself in the situation that by the time when October comes your States does not issue this new type of identification, you will have two options:

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:

If you live in New York, Washington, Minnesota, Michigan or Vermont, you may already have your enhanced driver's license. These kinds of cards are acceptable as Border-crossing documents and are only issued by the States of Washington, New York, Minnesota, Vermont and Michigan. The Secretary of Homeland Security established these cards as acceptable to enter the States by land and sea ports complying with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, this is due to the fact that this particular card is issued in a secure process, like the REAL ID ones, and that includes new technologies like a Radio Frequency Identification Chip.

COMPLIANCE in Wisconsin