REAL ID requirements in Wyoming

What is a REAL ID?

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 brand new REAL ID card is the first of October 2021, it is set that by this time, all the different States will be able to issue them. If you are an american citizen or an american legal resident, you will have to apply for this new type of identification to be able to move around the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will give all States until October 1st 2021 to start to issue this new Identification cards according to the REAL ID standards, for that reason, the Department of Homeland Security is working really hard with all States to help them to comply the standards by the deadline.

Please bear in mind that the REAL ID is not the same for all States, this doesn’t mean that from now the ID card will be a National one for all americans, this actually means that all States will keep using their own cards and keeping their own records, but now with the REAL ID, the security of the card will be improved.

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.

All new REAL ID cards are distinguished from the regular ones because they have one of the following marks:

If you are not sure that your ID card complies with the REAL ID, just make an appointment and ask your agency before risking yourself to being denied to entrance any facility or in case you need to fly around the States. In this last case, if you still do not have ready your REAL ID for October 1st, you can still travel around using your passport; the Transportation Security Administration website offers some other interested information you may check before your flight.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A REAL ID in Wyoming?

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.

The Department of Homeland Security, in some cases, will allow some Special REAL IDs to non citizens or immigrants with no documentation, always with the difference that these cards will be marked with some other characteristics, symbols or color. If you are interested in this kind of cards, please visit the DHS website to check if you are allowed to apply for one of these REAL ID cards.

Another group of people that can apply for these cards are all of those with an Employment Authorization Document. They 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).

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.

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 children under 18 years of age, The REAL ID is not required, in this case, the minor current ID will be enough to cross the security at the airport.

If you are planning to cross borders between the States and Mexico or Canada, please bear in mind that the REAL ID is not accepted to cross the border, nor even works as a valid ID to travel in an International cruise, a passport instead will be necessary to allow you to make this international travel. You will have your REAL ID to only be used to travel inside 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 it to the DHS - THere is a lot of bureaucracy in this aspect, and the DHS has the last word. In some scenarios exists 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, the one can be used for certain purposes except for the official ones. In this case, your ID will have some inscription establishing that your ID "Is not valid for official purposes", so it will have to be replaced in some cases for example by the 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 with the REAL ID in Wyoming