by Emily Thompson, Newsletter & Partnerships Editor
When it comes to getting an updated travel ID, many procrastinators have been rewarded. The threat of needing a Real ID for travel has loomed for years now, but the deadline has been repeatedly pushed back.
I was one of the beneficiaries. I kept putting off getting a new ID, figuring I would just use my passport if one of the deadlines ended up being real. And when I finally had to get a new driver’s license with the shiny star anyway a few months ago, I figured I would be good to go when the deadline became real — whether that would be this month or in another five years.
But the federal government has issued a deadline of May 7 — and it appears this might be the real deadline this time.
If you were banking on having another year to figure out when or how to get a Real ID, it’s possible that your luck is finally running out. The good news? You may already have a Real ID-approved card without even realizing it.
In short, Real ID-approved identification has some sort of star or emblem that includes a star, depending on the state, in the upper right or left corner. Take a look at your driver’s license. If it has a star, you already have what you need. But if not, you may want to make an appointment to get a new ID in the next few months.
Of course, you may already have a Real ID-compliant form of ID in your travel files. Even if your driver’s license doesn’t have a gold star, you can use a U.S. passport or passport card, a Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler card (such as for Global Entry), or a few other documents instead.
To make sure you’re ready for the deadline (whether it’s really May 7 or some other day in the future), check out our story on the Real ID requirements.
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