'So why only 9 states? What about the other 41?? ’
Many are compliant with the ‘new’ law (it’s been law since 2005) and they follow all the steps to issue a compliant ID. About 15 states have asked for an extension and have taken the steps to start compliance. The final 9 haven’t complied or asked for an extension. There are actually more than 50, as there is DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.
Two of the 9, Washington and Maine, do have enhanced IDs available if the residents want to get those instead.
All the members of my family have passports and use them for all air travel (including domestic flights). It is just easy and you are always prepared to travel abroad if you keep an unexpired passport.
This is pretty interesting. Coincidentally a friend of ours traveled to Florida this past week bringing his 65 year old brotther who is both mentally and physically disabled for a birthday weekend. His brother has a NYS non-drivers license photo ID but TSA requested a second form of identification and they already had TSA pre-check. As they could not produce another form of ID (although my friend remembered after the fact that his brother did have a Medicare card but packed in the checked baggage for unknown reasons) he was told somewhat apologetically by TSA supervisor that they would have to perform a more extensive pat-down check of his brother to be thorough. Now his brother would not have a passport of any sort but it is a reminder that always good to check in advance especially in these types of situations. At least they now know what they have when they return tomorrow.
“I don’t travel enough to make it worthwhile, but I am going to suggest to D and her bf that they consider global pre-check.”
I used to travel a lot on business, now have a daughter in university outside the US, and have found Global Entry to be very useful. The greatest use is that it comes with TSA pre-check and therefore cuts the wait for airport security. It also means that you usually don’t need to take your laptop out of your bag nor remove your shoes. On many occasions it has substantially reduced my wait time arriving at Logan airport in Boston from overseas.
Two downsides: You don’t always get the TSA pre-check and therefore have to time your trip to the airport knowing that you can’t completely count on it. Also, on arrival in the US at most airports Global Entry and/or Nexus cuts your time going through immigration. However, if you have checked bags this just gets you to the baggage claim area faster where you can stand and watch all the other passengers join you while you are waiting for your checked luggage to show up.
While Global Entry is all that you need on arrival in the US, for international flights the airlines require that you show them your passport prior to boarding and therefore you still need to take it for international flights even if you have your Global Entry card. In some cases I have needed to show my US passport on arrival in the US even if I had my Global Entry card with me and got to use the Global Entry lanes.
If you live near the Canadian border, then Nexus is less expensive than Global Entry and comes with the same benefits as Global Entry but also allows rapid entry into Canada in addition to rapid entry into the US. However, the downside of Nexus is that your interview has to be with both US and Canadian officials, and therefore has to occur either at the US/Canada border or at an airport where both are present (such as most major airports in Canada).
Some of the US/Canadian border crossings do not provide any advantage nor special lanes for Global Entry / Nexus. Thus depending upon which border crossings you use, it might not help you.
I have TSA pre-check and I’m curious about this statement. Are you referring to airports that don’t have pre-check lanes, or are you saying that sometimes your boarding pass doesn’t get the pre-check stamp/logo and that forces you to use the regular security lane?
I’ve been travelling pretty regularly with pre-check for the past few years and have always gotten the logo on my boarding pass, although some airports don’t have pre-check lanes implemented.
“Are you referring to airports that don’t have pre-check lanes, or are you saying that sometimes your boarding pass doesn’t get the pre-check stamp/logo and that forces you to use the regular security lane?”
I was referring to the latter, although both have happened to me.
^^ I had that issue once with Southwest. After it happened I learned that if you book via a travel agency, SWA’s systems don’t automatically transfer the pre-check number (aka KTN). We book though a travel agency at work, so whenever I fly SWA I have to call SWA directly after booking and have them add my KTN manually to the record.
My state allows you to choose the extra step to get real ID and I did that a few months ago. It will be harder for D since you need to prove your address with a utility bill and they only count gas, electric, or water bills. Here gas and electric are on the same bill so it’s lucky that H and I each have one of the utility bills in our name.
For students, I think you can show a transcript or tuition bill that has your address on it.
I remember thinking we had until 2020 to be compliant but I saw signs saying otherwise in the Orlando airport. Just bring a passport so you don’t get stuck!
SC is one of those states. You can now turn in the documentation and they will put it on file for you. They will be able to start issuing Real ID licenses end of this year/first of next year. Had D turn in documents while at home so she can get one on-line. She is out of state and flies home and to boyfriend so will want to have it, but she does have passport to use. Drivers that got initial licenses after a certain date (2011/2012) have all the information on file since they had more requirements.
Around here an issue other than flying is getting onto Fort Jackson. You can still get to federal places like SS office, post office.
I’ve got to get my documents together. SC requires actual SS card and I can’t find mine. ARGG. And SC is a state where you can’t get a replacement online.
Regarding pre-check, same D above has that to travel. Even in an airport with no separate line, they handed her a card and she went through regular line with pre-check perks - didn’t have to remove shoes, etc. Small airport so likely seldom needs multiple security lanes. It has been a big help in the NY and Chicago airport.
Houston airport (IAH) is like that. There’s no pre-check lane but they’ll let pre-check passenger keep shoes on. But they’re not organized enough to give you a card, you have to tell the people at the scanners. So the couple times I’ve passed through it was a hilarious comedy of the agents calling out, “show me your pre-check pass and you can keep your shoes on.” Followed by a half-dozen, “no sir, that’s not pre-check”, “no ma’am that’s not pre-check”, rinse and repeat (with me waiting patiently for my turn). Once when I finally showed the agent my pre-check boarding pass he called out, “Yes! This man is actually pre-check! Let him through!”
I never explicitly signed up for TSA pre-check - nor have any of my family members. At various times, our boarding passes have indicated pre-check (although sometimes two family members traveling together have not both had pre-check.)
California apparently has a waiver until Jan-20. But the state will start printing Real ID’s in late Jan-18. But those licenses will be deemed “optional,” and require a trip to the DMV.
I have a passport as I go home to england to see my brother every other year (went every year till my Mum died 2 years ago). My husband does not and we live in OK. He needs to get one.