‘Real ID’ Driver’s Licenses: Don’t Be Caught Short

spontaneous said:

LA County allows you to get a certified copy of your birth certificate in person, through regular US mail, or through a third party website.  You just cannot get it over the phone.  No need to jump through hoops to try to hunt down alternative forms of ID to establish a date of birth that most, if not all, government agencies won’t accept.

I was able to request a certified copy of my birth certificate online from my birth state.  It was pretty easy but of course they charge a fee.


yahooyahoo said:

drummerboy said:

If you have a passport, you don't need to deal with this Real ID crap, do you?

 No

 Does that hold for the Passport card also? Maybe I should just carry that card all the time?


drummerboy said:

 Does that hold for the Passport card also? Maybe I should just carry that card all the time?

 a passport card is a real id


oots said:

drummerboy said:

 Does that hold for the Passport card also? Maybe I should just carry that card all the time?

 a passport card is a real id

 cool. but does that mean that I can upgrade my license to a real ID by just showing my passport card? Probably not - sounds too easy.


drummerboy said: 

cool. but does that mean that I can upgrade my license to a real ID by just showing my passport card? Probably not - sounds too easy.

No. Counts the same as a passport.

https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/realid/pdf/26.pdf


but, but, if a passport counts as a Real ID, why can't I just provide that to upgrade my license?

ack

seriously though - is there any need to upgrade your license to Real ID if you have a passport?


Are there any announcement signs about this in EWR?  I didn't notice any when I traveled recently but I might not have been paying attention.  My daughter lives in St Louis and there have been big signs about Real ID in the airport there for a couple of years to let people know that it is coming.  

I'm so glad I got a passport card along with the booklet when I renewed my passport a couple of years ago.  I prefer to use it than my DL anyway because the hassle of replacing a DL (real ID or otherwise) is much more than a passport.  I'll get the Real ID DL the next time I have to renew my license in person, but probably not before then.


drummerboy said:

but, but, if a passport counts as a Real ID, why can't I just provide that to upgrade my license?

ack

seriously though - is there any need to upgrade your license to Real ID if you have a passport?

 I am hoping I get a renewal by mail option for my license as I do not need it to be a real id license 


drummerboy said:

but, but, if a passport counts as a Real ID, why can't I just provide that to upgrade my license?

ack

seriously though - is there any need to upgrade your license to Real ID if you have a passport?

 I'm not aware of any.  I have two real IDs, a Global Entry card and a passport.  So I'm going to wait to get a Real ID drivers' license until I absolutely need to.


sac said:

Are there any announcement signs about this in EWR?  

 I've seen small signs posted there on the stanchions near the TSA checkpoints -- but given the amount of other signage, verbal directions and general chaos, they're easy to miss. 


spontaneous said:

LA County allows you to get a certified copy of your birth certificate in person, through regular US mail, or through a third party website.  You just cannot get it over the phone.  No need to jump through hoops to try to hunt down alternative forms of ID to establish a date of birth that most, if not all, government agencies won’t accept.

 Yeah, I talked to him about this (having read the helpful posts here) and it turns out that the sticking point is that he is adopted.  Nothing he has now matches the info on the birth certificate so he has to actually show up in person. He thinks that a new certificate was issued when he was adopted but the county says no. I am not exactly sure how having a 72 year old man with a fading memory standing in front of them will resolve these issues but that is what I am told. He is going to head out there in the Spring and he will try to work it out but, as for now, he can't leave the country.


my wife got  renewal by mail for her license last week-so I hope i also get it in august when im up.

we were both approved for global entry today-woohoo!  just in time before 45 screws nj like ny.  now i just need our flights in late may to be a "go"!


I got my Real ID back in October, but my license is up for renewal in May.  It was too far off for them to renew at the same time.  I asked how renewals would be done, and they had no idea.  Not an answer that inspires confidence in their knowing the new system if you ask me.  I applied for a passport recently, and decided to spend the extra money and get a passport card.  If the NJMVC Real ID renewal turns out to be a pain in the *** I'll just let it lapse and renew my regular license.


spontaneous said:

I got my Real ID back in October, but my license is up for renewal in May.  It was too far off for them to renew at the same time.  I asked how renewals would be done, and they had no idea.  Not an answer that inspires confidence in their knowing the new system if you ask me.  I applied for a passport recently, and decided to spend the extra money and get a passport card.  If the NJMVC Real ID renewal turns out to be a pain in the *** I'll just let it lapse and renew my regular license.

At the beginning of February, the MVC also launched a new walk-in program for REAL ID customers whose licenses or IDs are expiring in less than three months.

These customers may come into an agency currently offering REAL ID, carrying all the required documents, between the 5th and 20th of any month, according to William Connolly, a spokesman for the agency.


BG9 said:

spontaneous said:

I got my Real ID back in October, but my license is up for renewal in May.  It was too far off for them to renew at the same time.  I asked how renewals would be done, and they had no idea.  Not an answer that inspires confidence in their knowing the new system if you ask me.  I applied for a passport recently, and decided to spend the extra money and get a passport card.  If the NJMVC Real ID renewal turns out to be a pain in the *** I'll just let it lapse and renew my regular license.

At the beginning of February, the MVC also launched a new walk-in program for REAL ID customers whose licenses or IDs are expiring in less than three months.

These customers may come into an agency currently offering REAL ID, carrying all the required documents, between the 5th and 20th of any month, according to William Connolly, a spokesman for the agency.

 Yeah, but what will the wait be like?  My husband's regular drivers license just came up for renewal and he was able to renew by mail.


spontaneous said:

BG9 said:

spontaneous said:

I got my Real ID back in October, but my license is up for renewal in May.  It was too far off for them to renew at the same time.  I asked how renewals would be done, and they had no idea.  Not an answer that inspires confidence in their knowing the new system if you ask me.  I applied for a passport recently, and decided to spend the extra money and get a passport card.  If the NJMVC Real ID renewal turns out to be a pain in the *** I'll just let it lapse and renew my regular license.

At the beginning of February, the MVC also launched a new walk-in program for REAL ID customers whose licenses or IDs are expiring in less than three months.

These customers may come into an agency currently offering REAL ID, carrying all the required documents, between the 5th and 20th of any month, according to William Connolly, a spokesman for the agency.

 Yeah, but what will the wait be like?  My husband's regular drivers license just came up for renewal and he was able to renew by mail.

Go to NJ's Real Id online system and make an appointment. You show the appointment receipt to the MVC reception clerk who will then escort you directly to a document clerk, bypassing those waiting on line. It took us 20 minutes.

Real Id validates that you are here legally. You have to bring proof of citizenship or a valid visa. If its a valid then your Real Id will be set to expire when your visa expires. Their document selector tells you what is needed. Real Id may be helpful if stopped at an ICE checkpoint or for a violation in a non-sanctuary jurisdiction.

Or you can carry a passport or passport card.


BG9 said:

spontaneous said:

BG9 said:

spontaneous said:

I got my Real ID back in October, but my license is up for renewal in May.  It was too far off for them to renew at the same time.  I asked how renewals would be done, and they had no idea.  Not an answer that inspires confidence in their knowing the new system if you ask me.  I applied for a passport recently, and decided to spend the extra money and get a passport card.  If the NJMVC Real ID renewal turns out to be a pain in the *** I'll just let it lapse and renew my regular license.

At the beginning of February, the MVC also launched a new walk-in program for REAL ID customers whose licenses or IDs are expiring in less than three months.

These customers may come into an agency currently offering REAL ID, carrying all the required documents, between the 5th and 20th of any month, according to William Connolly, a spokesman for the agency.

 Yeah, but what will the wait be like?  My husband's regular drivers license just came up for renewal and he was able to renew by mail.

Go to NJ's Real Id online system and make an appointment. You show the appointment receipt to the MVC reception clerk who will then escort you directly to a document clerk, bypassing those waiting on line. It took us 20 minutes.

Real Id validates that you are here legally. You have to bring proof of citizenship or a valid visa. If its a valid then your Real Id will be set to expire when your visa expires. Their document selector tells you what is needed. Real Id may be helpful if stopped at an ICE checkpoint or for a violation in a non-sanctuary jurisdiction.

Or you can carry a passport or passport card.

 I got my Real ID in October, with an appointment.  I still had to wait until called.  And when I asked what the procedures for renewing a Real ID license were they didn’t know.  That is why I’m thinking renewing it might not be that easy, the state still doesn’t have a clue as to what they’re doing


spontaneous said:

 I got my Real ID in October, with an appointment.  I still had to wait until called.  And when I asked what the procedures for renewing a Real ID license were they didn’t know.  That is why I’m thinking renewing it might not be that easy, the state still doesn’t have a clue as to what they’re doing

The Real Id with no appointment needed for renewals procedure just came out. However, we did three licenses with appointments in Nov and Feb. One was a renewal, the other two were "upgrades." We were placed in front of the line. No waiting.


sac said:

Are there any announcement signs about this in EWR?  I didn't notice any when I traveled recently but I might not have been paying attention.  My daughter lives in St Louis and there have been big signs about Real ID in the airport there for a couple of years to let people know that it is coming.  

I'm so glad I got a passport card along with the booklet when I renewed my passport a couple of years ago.  I prefer to use it than my DL anyway because the hassle of replacing a DL (real ID or otherwise) is much more than a passport.  I'll get the Real ID DL the next time I have to renew my license in person, but probably not before then.

 Yes, there are signs at Newark Airport.


I made an appointment a week ago on the website.  Date scheduled is for May 28th in Camden (only site that was available) and was not beyond the 3 month scheduling window (it appears that MVS are scheduling for 3 months out from the end of the current month).  I should have checked on March 1st whether new appointments for the beginning of the June were available closer to me.  Oh well.


RealityForAll said:

I made an appointment a week ago on the website.  Date scheduled is for May 28th in Camden (only site that was available) and was not beyond the 3 month scheduling window (it appears that MVS are scheduling for 3 months out from the end of the current month).  I should have checked on March 1st whether new appointments for the beginning of the June were available closer to me.  Oh well.

 I believe there is the option to change it.


sac said:

I'm so glad I got a passport card along with the booklet when I renewed my passport a couple of years ago.  I prefer to use it than my DL anyway because the hassle of replacing a DL (real ID or otherwise) is much more than a passport.  I'll get the Real ID DL the next time I have to renew my license in person, but probably not before then.

I don't understand. Aren't you carrying your DL all the time? Then, you may as well use that instead of burdening yourself by also carrying a passport. Should you lose your wallet then you don't lose both Id's.


I renewed my license without the new "Real ID" crap.  I'll just use my passport and let things calm down before I go back for the new license.


Just realized my license expires this year. Are MVC offices even open for this?


“All New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, road testing, and inspection facilities remain closed to the public as a measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, through April 26, 2020.”

I’d expect that date to be extended. 

(When my early April appointment was canceled, the site let me reschedule for July 1.)


(oops, already posted)

Thanks, all! I'm just wondering if it's worth it to get on the list for a Real ID appointment, or just apply for a renewal of the regular online and try to get it in 2021. 

If there is a 2021, of course.


If you can renew your regular license online, that’d be my suggestion, rather than go through this scheduling dance.

The renewal form the MVC mailed me last year said I had to show up in person; it didn’t give a reason.


In order to add a comment – you must Join this community – Click here to do so.