The countdown has begun. In just one day, Americans will no longer be able to travel with a standard driver's license as their ID. Instead, they will need a real ID with a Venus star in the upper right corner.
Starting Wednesday, May 7, travelers will need to display their true ID or other form of acceptable proof of identity on domestic flights.
The deadline has sparked panic among many Americans who have been rushing to get new identification before traveling, some of whom are still waiting to receive their real ID cards in the mail.
Married women face real barriers to ID documentation: “I can’t accept this”
Flyers participating in a real ID card will be proof of identity by email, depending on the country.
New York DMV said that after passengers apply, they will receive a temporary document, “Your new enhanced and authentic ID documents will take about 2 weeks to reach the mail.”
At this point, the actual ID deadline is only one day, and some Americans reported delaying their identification. (Fox News)
Meanwhile, according to their DMV, in California, “it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to receive an actual real ID card in the mail after applying.”
According to its DMV website, in Michigan, the logo should arrive in mail within two to three weeks.
Pennsylvania says if a person signs up for a DMV, it will mail a real ID within 15 business days; however, if a traveler visits the Penndot Real ID Center, you can “verify the person in real time and your real ID card will be issued the same day.”
Hidden real ID trouble facing airline travelers and states to avoid
TSA New England spokesman Daniel Velez shared advice with Fox News Digital about what passengers should do while waiting for their actual ID.
"Passes who file non-compliant state IDs and state letters or receipts will still be subject to additional screening, but should be able to be faster than those who only have state letters or receipts," Velez said.
Travelers experiencing email delays can use passport alternatives to do domestic flights when the standard permit becomes invalid Wednesday, TSA said. (Fox News figures)
He added: "We strongly recommend that (even if you have a receipt/letter for the DMV), passengers bring another acceptable form of ID, such as a US passport, for faster security."
Velez said that if passengers do not have any acceptable ID, TSA "strongly recommends that they arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure time".
“I tried to call and couldn’t get to one person.”
Other forms of identity proof replace actual ID, including a valid U.S. passport or passport card; DHS trusted traveler cards such as Global Entry; Department of Defense ID; Permanent Resident Card; and Off-Road Card.
The real ID rejection of Americans may boil down to a surprising factor
In Reddit's "R/Askchicago" forum, a person posted a note on the title: "What if the real ID in the email is lost".
"I went to get my real ID driver's license on April 7, and the tracker on the Secretary of State's website said it was mailed on the 15th, but I still didn't receive it. I tried to make a call, couldn't make a call, tried to fill out their online form a few days ago and got no response."
Flyers registering for real IDs will be proof of identity by email, varying from state to state. (Getty)
User asked: "I wonder if it took so long to get their ID."
Redditors enter the comments section to share their thoughts on the matter.
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One Reddit said: "This used to happen to me. Waiting for over a month, nothing appeared in my email. Go to the Secretary of State and apply for another replacement, paying for it."
"I obtained a corrected license on the 16th and only got it today. I noticed that the email has been running very slowly recently," one user said.
TSA recommends an alternative to ID, as standard licenses are invalid and people can offer these options for domestic flights. (istock; Fox News figures)
Another person posted on the "R/Charlotte" forum asking, "Should I be worried that I haven't received my real ID in the email yet? It's been a month since."
"I went on April 2. I had temporary temporaryness that they printed on DMVs, but I just wanted to know how long it took for others to receive their temporaryness in the email before I spent a lot of time calling to try to track it."
The real ID rejection of Americans may boil down to a surprising factor
Another user commented: "I still can't believe the deadline is really here, it's a decade of conversation, lol."
"I'll worry."
Another person said, “You have faster confidence in DMV and USP than I do.”
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"Ten thousand people are going every day. I guess they just got overloaded, TBH. I decided to use my passport until I died. There was chaos there."
Starting May 7, passengers will be required to travel with a real ID or other compliance logo in order to fly from the country. (iStock)
One person commented: "I mean, I hope it takes longer because they are being slammed now, but I'm a little worried."
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Another user added: "I went to the emails for less than 2 weeks last night. My wife went there earlier this month and got her identity very quickly. So I'll worry."