MCHENRY COUNTY – Limiting travel because of COVID-19 restrictions has had an impact on the human psyche. You’re itching to get away, anywhere just to see a new environment. But you may have become confused over a few key facts swirling in your head. Sun Day is here to unclutter.
You may consider this article a tonic to refresh and prepare yourself for adventure ahead. Your guide is Bernice Bakley, managing owner of Huntley Travel. Bakley is not looking to sell you on a travel package with this article, though she’s all for working with a client to insure they have a great adventure. Bakley is your guide through the things you’ll need for commercial air travel in the future such as a REAL ID.
Up until a few months ago, October 1, 2020 was the deadline to get a REAL ID. Some people have known about the extension of the deadline but many people did not know about the extension to October 1, 2021. So you have a full year to gather necessary documents for REAL ID. You won’t need to rush to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Driver’s License Facility and potentially overwhelm the staff. At Huntley Travel, Bakley has tear sheets on the counter for clients to help them know what they need to obtain a REAL ID.
“We hate to see people go to get one and then discover they didn’t bring all the required documents,” Bakley said.
You may wonder what a REAL ID is, and why are people trying to get one? A REAL ID will make uniform across the U.S. enhanced identification to board domestic flights. The Department of Homeland Security is behind this uniformity because some of the hijackers on 9/11 had received driver’s licenses using false documents. Imagine on October 1, 2021, you head to O’Hare International Airport for a domestic commercial flight and are waiting in line at the security checkpoint. You’re asked for identification. You’ll either need a passport or a REAL ID. Without one or the other, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) won’t let you get to the gate and catch your plane.
A few delays since the original REAL ID deadline of 2008 have occurred and now we’re in 2020 and COVID-19 has created another delay for some 79 million Americans that are left having to make a decision over whether they’ll become REAL ID-compliant. It’s only been since 2005 that Congress passed the Real ID Act. But because of COVID-19, Homeland Security can’t be in a rush.
Homeland Security can point to Illinois among the states where Secretary of State Jesse White had closed all offices including the Woodstock and Belvidere motor vehicle facilities because of COVID-19. Those drivers’ license facilities have since reopened in Illinois. In Woodstock and Belvidere, the Secretary of State Facility locations are open Tuesday through Saturday but closed on Sunday and Monday.
A spokesman at the Woodstock facility says that for those with a driver’s license, you may upgrade your license to a REAL ID. What people are saying though is that you should prepare for long lines at the D.M.V. offices. They suggest that when your license expires you should then upgrade to a REAL ID.
Since you may have a long wait ahead, be prepared to make your visit to the D.M.V. as smooth as possible. This is where we seek Bakley’s knowledge as a travel expert.
“Make sure you have all the required documents. There are four different groups of items, proof of identity, full social security number, proof of residency, and written signature,” Bakley said.
From the Social Security Office, note that “For REAL ID document purposes, you may not need a Social Security number (SSN) card as proof of an SSN. Instead, a recent pay stub, W-2 (wage and tax statement), SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefit Statement) or other tax documents showing your full name and entire SSN may be acceptable proof of your SSN. If you’ve searched all over your home and can’t find your Social Security Card, you may seek a replacement card online by going to my Social Security account (ssa.gov).
A passport will “trump” REAL ID, according to Bakley. From her experience, she’s seen that COVID-19 has had an impact on getting a passport or renewing a passport.
“That is slowly changing as more offices are bringing back more staff so they are starting to catch up although processing times are still much longer than the normal 4-to-6 weeks,” Bakley said.
She advises clients to go to travel.state.gov. From this website, you can click on passports and it will guide you to the proper application. Passports are still a necessity for international flights (travel).
