REAL ID for Pennsylvanians

Our local paper ran a story about the REAL ID cards that Pennsylvanians who want to board a domestic airplane and/or enter a federal building will have to have by 2020.  What caused me to take notice was the list of documents one needs to validate who they are so they can be granted the REAL ID card which the federal government recognizes as approved credentials for the general public.  The current PA driver’s license is not a REAL ID. 

As the story goes, beginning in the spring of 2019, Pennsylvanians will need the following documents to obtain a REAL ID:

• Proof of Identity
• Examples: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate with a raised seal or valid U.S. Passport
• Proof of Social Security Number
• Example: Social security card
  *Please note that social security card cannot be laminated or sealed in plastic.
• Proof of all Legal Name Changes
• Examples: Marriage certificate or court order issued by your county's family court
  *Please note: You must show a complete name change history that links your birth certificate name to your current name. If you have a valid U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card with your legal name, you may use that as your name change document.
• Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address
• Examples: Current, unexpired PA license or ID and a no more than 90-day-old bank statement or utility bill with the same name and address

It is suggested that one wait until the next renewal of your license to get the REAL ID to “avoid the rush”. 

Why am I writing about this now?  This speaks to the essence of what this blog is about…putting your important papers in one safe spot.  If you don’t know where your birth certificate, marriage license, passport and social security number are, schedule an appointment with yourself and make the time to gather the documents sooner rather than later.

For more information about the REAL ID, visit:  http://www.dmv.pa.gov or https://www.dhs.gov and search for REAL ID.   There is a caveat to this new card—if you know you will never board an airplane or enter a federal building then you don’t need the card.  And since none of us have a crystal ball to look into the future, it is best that we be prepared. So get the REAL ID card when it becomes available. 

Photo by Andrew Berlin