NYers (and others) must upgrade their Driver's Licenses by October 2020.

This is a national mandate. Everyone will have to comply.

This was actually useful.

There's going to be a mad rush in 2020

Already did mine; want it over with before the big rush. It’s going to be a nightmare for Secretaries of State nation wide.

Workers at our Secretary of State were HUGE ASSHOLES about the process even though my husband and I came fully prepared with more docs than necessary.

It was easier for me to get my Global Entry permit from CPB/DHS.

I tried to upgrade last year when I had to renew my license. The clerk would not accept my original birth certificate. She said only a copy is acceptable.

Yes the Real ID is a national thing. Everyone is going to have to make sure their driver's licenses are real ID compliant.

[quote] Workers at our Secretary of State were HUGE ASSHOLES

Don't you just have to go to the DMV?

Can you imagine the lines at the DMVs?

Already got mine.

r1 Not true. Some states have made ALL of their licenses and ID cards compliant. So nothing needs to be done. It's only the states (including NY and CA) that didn't do so where there's an issues -- and now they have two-tiered systems for their ID cards and licenses.

This photo shows the two different types of cards that California has.

I understand the rules for elder (gays and others) are especially difficult

So California has been issuing fake IDs all this time?

I miss the days when you could just hop a freight train, move to another state and assume another identity.

If you don’t want to do it you have to have your passport and regular DL in order to fly, even domestic.

And to get in a government facility like a military base.

If you don’t care about those two things you can just stick with a regular DL.

[quote]The clerk would not accept my original birth certificate. She said only a copy is acceptable.

This doesn’t make any sense, r5. Why would they want a copy that could’ve been manipulated?

I’m in New York, too, and they wanted an original birth certificate with a seal. My mother (in her seventies!) had to show an original birth certificate, too, and they gave her a hard time because it was hard to read. The damn thing is over 70 years old!

My birth certificate is so old it has two boxes for "colored" and "white", no third choice.

NYers (and others)? Seriously?

Welcome to 2005, OP.

It's amazing that some states have been so far behind on this. My God, Alafuckinbama has had realID licenses for years.

It’s quite possible the clerk was being a Grade-A bitch to me R14 or she didn’t know her fat ass from her elbow.

R5 you should have told her "well then take the original to your copier and make yourself a copy - YOU FUCKING CLINICAL IMBECILE!".

R16 and r17, NY has had what they called Enhanced Licenses for years. They would permit you to go to and from Canada and Mexico without a passport. This is a different thing that’s new requiring you to get one if you want to board a plane, regardless of where it’s going.

And they’re not making it easy to obtain at all. Jumping through hoops like a poodle at the circus.

[quote]My birth certificate is so old it has two boxes for "colored" and "white", no third choice.

Mine is so old it's in cuneiform.

You should have mentioned that people can still use their Passports to board planes - if they are unable or unwilling to get the upgraded driver's licenses.

[quote]You must visit a DMV Office for this. You cannot get a REAL ID online, by phone, or through mail.

This is all state dependent.

Look up the rules for your state at the DMV website.

Some states knew this was coming so if you have a license/photo ID that isn't REAL ID compliant (and you got it after a certain date), they've already got you registered in their system and will mail you your new ID via snail mail if you apply online which will save people some trouble.

(My brother lives in Pennsylvania so he was able to get his via mail without having to go into the DMV.)