What’s the deal with Real ID?

Do you fly domestically often? How about hang around nuclear power plants or military bases?

If you do, some changes in state identification could have an effect on your access to airports and secured federal facilities.

By October 2020, your regular Illinois state ID or driver’s license will not longer get you into these places. What you will need is a Real ID, which the state of Illinois is now capable of issuing.

As of March this year, all 138 driver service facilities in Illinois have been giving residents the option of getting a standard ID or a Real ID.

Princeton’s facility began the practice February 21 and La Salle’s facility followed on March 8.

Here is what to know about the ID change.

Why is this happening now?

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office began issuing Real ID’s in January, but the call for this type of identification goes all the way back to 2005 when Congress passed the Real ID Act. The purpose of the act was to make identification cards more difficult to duplicate through recommendations by the 9/11 Commission.

But the Illinois General Assembly opposed the law, passing a non-binding resolution in 2007 calling for Congress to repeal it. However, the state has slowly been working its way towards compliance with the law. In January 2016, the Department of Homeland Security initially warned Illinois residents their state ID’s would not be able to get them through airport security, but later granted an extension allowing the old ID’s to be accepted.

Illinois has also been making changes in past years to get into compliance with the Real ID Act. One big change was when Illinois started making ID’s at a centralized location instead of printing them at the various driver’s license facilities. This change was a big component of the Real ID Act.

“We used to print driver’s licenses. Now we manufacture them,” said Illinois Secretary of State spokesperson Henry Haupt.

Where do I need it for access?

Airports and other “secured federal facilities” are the places Illinois residents will be restricted from if they do not have a Real ID or a valid U.S. passport.

“If you have a valid passport, that is sufficient to allow you to fly internationally,” Haupt said.

“Secured federal facilities” refers to places like military bases or nuclear generating stations, Haupt said.

But that doesn’t mean the employees at the La Salle County Nuclear Generating Station have to rush to get a Real ID. Steve Larson, communications manager for the La Salle station, confirmed employees go through a rigorous vetting process before being hired and have ID badges on premises. And if you’re thinking of visiting the facility, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s background check standards already surpassed those required by the Real ID Act.

When will the Real ID law go into effect?

Oct. 1, 2020, which gives you 502 days to get a new ID before federal limitations are in effect.

“You have time. There is not need to rush out and apply,” Haupt said.

What about my old ID? Do I have to get a Real ID?

“Illinois residents have a choice between keeping the state ID or have a Real ID,” Haupt said.

Your standard driver’s license or identification card will still be OK to use for general identification purposes. And the driver’s license will be valid for use when driving on Illinois roads until it expires. So, if you do not fly often, it might not be necessary to go through the process of getting a Real ID.

What’s the difference between this and the old ID?

The standard Illinois license and the new Real ID are essentially going to look the same. The only difference is the standard license will have the phrase “Federal Limits Apply” printed on it and the Real ID will have a gold star. What makes the ID’s different is the application process it takes to get them. The Real ID requires a lot more documentation and vetting.

“It takes longer because more documents are required,” Haupt said.

What are the documents I need?

For the Real ID, a person first needs to go to a driver services facility for a photo and any required exams. The next step is providing proof of identity, which includes documents such as a birth certificate or passport. Then they have to provide proof of a Social Security number, which can be a Social Security card or a W-2 form. Next, an applicant would need two current residency documents, such as a utility bill, rental agreement, deed or bank statement. Then proof of signature must be provided, which can include a current Illinois driver’s license or a canceled check. For a complete checklist of what documents are accepted, visit realid.ilsos.gov.

What is the cost?

The cost of a Real ID is the same as the current costs for driver’s license or state ID’s, which are $30 and $20, respectively.

Will my TSA pre-check still be valid?

Illinois Valley Community Hospital is the lone local enrollment center that offers TSA PreCheck. For a fee, this process allows fliers to forgo the long security lines at the airport and the application lasts five years.

But starting October 2020, only Real ID compliant forms will be accepted to fly commercially, said Department of Homeland Security spokesperson McLaurine Klingler. So despite your pre-check status, you would still have to present a Real ID or valid passport at the airport.