FACT CHECK: REAL ID deadline looms for air travelers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Beginning Wednesday, May 7, you’ll need a REAL ID to fly within the United States, or an approved alternative.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress 20 years ago to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification.”
If you’ve renewed your driver’s license in the past few years, you might already have it. Check in the upper right corner. In Missouri and Kansas, look for a star inside a circle. If that is on your driver’s license, you’re good to go.
If you haven’t taken the steps to get your REAL ID, you do have ID options that would still allow you to fly. Those include a US Passport, a US Passport Card, a foreign-issued passport or a Global Entry Card. A full list is available on the TSA website.
If the deadline comes, and you haven’t received your REAL ID yet, you might be allowed to fly anyway, but it’s not guaranteed. You’ll have to have additional screening, which could cause some delays.
Not everyone needs a REAL ID. If you don’t fly or enter federal buildings, you might not need one. You can still drive and vote with your so-called legacy license.
The TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the U.S.
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