REAL ID ‘Crisis’: What You Need To Know In Illinois

ILLINOIS — The clock is ticking on the deadline for Illinois residents and those in other states to get their REAL ID driver licenses and identification cards if they want to travel by air.

The Airports Council-North America, which represents commercial airports in the United States and Canada, has asked the federal government to extend the deadline amid concerns that two-thirds of driver’s licenses held by Americans aren’t REAL ID-compliant.

In Illinois, REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses and photo ID cards have been available at Illinois driver's license facilities since March 2019. REAL IDs are optional, and you don't need one if you have a valid U.S. passport, which can be used as a form of ID to board flights and enter federal facilities. You also don't need a REAL ID if you don't fly domestically and you don't visit federal facilities or military bases.

But many people in Illinois are opting to obtain a real ID to avoid having to carry their passport and to make the process smoother when boarding flights.

Here's everything you need to know about getting a REAL ID in Illinois:

• REAL ID In Illinois: 8 Questions Answered
• REAL ID Guide For Illinois Residents: Do This Before Oct. 1, 2020

Kevin M. Burke, the president and CEO of the airport industry trade group, warned of travel disruptions if the REAL ID deadline isn’t extended.

“If the government doesn’t make a definitive statement now that they’re going to extend this, then we’re going to have a real crisis on our hands come Oct. 1,” Burke told NBC News.

Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows states have issued more than 95 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.

If travelers haven’t obtained them by Oct. 1, they won’t be able to board flights, and that could disrupt their lives and airline operations, as well, Burke said.

The REAL ID law was passed by Congress after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Four pieces of identification are required to obtain a REAL ID: a passport or birth certificate, a Social Security card or tax return, and two documents proving proof of residence, such as a mortgage or rental receipt and a utility bill.

As the deadline looms, motor vehicle offices are scrambling to keep up with the number of people requesting the REAL IDs, the NBC News report said.