Blaine County residents worried about meeting new ID standards by this fall will now have more time to do so.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced last Tuesday, April 27, that it will delay REAL ID enforcement from Oct. 1, 2021, to May 3, 2023 – an additional 19 months for Americans to obtain a new card.
After that date, licenses and identification cards will need to be REAL ID compliant for Oklahoma adults to fly commercially and enter some federal buildings and military bases, though other forms of identification, like passports, will still be accepted. REAL ID cards can be distinguished by the gold star in the upper right-hand corner, and are designed to be more secure.
REAL ID enforcement had already been delayed once, from Oct. 1, 2020. Only 43% of U.S. IDs are currently compliant, the DHS said.
In Oklahoma, the coronavirus pandemic severely delayed the REAL ID rollout as DPS offices closed and then moved to appointment only operations.
“In order to obtain a REAL ID,” a state website reads, “you will need to provide proof of identity/lawful presence in the United States, proof of your Social Security number, and two proofs of your current Oklahoma address.”
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 to set minimum national security standards for license issuance and production. Oklahoma was one of the last states to begin issuing the updated IDs.
More information is available at realid.ok.gov.