Real ID deadline pushed back once more. Read to know more

The Real ID deadline has been extended one more. The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that the enforcement deadline will be pushed out another 24 months, from May 2023 to May 2025. Federal agencies such as the TSA will no longer accept driver's licences and other forms of identification that do not satisfy national criteria after that date.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Congress created the Real ID Act in 2005 to authenticate an individual's identification more appropriately.
It established baseline security criteria for state-issued identification cards, including anti-counterfeiting technologies and a stricter application procedure.


Delays have beset actual ID implementation since its inception.

The programme was supposed to go into effect in May 2008 but states repeatedly requested extensions over the next 14 years.



The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, stated in a press statement on Monday that the extension will allow states the time they need to guarantee that their inhabitants may get a REAL ID-compliant licence or identity card. During this period, DHS will also adopt improvements to make the process more efficient and accessible. They will continue to make sure that Americans can travel securely. The revised deadline was set for driver's licence bureaus to clear the backlog of applications caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. During the pandemic, several agencies temporarily switched to an appointment-only mode, allowing them to handle fewer individuals per day. Some jurisdictions automatically extended licence expiry dates so citizens could skip attending offices in person. Many states require people to appear in person to obtain a Real ID.

FAQs:

1. What exactly is a REAL ID in the United States?
   A REAL ID is a driver's licence or identification card that serves as government identification.
2. What is the function of REAL ID?
   It can be used to board a domestic flight within the United States and gain access to secure federal facilities such as military bases, courthouses, and other national locations.