The REAL ID law went into effect on May 7 and residents in many states are now scrambling to renew their licenses to be able to travel this summer. This is because, even though the law establishing this new form if ID was passed twenty years ago, in 2005, the federal government gave ample time for states to implement the measure, as it is a significant departure from previous iterations of state IDs. The problem now comes in major cities like Chicago, where it is quite hard to get an appointment on short notice that works with your schedule to get your new REAL ID.
Do bear in mind that both citizens and legal immigrants will need to have this new form of ID and present it when they fly domestically (unless they have a passport), when entering a military base, and when dealing with other government agencies that might need to verify their identity.
How to get your REAL ID in Chicago
Well, the easiest way is, of course, to just schedule an appointment with your local Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, just like you would if you were to renew your license any other time. The problem with this is that we all know how DMV appointments work. They do not. You will end up waiting for hours to be seen, there will be complications, and if it is later in the day there is a good chance that the office will close before they even get to you.
That might be an exaggeration, but it is also not far off from how the situation usually goes. If you are going to take a day off to complete this task, you might be better off going to one of the new offices that the DMV has opened in Chicago that do not take appointments, only walking to alleviate the pressure of everyone renewing their IDs at once. You might still have to wait, but it is a first come first serve system, and it might be a bit less frustrating than seeing your appointment time pass you by. These branches will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm local time. The only recommendation from DMV authorities is that applicants arrive early, as demand increased after the Real ID law went into effect.
- 5301 W Lexington St, Chicago, IL 60644
- 191 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60601
- 5401 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
- 9901 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60628.
In order to get your new REAL ID you will need to present the following documents, have them prepped so as to not delay the process and need to go again:
- Current identification: valid forms of identification are a birth certificate, Green Card, US visa, naturalization letter, or other valid immigration document.
- Social Security number (SSN): you can verify this with an insurance card.
- Proof of current address: utility bills or rental agreements.
- Proof of signature: this can be bank statements, checks, licenses, or other official identification.
Despite needing the new REAL ID, there are other documents that you can present if you want to fly and you have not gotten a chance to renew your state ID. They may not be accepted forever by TSA but they should work in a pinch as long as you do not mind waiting for longer so that they can verify your identity:
- State-issued EDL or Enhanced Driver’s License.
- U.S. passport.
- U.S. passport card.
- DHS Trusted Traveler Card.
- U.S. Department of Defense ID.
- Permanent Resident Card (green card).
- Border Crossing Card.
- HSPD-12 PIV Card.
- Foreign government passport.
- Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC).
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766).
Remember that this list is subject to change, and not having this document does not guarantee you will pass all TSA checkpoints and could even cause you to miss your flight.