Deadline Approaches for REAL ID Acquisition: Passengers Urged to Obtain Required Identification for Air Travel
Rochester, NY – With the May 7th deadline fast approaching, local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices have witnessed a surge in applicants seeking to upgrade their driver’s licenses to REAL ID or Enhanced Licenses. These compliant identification forms will be mandatory for boarding domestic flights within the United States starting May 7th. Passengers will also be able to use a valid passport for air travel. This impending deadline has prompted a flurry of activity as residents strive to secure the necessary documentation before the enforcement date.
The REAL ID Act, enacted in 2005, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards. The purposes covered by the Act include accessing Federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and, as of May 7, 2025, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft. Obtaining a REAL ID requires applicants to furnish proof of residency, citizenship, and their Social Security number. Furthermore, individuals who have undergone name changes due to marriage, divorce, or other legal processes must provide supporting documents such as marriage certificates or court papers.
Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo acknowledged that the requirement for name change documentation has taken some individuals by surprise, stating, "If you’ve been married, if you filed for divorce or even a legal name change, you have to go out and do that scavenger hunt if you don’t have those documents, and bring those with you at the time of your appointment. And I think that has caught many people off guard." This stipulation has added an extra layer of complexity for some applicants, necessitating the retrieval of often overlooked or misplaced paperwork.
Adding to the confusion surrounding the REAL ID implementation is the dissemination of misinformation regarding the May 7th deadline. Clerk Romeo clarified that the deadline exclusively pertains to airline passengers. Applications for REAL IDs will continue to be processed after May 7th. This clarification is crucial to dispel the misconception that REAL IDs will become unavailable after the deadline, ensuring that individuals needing them for other purposes, such as accessing federal facilities, can still obtain them. Romeo emphasized, "We really only want people to feel the crush if they need to get on a plane in the next couple of weeks.” This statement underscores the DMV’s focus on prioritizing those individuals facing the immediate air travel deadline, encouraging others to apply at their convenience after May 7th.
Residents of Monroe County can schedule appointments for REAL ID applications through the county website, monroecounty.gov/dmv. In an effort to accommodate the surge in demand, the DMV office located at The Mall at Greece Ridge extended its operating hours on Saturday, April 22nd, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., accepting walk-ins without prior appointments. This additional window of opportunity aims to facilitate the application process for those who were unable to secure an appointment earlier.
Unfortunately, a technical snag in the online scheduling system led to an unforeseen inconvenience for approximately 30 individuals on April 19th. The system mistakenly scheduled appointments for the Henrietta DMV despite its closure on that particular day. This error resulted in individuals arriving at a closed facility, underscoring the challenges encountered during this period of high demand and technological adjustments. Clerk Romeo addressed the issue, highlighting the system’s erroneous appointment generation despite the location’s closure. This incident highlights the unforeseen complications that can arise during periods of high demand and serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate and reliable scheduling systems.