Here’s what I learned when I tried to get my Illinois REAL ID. These tips should help you

Thursday was quite an odyssey for me to try to secure my REAL ID.

And, at the end of the day, I did not accomplish my goal of getting a REAL ID, but still renewed my driver’s license.

My adventure took me from Smithton to Belleville to Waterloo back to Smithton.

Here is a brief look back at my experiences, along with some potentially helpful hints to avoid enduring a giant waste of time. Up front, I want to make clear everyone I encountered at the DMV offices was very helpful, friendly and courteous.

Is a REAL ID appointment required at the Belleville DMV?

Yes. I previously had been informed you did not need an appointment. I may have misunderstood the person, but it’s clear, to get your REAL ID from the Belleville facility, 400 W. Main St., you must have an appointment. As an aside, from what I could tell in my brief visit here, the interior did not look crowded, nor were people waiting in line outside.

Is a REAL ID appointment required at the Waterloo DMV?

No. You wait at the door at the Waterloo facility, located at 1335 Jamie Lane, until someone lets you in and then they ask what you are there for. You take a number and wait. The wait time was not terribly long. I was able to renew my license there, but I did not have exactly what I needed to get my REAL ID. Please read on for an explanation.

What items do I need to secure my REAL ID?

The list of eligible documents is lengthy and can be found at https://realid.ilsos.gov/checklist.html.

But, as told by one of the workers in Waterloo, the list of documents I had were all good: Driver’s license, Social Security card, voter registration card, mortgage bill (dated within 90 days), electric bill (dated within 90 days) and original birth certificate.

However, in my case, the bottom portion of my birth certificate was missing — I didn’t even realize this — and that has the seal from the state of Illinois on it. Moreover, make sure the entire certificate is in tact; otherwise, as I learned, you can still renew your driver’s license but you can’t get a REAL ID.

Do I need a REAL ID to travel domestically?

No, not now. According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s website, “For Illinois residents who fly domestically, the federal government has extended the deadline to May 3, 2023, that will require you to use a valid U.S. Passport or obtain a REAL ID from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.” A worker at the Waterloo explained this to me as I semi-panicked over not being able to get my REAL ID.

What do I need for name change documents?

According to a REAL ID document checklist:

“Name change documents, such as a certified marriage certificate, etc., will be required if the applicant’s current name that appears on the birth certificate. Multiple name change documents will be required if your name has changed multiple times.” Perhaps lost in translation, according to a worker at the Waterloo DMV, if you get married and take your spouse’s last name, then get divorced and remarried and again takes your spouse’s name, you must provide a certificate of marriage for EACH marriage.

How can I pay for my driver’s license or REAL ID?

You can use cash or charge. However, there is an extra fee for using a credit card. Therefore, I paid cash.

What can I do to make sure I have all the necessary documents?

Check the Secretary of State’s website. Double, triple check. And then check again before you leave the house. You also can call the DMV facilities and ask. They’ve always been very helpful in this regard.

This story was originally published April 2, 2022 at 6:00 AM.