Can you fly out of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport without REAL ID after the deadline?
If you’ve got plans to fly from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport after Wednesday, May 7, you may want to double-check your ID before heading out.
May 7 marks the deadline to get a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or state identification card to fly domestically and enter certain federal facilities.
A passport can be used as an alternative to a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification card, and those traveling internationally will still need a passport. Standard driver’s licenses that are not REAL ID-compliant will still be sufficient for driving and for general identification purposes, according to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Most Illinois residents don’t have a REAL ID. The Land of Lincoln’s compliance rate is about 35% of all valid driver’s license and state IDs, Secretary of State spokesperson Max Walczyk wrote in an April 25 email to the News-Democrat.
The secretary of state’s website says its “facilities and website have been overwhelmed with requests for Real IDs.” State officials ask residents to be sure they need a REAL ID before booking an appointment or visiting a facility to obtain one.
Passengers will still be able to fly from MidAmerica after May 7 without one, but will need to go through additional screening, airport director Darren James wrote in an April 25 email to the BND.
“As of May 7th, Real ID will be enforced at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. We have signage up discussing the requirement and the deadline,” James said. “Any passenger over the age of 18 without a Real ID or passport (federal ID, Military ID, Trusted Traveler Card are a few others that are accepted) will lead to a centralized [Transportation Security Administration] office so the individuals identity can be verified and the passenger will go through additional screening. The concern on May 7th is the amount of time such a verification will take. Due to volume, the wait will be longer than if it occurred today.”
James recommends passengers traveling without REAL ID from May 7 and beyond to arrive at the airport 45 minutes earlier than normal.
The BND has contacted St. Louis Lambert International Airport and TSA about Real ID enforcement at that location, as well.
How can you get a REAL ID in Illinois?
People who have a valid U.S. passport or don’t fly domestically, access federal facilities or enter nuclear power plants can continue to use regular state identifications in lieu of getting a REAL ID.
Illinois residents who need a REAL ID will need to follow this process to get one:
Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services Facility and take your picture and any required exams.
Provide proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, passport, employment authorization document, permanent resident card or foreign passport with an approved I-94 form. Name-change documents will be required for applicants whose birth certificate name is not the same as their current name.
Proof of full Social Security number, such as your Social Security card, W-2 or paystub that shows the whole number.
Provide two current residency documents with your name, such as a utility bill, lease agreement, deed/title or bank statement with visible account numbers.
Proof of signature, such as current Illinois ID, credit or debit card or a canceled check.
After providing these documents, you’ll receive a temporary paper ID which will not be accepted by the TSA and federal agents. Your REAL ID will be mailed within 15 business days.
It will appear similar to a normal license or ID, but include a small star in the corner denoting it as a REAL ID.
Illinois driver’s license fees vary based on age, but are the same for a standard or REAL ID. The fee is $5 for people ages 18 to 20 and 69 to 80, $30 for ages 21 to 68, $2 for ages 81 to 86 and free for people who are 87 or older.
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