As Real ID Deadline Approaches Virginia DMV Increases Staff

By Jimmy O’Keefe, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, VA — After noticing his driver’s license was set to expire, Loudoun County resident John Akins paid a visit to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Friday. This time he’ll obtain a Real ID-compliant driver’s license — a new requirement for many Americans.

Virginians have until Oct. 1, 2020 to acquire a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or ID if they would like to travel by plane or access certain federal facilities. As the deadline approaches, the Virginia DMV has increased staffing at customer service centers.

“We’ve had more than 700,000 Virginians already receive a Real ID,” said Matthew Butner, a spokesman for the Virginia DMV. “The main driver, I think, is the air travel piece.”

You'll need the new ID, with a star in a circle in the upper right corner, if you plan to fly or enter any military base or federal building as of Oct. 1, 2020. "Don't delay. Avoid the rush in 2020 and apply for your REAL ID now," the Virginia DMV said last month.

Effective immediately, some military bases may no longer accept non-Real ID compliant credentials which display "Federal Limits Apply."

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.

“This process wasn't unlike any other time I've renewed my license, although obtaining a Real ID-compliant license required an in-person visit to the DMV,” Akins said. “I was surprised to see that the only discernible difference between my original driver's license and the Real ID license was a small solid black circle with a star in the center, in the upper right corner of the license.”

To meet demand for the new IDs, DMV has increased staffing at service centers. The organization also has expanded its mobile outreach program, which travels throughout the state providing Real IDs.

“We also have added DMV Connect teams, which are doing a ton of work for us,” Butner said. “These are two-to-three person teams, they have a laptop, a camera, and a signature pad and they can go out and do any DMV transaction other than testing and vital records.”

DMV Connect teams typically go to places that lack easy access to DMV customer service centers, such as rural areas. Recently, teams have been working in densely populated areas where customer service centers are already busy.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that the state has been issuing Real IDs at all Virginia Department of Corrections facilities to formerly incarcerated people.

“We are fully committed to ensuring returning citizens have access to the support they need to successfully reintegrate into society,” Northam said in a press release. “Having identification that is Real ID-compliant will be a valuable tool in reducing recidivism and helping them start out on a positive path upon release.”

Butner encourages Virginians who still need to obtain a Real ID to do it sooner than later.

“We are seeing increased wait times, and that's just simply due to the volume of customers that are taking advantage of Real ID,” he said. “It's only going to get more crowded as we head towards Oct. 1, 2020 … don’t wait until the last minute.”

Obtaining a Real ID requires the following:

• One proof of identity and legal presence
• Two proofs of Virginia residency
• One proof of social security number
• Current driver’s license, if seeking to obtain a Virginia driver’s license for the first time.
• If proof documents contain different names (for example, if the last name on a birth certificate is different than the name on a payroll check stub), it's necessary to supply documents showing proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or a court order.

For a complete list of all required documents to obtain a Real ID, visit dmvNOW.com/REALID.

Find a list of full-service Virginia DMV offices, and their hours, here.

Even if you have the newly-designed driver's license or identification card, you may need to submit additional documents in order to be REAL ID compliant. More information can be found on the Virginia DMV REAL ID website.

Transportation Security Administration officers who check tickets at airports will not allow travelers into the checkpoint without a REAL ID license or another form of acceptable ID after Oct. 1, 2020.