REAL ID In Rhode Island: 8 Questions Answered

The deadline for needing REAL IDs to board domestic flights or access federal facilities or nuclear power plants is coming quick. Rhode Island drivers' licenses and state IDs must be REAL ID compliant by Oct. 1, 2020, when the change to bring state-issued identification in line with federal standards takes full effect.

Rhode Island rolled out its REAL ID program in December 2018.

Paul Grimaldi, the chief of information and public information at the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, said previously that the program "is going as well as expected."

"The percentage of people opting for a REAL ID license is on par with what we've seen in other states," he continued.

Here are eight common REAL ID questions answered:

Do I have to get a REAL ID?

No. REAL IDs are optional. If you have a passport, you can use that form of identification to board flights and obtain entry into federal facilities. REAL IDs are not required to drive in Rhode Island.

Who needs a REAL ID?

You need a REAL ID if:

• You do not have a valid U.S. passport or passport card; AND
• You use airplanes as a mode of domestic transportation; or
• You visit military bases; or
• You visit secure federal facilities.

Do I need a REAL ID to vote?

No. You do not need a REAL ID to vote.

How and where do I get a REAL ID?

Obtaining a REAL ID requires an in-person visit to an RMV location. You can find those here.

What documents do I need to get a REAL ID?

The requirements are different from a standard ID.

One must provide any ONE of the following:

• SSN Card
• A letter from the social security administration stating the person is not eligible for a SSN
• W-2 Form (must have been issued within five years)
• SSA-1099 Form (must have been issued within five years)
• Non-SSA-1099 Form (must have been issued within five years)
• A pay stub with the applicant's name and full SSN on it

ONE of the following:

• Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
• Certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual's state of birth
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545
• Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by DHS or INS
• Unexpired foreign passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. visa affixed — A non-US passport must contain a current visa and be presented with an I-94 Record of Arrival and Departure, unless you have a Permanent Resident Card or other change in status. The I-94 can be either a paper version from U.S. Customs and Border Protection or a printout of an electronic version downloaded from their website at cbp.gov/i94 — For applicable customers who have a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) or Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (DS-2019) documentation verifying the applicant's most recent admittance into the United States must be shown.
• Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560, or Form N-561, issued by DHS
• Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)

TWO of the following:

• Valid Rhode Island driver's license or ID card
• Utility bill (gas, electric, telephone, cable, oil, water, sewer, satellite, heat, cell phone) with the address and name from the past 60 days
• Personal check or bank statement dated within 60 days
• Payroll check dated within 60 days
• Current lease agreement (handwritten not accepted)
• A letter from a federal or Rhode Island state agency approving benefits from an entitlement program dated within 60 days
• Valid homeowner's or renter's insurance policy
• Valid automobile insurance policy
• Property tax bill from the immediately preceding year
• Letter from a Rhode Island shelter or halfway house stating the person lives there (must be on letterhead, have administrator contact info and be dated within 30 days)
• Jury summons dated within 60 days
• W-2 with name and address from the preceding year
• Loan contract (student, automobile) that is currently in effect
• Current Social Security Administration statement with name and address listed
• Current pension or retirement account statement with name and address
• Minors only: school record from the current school year (report card, diploma, transcirpt, ID card) or the Rhode Island driver's license or ID card of the adult signing the minor's application

What happens after I apply for a REAL ID?

First, you'll receive a temporary, secure paper DL/ID at the facility — but TSA and federal agents will not accept the temporary, paper document. After review and verification of documents have been conducted, your new permanent REAL ID card will be mailed to you within 15 business days.

How much does it cost?

There is no additional cost for a REAL ID when applying during your renewal period. A REAL ID costs $27.50 outside your renewal period.

Does my child need a REAL ID to board an airplane?

The TSA does not currently require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States.

Kara Seymour and Rebecca Hughes, Patch Staff, contributed to this article