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By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Starting in October of 2020, you will no longer be able to fly domestically (or get into federal buildings) using your Massachusetts license. Instead, you will need to either renew your license (or Mass ID) to become a federal Real ID-compliant one, or get a replacement license that will function as a Real ID. Alternatively, you can still fly anywhere you want with a passport. Also, if you don’t fly and don’t therefore need a Real ID, you can still get a regular Massachusetts license - you just won’t be able to use it to fly.
If that sounds confusing, on Thursday morning, August 8, Community Outreach Coordinator Michele Elicks of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation visited the Center at the Heights to try and clear up the process - and to make the transition as easy as possible.
Much confusion arose over license renewals, and how they fit into the new system. Essentially, if your license expires within one year, you can get it renewed, and turned into a Real ID. You will not be costing yourself any money, as the renewal begins from the date the license would have expired, not from when you prematurely renewed it. This is to say, if you renew your license six months early, you’re not cheating yourself out of six months’ time when it comes to renewal.
To get a Real ID, you need to visit a AAA Branch or RMV Service Center in person with the proper documents. What are the proper documents? You need proof of lawful presence and date of birth (most often a passport or birth certificate), proof of Social Security number (like a social security card or W-2), proof of Massachusetts residency (license or bills), and you need to make sure your name matches that on your proof of presence (that is, if your birth certificate has one name, but it’s your maiden name, you need to bring in a marriage certificate). The big thing when it comes to these documents is that, with the exception of the license, they cannot be laminated or covered in plastic.
Real IDs are going to have a yellow star in the corner, while regular Massachusetts licenses will not.
A trip to the RMV is never going to be completely smooth sailing, particularly when new programs or initiatives are introduced. Hopefully, though, Michele Elicks cleared up some of the confusion for the seniors of the Center at the Heights during her visit.
