Passport Card for Real ID
By May 3, 2023, any individual wishing to board domestic commercial flights or enter certain secure US facilities must possess an ID that satisfies the standards established under the Real ID Act and can meet its standards of trustworthiness. This applies even if an acceptable form of ID exists already – like a valid passport or military ID card – so even migrants may find the process relatively straightforward; it will cost money and take time.
Most US states offer various driver’s licenses and identification cards compliant with the Real ID Act, for instance New York residents have three choices of driver’s licenses available to them that meet this standard: an enhanced driver’s license, REAL ID card or standard one; those three require proof of immigration status while standard license does not; enhanced licences can also serve as passport alternatives when entering America from Canada, Mexico or certain Caribbean nations.
To qualify for a Real ID, the applicant will need to submit original or certified copies of birth certificates issued by state vital records offices with raised seals, as well as current and valid Social Security cards bearing their exact spelling of their names. Furthermore, any documentation showing a direct relationship between their old and new names (i.e. marriage certificate filed with government agencies/courts, divorce decree or legal name change orders) must also be presented in order to obtain one.