Flying domestically in US with only Drivers License?

[cararyn 12]

Hi!

 

My husband is in the process of adjusting his status so no green card, EAD or travel permission yet. We've also had to send his passport into the IRS to get his ITIN. We should have forked over the money and paid for it to be done instead, but we didn't and I regret it. That said, he has a drivers license from our state. Can he fly domestically with that as his ID? Or would he need to have his passport as well? Thank you! 

[Boiler 45,476]

Why did he not get a SSN?

[kmk813 11]

49 minutes ago, cararyn said:

Hi!

 

My husband is in the process of adjusting his status so no green card, EAD or travel permission yet. We've also had to send his passport into the IRS to get his ITIN. We should have forked over the money and paid for it to be done instead, but we didn't and I regret it. That said, he has a drivers license from our state. Can he fly domestically with that as his ID? Or would he need to have his passport as well? Thank you! 

Working for the airlines. Since he has a driver's license. That is all he needs to show for his identification. If I'm wrong someone will correct me. 

[EatBulaga 315]

3 minutes ago, kmk813 said:

Working for the airlines. Since he has a driver's license. That is all he needs to show for his identification. If I'm wrong someone will correct me. 

Although the Real ID deadline is May 3, 2023, it doesn't hurt to make sure the husband's driver's license is a Real ID.

https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

 

[cararyn 12]

29 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Why did he not get a SSN?

We applied for it in our adjustment of status paperwork

11 minutes ago, EatBulaga said:

Although the Real ID deadline is May 3, 2023, it doesn't hurt to make sure the husband's driver's license is a Real ID.

https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

 

For some reason the DMV didn't offer him that option when he got his license. 

17 minutes ago, kmk813 said:

Working for the airlines. Since he has a driver's license. That is all he needs to show for his identification. If I'm wrong someone will correct me. 

Awesome. Thank you!

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved from AOS K1 to Working & Traveling during US immigration ~~
 

14 minutes ago, cararyn said:

We applied for it in our adjustment of status paperwork

Should’ve applied as soon as he got here in person at an SSA office but water under the bridge now.

 

14 minutes ago, cararyn said:

For some reason the DMV didn't offer him that option when he got his license. 

Real ID is only available when you have a GC in hand. I couldn’t get it when I applied while waiting for my AOS to be approved. 

Edited June 16, 2022 by powerpuff

[arken 4,197]

A standard DL is good enough for domestic air travel till Real ID deadline. It is advised to bring a copy of i485 receipt notice regardless, no need to show to anybody but just in case.

[Boiler 45,476]

Legally he is required to have his passport with him but not sure I have seen someone actually hauled up for this.

 

Shame about the SSNp

[SalishSea 17,820]

44 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Real ID is only available when you have a GC in hand. I couldn’t get it when I applied while waiting for my AOS to be approved. 

Some states, like Washington, only dispenses Real ID DLs to US citizens.

[powerpuff 6,697]

29 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Some states, like Washington, only dispenses Real ID DLs to US citizens.

That’s interesting. As always, different states = different rules 

[Mike E 11,739]

Real ID availability varies by state with some states opting for draconian requirements that go beyond the restrictions of the REAL ID Act.  Most critically someone who files I-485 per the REAL ID act is permitted real ID but some  states won’t grant it. 

[Mike E 11,739]

3 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Some states, like Washington, only dispenses Real ID DLs to US citizens.

Washington state is technically not REAL ID compliant. It grants enhanced ID to US citizens. EID is not REAL ID.  DHS has decided to look the other way.

 

Adjustment of status is increasingly a less viable path if you live outside California or New York.  

[arken 4,197]

54 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Washington state is technically not REAL ID compliant. It grants enhanced ID to US citizens. EID is not REAL ID.  DHS has decided to look the other way.

 

Adjustment of status is increasingly a less viable path if you live outside California or New York.  

Not sure about WA's EDL/EID but NY's EDL/EID is even powerful than Real ID that can be used not only for domestic flights and federal buildings but also for sea and land travel to several countries in the western hemisphere.

[Mike E 11,739]

33 minutes ago, arken said:

Not sure about WA's EDL/EID but NY's EDL/EID is even powerful than Real ID that can be used not only for domestic flights and federal buildings but also for sea and land travel to several countries in the western hemisphere.

USA EID is not available to non citizens of the USA. 

[Loren Y 2,755]

7 hours ago, powerpuff said:

Real ID is only available when you have a GC in hand. I couldn’t get it when I applied while waiting for my AOS to be approved

I think this is state dependent, my wife had a real ID from day 1, even on her temp state ID that was only valid until her I-94 expired. As long as you can prove residency with the required forms of documentation, most states will issue a real ID. My wife had a credit card statement, bank statement, and 3 utility bills she was added to as proof of residence, and had no issues getting a real ID. They only required 2 proofs of residence. we had 5 just in case. This is in Nevada.