Community Chat

[dex]

In Wa.state anyone can get a drivers license so why all the difficulty  with the real ID?Is the drivers license not going to be considered ID any longer?

[Lipstickdiva]

I got mine in March and had no problem.  I went on the Ohio BMV website, got the information as to what I needed and hit the BMV at 8:00 on a Saturday morning.  I was about 6th in line but because I was one of the first to need to renew my license, I was right up to the counter.  Including getting my picture taken, I don't think I was there 20 minutes.  I do not have a passport.

My new ID also came in about 5 days.  I was told it would be 10 to 14 days.

My best friend went to get hers and because she is divorced, according to the website she had to have a certified copy of her divorce decree.  She spent close to $30.00 to obtain a certified copy only to be told they didn't need it.    

[on the bay]

@Abrowneyegirl -

It is really difficult if you do not have every single part of your life in documents, the original ones-everything perfect.

I went thru it too and  thought I had everything from birth to everything in between-nope! Had to go back.

Then to find out it only lasted a year! Then to renew for 5. Well, some states do that to get more money I was told.

Yes it is really really hard but if you want to get on a plane or have a relative in a military base and want to visit or something like that, you need one. They really do make it very hard!

[geezerette]

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@CelticCrafter wrote:

I don't understand why they say your SS card can used as a form of ID.

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@CelticCrafter 

This was exactly my thought when I first received all the Real ID info in the mail.  In fact, with the old Social Security cards, it was printed right on the front of the card:  "Not to be used for identification".  

But I had mine and hauled it into the MVD office along with all the other documentation they wanted and got my Real Driver's License with no problem.

[alicedee]

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@gulf coast girl wrote:

It's a pain in the rear for sure. I went 2 weeks ago to renew my drivers license. I am a safe driver, have never once had any accidents. I took all the necessary ****** they want to look at but was denied all because my birth certificate was so darn old and crumpled up looking the woman refused and told me I needed a better looking document. Are you kidding me..... so I came home, got online and paid $27 to have a new copy sent here, still waiting for it. Once it finally gets here than I get the thrill of making another appointment just to get up there and sit and wait. What a bunch of ******. 

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I hear you about the old copy of a birth certificate!  I knew I had to renew my license this year, and my birth certificate was on that old thermofax paper...it was so faded it was barely legible (yeah, I'm old..I had that copy from when I got married 40+ years ago!).  Early in the year I bit the bullet and ordered a new copy, so I was ready this summer to get my enhanced license.

[NickNack]

I ordered a new social security card so that I could get mine.  I have no idea where mine is.  It arrived, and I plan to get everything together and get my Real ID before October.  

[bathina]

Who decided this was a good idea? Seriously. Why?

[deeva]

I got mine last year. I didn't bring my ss card, but my Medicare card which at the time had my ss number on it. 
The process took a little longer.

[suzyQ3]

I took all my documents in for my appointment to get a Real ID (California). If your name has ever changed, you need to bring of that, including a marital name change. So I brought what I thought was our actual marriage certificate. Turns out it wasn't the official one. So I just renewed my regular license.

They told me if I brought the official marriage license before the end of the year, I could switch it out for the Real ID at no charge.

I went to the court and filed an application for the license, which came in about 20 days. I took it in just received my Real ID in the mail yesterday.

A pain all around, but I did want it.

[Abrowneyegirl]

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@sunshine45 wrote:

you dont necessarily need your social security card. my mother could not find hers. she used a 1099 form from the bank that was attached to last years federal tax returns.

you can also provide a document that has your social security number on it, like a W2 form. a 1099 form (either from the SSA or a non SSA entity), a current pay stub, or a document from SSA demonstrating non-work authorized status.

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This is VERY interesting because I was clearly told and shown in writing that (even what you say above )you MUST have the SS card with your current name on it.   

PS  I did have my W2.  It counted toward my ID for residency but I still needed the SS card