What Is a REAL ID?
REAL ID is a federal standard for driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by the states. To issue a REAL ID, states must verify certain documents related to a person’s identity, date of birth, and lawful status. Federal rules allow people who are not U.S. citizens to obtain a REAL ID when they meet the applicable requirements and can demonstrate lawful status.
Therefore, having a REAL ID does not necessarily mean that a person is a U.S. citizen. A lawful permanent resident, for example, can have a REAL ID without being a citizen.
A REAL ID is, primarily, a form of identification that meets certain federal standards. It is not an immigration document.
Does a REAL ID Prove That I Am Legally in the United States?
Not necessarily.
Obtaining a REAL ID generally requires the state to verify that the person has recognized lawful status. But the card itself does not explain a person’s entire immigration history or all of the conditions of their status.
For example, a person can have a REAL ID and, at the same time, have an immigration issue that requires legal attention. A valid driver’s license does not fix a prior removal order, a criminal issue, a status violation, or any other problem that may exist in a person’s record.
The identification you carry in your wallet and your immigration status are two different things.
Does a REAL ID Protect Me From Immigration Enforcement?
No.
A REAL ID does not function as a “shield” against immigration authorities. It also does not mean that a person has the right to remain in the United States indefinitely.
If you have an immigration problem, obtaining or carrying a REAL ID does not eliminate that problem.
Do I Need a REAL ID to Travel by Air Within the United States?
Beginning in May 7, 2025, travelers age 18 and older must present identification that complies with REAL ID or another form of identification accepted by the TSA to pass through airport security. A valid passport is an example of another accepted form of identification.
This means that not having a REAL ID does not necessarily mean that you cannot fly. The question is whether you have another form of identification that the TSA accepts.
Talk to Us If You Have Questions About Your REAL ID
If you are not a U.S. citizen and have questions about your REAL ID, whether you can obtain one, or what identification you need to travel, contact Willberg Law.
A REAL ID can be a valid and useful form of identification. But it does not, by itself, determine your immigration status.