Deadline for Americans to obtain REAL ID is in May: Where to get yours in the Upstate

Have you obtained your REAL ID yet? If not, the deadline is fast approaching.

Lines to get one at the Department of Motor Vehicles are also getting longer.

“(W)e really want to avoid this huge last-minute rush that could just cause backlogs for people to be able to fly because the last thing we want is for someone to show up at the last minute and find out they can't get on a plane and be angry,” Chris Crabb, spokesperson for the Oregon DMV, told NPR-member station KLCC.

Those who do not have a REAL ID before May 7 will not be able to fly domestically unless they have another document such as a passport or enter federal facilities.

So if haven't obtained yours for that summer vacation you booked, don't delay and schedule to get your REAL ID today.

Here's what to know about the REAL ID and where you can get one in Upstate South Carolina.

What is a REAL ID?

The REAL ID was passed in Congress in 2005, enacting the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as drivers licenses." The act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. This prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes include:

∎ Accessing certain federal facilities.

∎ Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

∎ Entering nuclear power plants.

When will I need a REAL ID to fly?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states you will need to obtain a state-issued identification card or driver's license with the REAL ID seal by May 7, 2025, to fly (domestically without a passport).

What are Transportation Security Administration-approved alternatives to a REAL ID?

∎ U.S. passport

∎ U.S. passport card

∎ DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

∎ U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

∎ Border crossing card

∎ An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe

∎ HSPD-12 PIV card

∎ Foreign government-issued passport

∎ Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

∎ Transportation worker identification credential

∎ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

∎ U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

∎ Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

What documentation do I need to obtain a REAL ID in SC?

∎ Proof of identity (government-issued birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport).

∎ Two proofs of current, physical S.C. address (current, unexpired South Carolina driver's license or identification card and a utility bill with the same name and address). View a complete list of all accepted address documents on the United States Citizens’ Checklist (SCDMV Form MV-93).

∎ Proof of legal name (marriage license, divorce decree, or court order issued by your county's probate or family court).

How do I purchase a REAL ID?

If you are a South Carolinian who purchased their first S.C. driver’s license after November 2010, you can check to see if you are eligible to purchase a REAL ID online from home. You can do this by logging into the SCDMV with your date of birth, license number, and social security number.

Those who are eligible will pay for the REAL ID with a debit card or credit card. The license will then be mailed to the address on file. Those who are not eligible or are first-time license or ID applicants must visit their local SCDMV branch to purchase a REAL ID with the required documentation.

A REAL ID, like most S.C. licenses, costs $25. Identification cards are free for those 17 and older. ID cards for those 16 and under cost $15.

Where can I purchase a REAL ID in Upstate SC?

∎ Anderson County SCDMV: 331 Highway US-29 Bypass North, Anderson

∎ Greenville County SCDMV: 122 Edgeworth Street, Greenville/1310 N. Main Street, Fountain Inn/15 Saluda Dam Road, Greenville

∎ Spartanburg County SCDMV: 1625 Southport Road, Spartanburg/8794 Fairforest Road, B, Spartanburg

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com