Process is changing

You can blame Congress.

Or you can blame terrorism.

Or you can simply chalk it up to life in the 21st century.

But any way you look at it, things are getting a little more complicated where your driver’s license is concerned.

In an effort to combat terrorism, Congress passed legislation aimed at making state driver’s licenses more meaningful when it comes to serving as identification.

The goal was to clearly establish identity, determine citizenship or other legal status, connect that information with Social Security numbers, confirm state residency and eliminating duplication of credentials.

That’s a tall order.

But by Oct. 1, 2020, anyone with an Indiana driver’s license who wants to board a commercial airline, ride an Amtrak train or gain access to most federal properties will have to make sure that license is Real ID-compliant.

Anyone renewing a license between now and 2020 will want to upgrade to Real ID.

And the process is complicated enough that most folks won’t want to wait until the last minute. You don’t have to wait for your renewal date. You can upgrade at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles now.

The Portland BMV office has a one-page handout detailing the requirements. To eliminate headaches, it’s a good idea to get ahold of one of those and look things over because some of the requirements are stringent.

Here’s an overview of what’s involved.

For starters, you’ll need to confirm your identity. Your old driver’s license won’t do it.

If you have a valid, unexpired U.S. passport, you are way ahead of the game. That confirms your identity for Real ID purposes.

Without a passport, you will need an original or certified copy of a birth certificate.

If you were not born in the U.S., you could use a variety of different documents to confirm you identity: A certificate of naturalization, an unexpired foreign passport  with an unexpired visa, or an unexpired permanent resident card for example. (The BMV information sheet provides a long list of options.)

After confirming identity, you need to confirm your legal status in this country. Again an unexpired passport simplifies the process. Most of the same documents that are used to confirm identity can also be used to confirm a person’s legal status.

Then they’ll need to see your Social Security Card. 

If you don’t have it, a W-2 form, an SSA-1099 form or a pay stub with your name and Social Security number on it will do.

Finally, you’ll need to provide two original documents with your name and your Indiana address. And when the BMV says address, it means street address, not a post office box.

What sort of documents are they looking for?

All of these qualify: A U.S. post office change of address confirmation; an Indiana voter registration card; a bill from a utility, a credit card company, a doctor or a hospital with your name and address on it that was issued within the past 60 days; a bank statement or bank transaction receipt within the past 60 days, a current loan payment book on a vehicle loan, a W-2 form, a property tax bill, an Indiana child support check stub dated within the past 60 days, a valid Indiana handgun permit. And there are more that can be used. Again, the BMV’s informational handout provides a full list.

Keep in mind that if you have had your name changed, including a name change through marriage, you’ll have to provide documents that show a clear trail.