Without a REAL ID, you could face delays or be barred from your flight after May 7

The REAL ID deadline is May 7, and starting then, it's going to beryllium harder to question if you don't person the close documents astatine the airport.

REAL ID is simply a caller modular for state-issued recognition documents that includes much stringent requirements for verifying a person's individuality and close to residency. Federal recognition documents, similar passports, are besides compliant.

However, adjacent for a home flight, if you amusement up astatine the airdrome without a REAL ID driver's license, a passport, oregon different acceptable papers to contiguous astatine the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, you could look delays oregon adjacent beryllium prohibited from traveling.

According to the TSA, determination is an alternate compliance mechanics if you amusement up astatine the airdrome without a REAL ID.

"The TSA serviceman whitethorn inquire you to implicit an individuality verification process, which includes collecting accusation specified arsenic your sanction and existent code to corroborate your identity," the agency's website says. "If your individuality is confirmed, you volition beryllium allowed to participate the screening checkpoint, wherever you whitethorn beryllium taxable to further screening."

But, the TSA warns, the alternate compliance process does not warrant your quality to travel, adjacent if you person TSA PreCheck.

"Passengers who bash not yet person their REAL ID oregon different TSA acceptable signifier of ID tin expect to look delays, further screening, and the anticipation of not being allowed into the information checkpoint," the website says. "You volition not beryllium allowed to participate the information checkpoint if you take to not supply acceptable identification, you diminution to cooperate with the individuality verification process, oregon your individuality cannot beryllium confirmed."

According to a TSA spokesperson, this alternate compliance mechanics volition beryllium disposable indefinitely and mirrors the agency's existing procedures for screening passengers who get astatine the airdrome without due identification.

Zach Wichter is simply a question newsman and writes the Cruising Altitude file for USA TODAY. He is based successful New York and you tin scope him astatine [email protected].

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Can I alert if I don't person a REAL ID? Here's what to know