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I still don't understand where the "old folks" thing came into play. It's easy for some to get the card and more difficult for others and none of it has anything to do with age. It has to do with keeping good records.
True, and you also should know both the new state’s requirements AND the old state’s shortcomings if you move from a noncomplaint state to a compliant one. If I had not sandwiched living in the noncompliant state between living in the compliant state (lived there before Real ID and moved back afterward), renewing my DL would have been the same old same old.
Boy what a difference in fees to renew between the passport card and the booklet. Card is $30. and booklet is $110. Well I have one more year till mine expires to save up I guess.
But remember - you CANNOT FLY INTERNATIONALLY - with the card.
Also - I have been present when women - who have been married multiple times - do not have their current name on the DL (which we required for a passport application). It really is not fair.
ANYTIME you change your name and cannot provide documentation on either a DL or a divorce degree, marriage license or adoption papers - you're going to have a problem getting a passport.
But remember - you CANNOT FLY INTERNATIONALLY - with the card.
It is highly unlikely that I will ever travel internationally though I would like to, both health and finance preclude it. I would however likely do more Caribbean travel and cruising if I can some day.
BUT I will probably go for the booklet anyway, Just in case.
Again - if you cruise - and get sick on the cruise - and are life-flighted to a foreign country - a passport card will not get you back into the country.
Trust me - it's happened. And took a lot of time energy and money to rectify.
That changed many years ago. Driving, Canada won’t let a US citizen in without a passport, a passport card, or an enhanced drivers license a few border states offer that has the same documentation requirements as a passport application. The states are Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, New York, and Vermont.
In my opinion, RealID on a drivers license should work just like a passport card. By car: Canada, Mexico. Cruise ships to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and some of the Caribbean islands. If you have at least a green card, a US drivers license with a RealID check should be enough to cross those borders.
That's great, but I've had my DL for a number of years now. It expires at the end of this year, so I know it's not an enhanced license.
But now I"m even more confused: I thought an enhanced DL was RealID. Am I wrong?
I still don't understand where the "old folks" thing came into play. It's easy for some to get the card and more difficult for others and none of it has anything to do with age. It has to do with keeping good records.
There was never such a law. If you want to drive in to Canada, you need a passport, a passport card, or an enhanced drivers license from one of the 5 states that offers them (Vermont, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington). To fly into Canada, you need a passport.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s I used to bar hop across the border in Ontario and NY with only a DL (bars then closed at 1am in Ontario and 3am in NYS). Usual citizenship question, where are you going (name a local bar) and are you bringing anything in.
Again - if you cruise - and get sick on the cruise - and are life-flighted to a foreign country - a passport card will not get you back into the country.
Trust me - it's happened. And took a lot of time energy and money to rectify.
That’s a great point to remember. Same would apply driving into Canada and needing to fly back say from Toronto due to an emergency.
That's great, but I've had my DL for a number of years now. It expires at the end of this year, so I know it's not an enhanced license.
But now I"m even more confused: I thought an enhanced DL was RealID. Am I wrong?
I can't keep up anymore.
I guess different states use different terms for the same license that can be used for ID.
You should be able to convert your current license to a Real ID version when you renew the license when it's about to expire, by taking the documents required for ID ( those are generally listed on your state's DMV under instructions for license renewal) to a DMV office with the license.
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