#tsa security

[xtruss]

You Only Have Three Months To Get a Real ID

After Nearly Two Decades of Delays, The Real ID Will Start Being Enforced May 7, 2025

— By Opheli Garcia Lawler | February 3, 2025

Homeland Security Sign For REAL ID At Entrance To Passenger TSA Security Area. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

The Real ID requirements in the United States have been fickle, to say the least. After a nearly two-decade delay, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finally chosen a date after which all American travelers will need to provide a Real ID to board a flight in the U.S.

The official deadline comes after the DHS voiced concerns that the public has not been taking the identification requirements seriously. They might be onto something; as of January 2024, only 56 percent of driver's licenses were Real ID-compliant. It's not entirely our fault, though. The public's lack of urgency to secure a Real ID is likely due to the vague and confusing series of deadlines that resulted from the mandate being repeatedly delayed, leading many to doubt if the requirement would be put in place at all.

Regardless of which future you believe awaits the Real ID requirement, it's imperative to lock yours down now. Already, the DHS expects a significant number of people to rush to get a Real ID at the last minute or even after the deadline. Plus, if too many travelers arrive to the airport without a Real ID, the results could be chaotic. According to the DHS, this could lead to "longer lines, general delays, confusion, and frustration," which could in turn "pose potential security risks at access points to TSA security checkpoints or other Federal facilities."

We've outlined everything you need to know about the Real ID requirements to help ensure the airport process goes smoothly come May 7.

Why Do I Need A Real ID?

The Real ID Act, which was passed in 2005, is designed to "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses," according to DHS. It basically means that the federal government requires more documentation to prove your identity and personal information before you are issued an official form of government identification. This ensures a standard driver's license will no longer be considered a valid form of identification at U.S. airports.

Who Needs A Real ID?

Starting May 7, 2025, any U.S. travelers 18 or older will need a U.S. passport, a Real ID-compliant driver's license, a U.S. military ID, a DHS Trusted Traveler Card, or an enhanced driver's license to get through airport security.

How Can I Get My Real ID?

According to DHS, the DMV will require the following information to issue you a Real ID:

Full Legal Name

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence

Lawful Status

Individual states may require additional information, so check with your state's DMV for the specific requirements. The DHS has a quick state-by-state guide to help you find that information easily.

What Else Do I Need To Know About Real ID?

Just a reminder that these Real ID cards can't be used interchangeably with passports. You will not be able to travel internationally with your Real ID. Passport wait times are still longer than average, so when you make your DMV appointment, you may as well get your passport renewal in order as well.

Looking For More Travel Info?

Whether you accidentally show up to the airport without ID, need to know the visa requirements for traveling abroad, or want to move to Canada to avoid all of this mess, we’ve got you covered.

— Thrillist.Com

[nevergonnafallfor-blog]

New Orleans, Day 3

Our last day in New Orleans is prittimuch my favorite.  There is a St. Patrick’s day parade happening, both in the French Quarter, and right in our neighborhood by the Irish Channel area.  Mr. Ex and I walk slowly down to Magazine St. and get brunch.  The food at this place is ridiculously delicious, fried oysters with beet remoulade and arepas and a quinoa salad with blackened shrimp (what? don’t judge, I’ve been eating like crap since I got here, I needed a salad).  We get cocktails, even though it’s not even noon yet, and we people watch, looking out on the street as people set up lawn chairs to watch the parade.

Soon after, it starts, and we go walking down the street, I get some beads thrown at me and when men dressed as leprechauns walk up and down the street, handing over plastic flowers for a kiss on the cheek, Mr. Ex suddenly grips my hand, stopping one of the men from approaching me, (so he blows me a kiss instead).

We stop by at another bar and get another drink.

Then we get bored with the parade and decide to take the streetcar all around to different parts of the city and walk around.  We explore everywhere, taking the streetcar to different neighborhoods, finding weird little parks with historical statues and modern sculptures, and going to more bars, our bellies full of alcohol and little else.  All day, Mr. Ex is being clingier than ever.  Holding hands, putting his arm around my waist, pulling up extra close on his bar stool, and I bask in it, knowing it’s meaningless, knowing it’ll be over so soon.

We’re also finally really comfortable with each other.  Which means, for Mr. Ex that he’s being open about how he doesn’t trust anything, and I mean ANYTHING.  For example, we go to a restaurant that says “established in 1902” then Mr. Ex is all, “Yeah, IF that’s true.”

I’m all confused like, “Why wouldn’t that be true?  What?!?!?”  He does this about EVERY historical fact we learn about.  Also, he’s letting himself be a little meaner to me, nothing big, just making fun of me more often.

And for me, it means I start being kind of a bitch to him.  My irritability is out in full force.  Mostly it would be while I was trying to show him something, he would just be like I don’t see it, and then I would talk slowly and loudly to him like he was dumb.  He mostly laughed it off, but I felt all guilty about it later.

We stop by a place to pick up some sandwiches and take them back to our place.  We hadn’t eaten since brunch, and it’s starting to get dark out when we finally get home with sandwiches in hand.

We go inside, we snuggle and have sex.  He walks away as soon as we’re done and I’m laying in bed, like WHAT THE FUCK, until he calls me over from the living room, wanting to snuggle on the couch and watch 30 Rock on Netflix.  We do that for a while, and smoke outside.  We start to have sex again, but I realize I haven’t eaten all day, and he’s probably too drunk to be very effective, not for lack of trying.  I actually stop him, and quickly put a shirt on and eat half of one of the sandwiches while we snuggle and watch 30 Rock.  He keeps refusing to eat, in a hell-bent stubborn way (the more I insist he eat something, the more he resists eating).  I keep saying I want to go out to one more place, since it’s our last night.  He’s against the idea, but as soon as I mention going without him, he gets ready and we leave.

His clinginess continues, and we go to the restaurant we went to on our first night.  He pulls his barstool so close, and we just sit there near each other, looking at each other, not saying much.

We go home and have sex.  We’re snuggling, and I fall asleep and wake up to realize he’s not in bed with me and I cry out for him.  He comes in from the living room holding the sandwich bag.

“You’re finally eating?” I ask.

“Yeah, you ok?” he asks back.

“Yeah, I want you to come to bed and snuggle me.” I say.

He comes up and kisses my cheek, “I’ll only be a few more minutes, don’t want to get food on their bed.”

I go back to sleep and wake up and call out for him again, he’s standing at the edge of bed undressing, “I’m right here,” he laughs.  I get the feeling that he likes when I call out for him, I get the feeling that I like when he responds.  He finally gets in bed with me and we snuggle and hold tight all night.

I wake up super early, our flights are only 15 minutes apart, and we plan on splitting a cab to the airport.  I finish the load of laundry I started the night before, and get in the shower before waking him.

When I’m done, he gets in the shower, we’re both quiet, getting through the routine, cleaning up after ourselves, hiding the leftover weed since he didn’t feel like bringing it back on the plane.

He calls for the cab, and then I straddle him and kiss his cheek and we lay there curled against each other for a long time, him stroking my face.

In the cab, again, we’re silent, holding hands tightly in the backseat.

At the airport the line for TSA seems pretty long.  I tell him I’m going to check my bag just so I have one less thing to worry about.  He stays with me, insisting we stick together for this last leg of the journey.  I guess I was testing him, to see if he’d just be like, kthxbye.

As we get close to the TSA machine on the line, one of the airport security officers starts laughing and pointing to the pink lip gloss on Mr. Ex’s cheek, leftover from our cuddle session on the couch.  I half-heartedly wipe it off, then whisper, Ilana Glazer style, “You better keep that on your face for-fucking-ever” much to the amusement of the TSA security officer.

After we’re checked in, we find out our gates are pretty far from each other, and my flight has already started boarding.

“Uh, do you wanna get breakfast?” he asks.

“No, I should go and get on my plane.” I say, and he nods and just stands there looking at me, his big backpack at his feet.  We hug each other and kiss for a long time.

“I gotta go! I’ll talk to you soon.” I say, re-marking his cheek with my pink lipgloss with one last kiss.  I rush off to my gate, and just before I walk in, I turn around to see if he’s still standing there, I think he is.  It’s too far to tell.

I sit on the plane, I think about all that we just went through, how my feelings for Mr. Ex keep sneaking up on me, when I least expect them.

Our first week back he texts me a picture he had taken of us, sipping coffee at the cafe on our first day.

“I love this picture of us!  We look so cute!” I text him back.

“Agree on both counts.” he responds.

[willifolts]

These TSA security lines are shorter than a short person.

[greengoateegal]

I wish I could take an airport selfie but my hands are shaking too much frick Btw I'm going to California for two weeks to visit my sweetie and one of my bffs!! HI JENNA AND DEVIN ILUU

[canceling-this-blog]

I'm starting to panic about the idea of going through TSA security at the portuguese and Netherland airports. Any help?

Specially because I'm coming back home alone. I'm so scared....