If you’ve gotten married, remarried or your name doesn’t match your birth certificate for any other reason, take this as your friendly reminder to check your travel documents now, not right before your next trip.
My cousin Catherine recently shared her travel ordeal and it’s an issue many women can relate to. When she tried to get a Real ID for an upcoming flight, she realized that her birth certificate, license and expired passport all had different names, which meant she couldn’t get the Real ID without providing a certified marriage certificate. That extra step delayed everything and even expedited requests took longer than expected.
She eventually got her Real ID and passport but not without stress, extra appointments and a few close calls before her flight.
Here’s what she shared on Facebook:
“This is a public service announcement that is long but worth the read if you intend to travel (in or out of the U.S.), but have not updated your passport or applied for a Real ID. Do it now.
Most of you may already know this, but I was caught off guard because I was not paying attention. A few weeks ago, I planned a trip to visit my daughter at school in Florida. I got my tickets no problem, but received a reminder from the airline that I needed a Real ID or a passport to travel. I made the appointment with the DMV and brought all of the paperwork they requested, except when I got there they told me I wasn’t eligible to get Real ID because my birth certificate does not match my license or expired passport. I had to request my marriage license from the county where I got married.
DMV said once I got it, I could make an appointment to come back but there was no guarantee I would receive the Real ID in time for my flight. I asked the Pennsylvania County clerk if I could expedite my marriage license, but they said they would only send it regular mail.
As a precaution, I decided to simultaneously apply for an expedited passport. Since my passport expired more than five years ago, this was considered a new passport application. The good news here was that they saw me in the system and did not ask for my birth certificate. Not knowing when my marriage certificate would arrive. I was hopeful that I would get my passport first because that identification overrides everything else.
As soon as I got my marriage certificate, I tried to set up a new appointment with the DMV for the Real ID but the only available appointments were after my flight date.
My saving grace was my cousin suggested I go to AAA. With all my paperwork in hand I walked in with no appointment necessary, a six dollar convenience fee because I was not a AAA member and a fast no hassle experience. But I still had to wait and the same day was the government shut down.
I was determined to get on the flight, regardless of not having the official documentation. I had the receipts and the proof of my appointments and my marriage certificate along with my birth certificate and license.
For the flight going to Florida, I received a warning that a Real ID or passport would be required going forward for me to travel again. For the flight back to Connecticut from Florida, I received a harsher warning.
When I got home last night, my Real ID was in the mailbox. And today, came my passport.
The point of this very long winded story is that most women have a birth certificate with their maiden name which does not match their current license. Although this is never been an issue before, it is now and it takes time to get it resolved if you plan to travel.
Make sure you either continue to renew your passport before it expires and/or get a copy of your notarized marriage certificate for proof of your name change. I hope this helps even one person.”
In summary, here’s what she learned:
- Keep your passport current. Renew it before it expires even if you don’t have an international trip planned.
- Order a notarized copy of your marriage certificate (from the county where you were married) and keep it with your important travel documents.
- Check your Real ID status early. If your name doesn’t match across documents it can take weeks (or longer) to fix.
- AAA offices can sometimes process Real IDs faster than the DMV, worth checking out if you’re short on time.
It’s an easy thing to overlook but mismatched names can derail your travel plans fast. Take care of it now so you can travel later without the headache.
I didn’t see her Facebook post for a few days but I told my cousin that she didn’t have to worry about getting a Real ID or a passport for domestic trips because the TSA is allowing travelers through. Some travelers may face extra security precautions but most are not affected. Here’s my story about traveling the day after the rule went into effect.
KEEP READING
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–How to Use Your Wireless Headphones to Watch In-Flight Movies
–10 Airport Security Hacks Every Traveler Should Know
–How to Get the Best Coach Seat on the Plane
–The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
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