The REAL deal

Maria Hart likens the rollout of REAL IDs at the Purcell Tag Agency to a Clint Eastwood movie.

“It’s been the good, the bad and the ugly,” she said.

Thankfully, the ugly accounts for “only a handful” of the REAL ID requests Hart and her staff have dealt with since the new cards became available here in mid-August.

Hart said on average they handle four or five REAL IDs a day.

Because of the stringent documentation required to process a REAL ID, it takes 20 to 25 minutes to process each one.

Also, every customer who comes in for a driver’s license renewal is asked if they want a compliant (REAL ID) or non-compliant license.

“It takes time to explain (the difference),” Hart added.

The bottom line is this: Come Oct. 1, 2021, anyone seeking entry to federal buildings and military installations or who want to board domestic flights must present either a REAL ID or valid U.S. passport.

And just like the current non-compliant driver’s license, the REAL ID also serves as a state-issued driver’s license.

The biggest snag is name changes through marriage(s) and divorce(s).

“We have to have the paper trail,” Hart said, adding each name change document “must be the original” and bear a state seal.

“If there’s no seal, we can’t accept that.”

Just like they can’t accept hospital-issued birth certificates. Those documents must be state-issued.

When all the documentation is processed and a new photo taken for the REAL ID, the customer walks out with a paper which serves as a temporary driver’s license until the REAL ID arrives in the mail in seven to 10 business days.

If the individual doesn’t receive their REAL ID within 30 days, they need to call the telephone number on the temporary driver’s license.

Everyone applying for REAL ID must furnish proof of identity or lawful presence in the U.S.

This is accomplished by providing one of the following:

•  State-issued birth certificate
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Unexpired permanent resident card
• Unexpired employment authorization card
• Valid, unexpired foreign passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. visa and valid I-94 issued by the Department of Homeland Security
• Naturalization certificate
• Unexpired U.S. passport
• Certificate of citizenship

Additional documentation is required if your name is different from the above proof of identity.

This can be due to adoption, marriage, divorce, or court-ordered name change.

For every name change from your identity proof above to your current name, you must provide one of the following:

• Official, government-issued marriage certificate/license
• Legal adoption paperwork
• Court-ordered name change document(s)
• Court-ordered divorce decree
• Government-issued death certificate of spouse which includes a connection to your full legal name

Further, you must provide proof of your Social Security number by providing one of the following:

• Social Security card
• Current W-2 or 1099 showing full Social Security number
• Current pay stub showing full Social Security number
• Non-SSA 1099 form

All documents must be original or certified copies. Notarized documents will not be accepted.

In addition, you must furnish two proofs of your current Oklahoma address. Both your name and current residential address must appear on the following:

• Copy of previous year’s federal or Oklahoma tax return filing
• Utility bill
• Installment loan contract from a bank or other financial institution (payday loan company documents are not accepted)
• Current deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement or residential lease
• Property tax bill or receipt dated within last 12 months
• Certified copy of court order
• Valid concealed carry permit
• W-2 wage or 1099 tax form from previous year
• Social Security Administration document with Oklahoma street address dated within last 12 months
• Oklahoma high school, college, university or technology center transcript for current school year or semester
• Transportation Security Administration letter or TWIC card
• Oklahoma motor vehicle title or registration
• Oklahoma boat title or registration
• Tribal vehicle title or registration
• Sales tax or business license
• Current homeowner or renter insurance policy or statement
• Public assistance benefit card and correspondence dated within past 12 months
• Correspondence (not forwarded) from Oklahoma state agency or federal agency with current address dated within past 12 months
• Current, valid life insurance or automobile liability policy or card with address
• Current U.S. military documents
• Oklahoma agriculture exemption permit card (farm tax permit)
• Pilot’s license
• Oklahoma voter registration card
• Current certificate of eligibility for exchange visitor (J-1) status.