MARIENVILLE, Pa. — State Representative Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) is holding an information session on REAL ID in Marienville on Wednesday.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, December 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the Marienville Area Civic Association located on Pine Street.

“So many questions surround the application process for REAL ID,” Oberlander said. “This informational session will allow residents to ask questions about what types of documentation they will need in order to apply for this enhanced form of identification.”

The REAL ID Act is a federal law passed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It affects how states issue driver’s licenses and ID cards to be accepted for federal purposes.

The measure passed in 2005 and will be enforced as of October 1, 2020. Residents will need a federally accepted form of identification, such as a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, a U.S. passport/passport card or military ID to board a commercial airline flight, including domestic flights, or visit a secure federal building that requires ID for entrance.

Pennsylvania initially declined to participate in the program because state officials considered it to be an unfunded mandate from the federal government.

Oberlander herself said she was recently told by a Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, official at an airport that she would need to get a REAL ID to get on an airplane in the future. She said she reminded him that she could also use her passport.

State Representative Cris Dush’s ( R-Jefferson, Indiana) office said he is also interested in the issue and will hold similar information sessions in the spring.

Residents are not required to have a REAL ID, but those who want to have one, can provide the documentation when renewing their driver’s license. There is a one-time charge of $30.00, that’s in addition to the fees, will will be required for the license renewal.

“It is important to note that REAL ID for Pennsylvania residents is not mandatory,” Oberlander explained.

“Only those residents who fly commercially or want entry into certain federal facilities will need one. Also, residents who have valid U.S. passports also do not need to obtain a REAL ID. Passports can take the place of REAL ID for those purposes.”

The seminar is for informational purposes only.

Although staff from PennDOT will be available to preliminarily review people’s REAL ID documents to ensure they have what they need, the processing of applications will not take place that day. Residents will still need to visit a driver’s license center.

PennDOT provided the following guidelines for documentation needed to get a REAL ID:

Use this checklist to ensure that you have the proper documents to bring to the Driver License Center.

PROOF OF IDENTITY — You will need to provide ONE document proving your identity and your lawful status in the United States when applying for a REAL ID. The most common documents you can use to prove your identity are:

If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, acceptable documents include:

• Certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Statistics with a raised/embossed seal
• A valid, unexpired, U.S. Passport or Passport Card
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (USCIS Form N-560 or Form N-561)  Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-Form1350 or FS-Form 545
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS; Form N-550 or N-570
• Unexpired Employment Authorization Card, (EAD) issued by DHS; Forms I-766 or Form 1-688B
• Valid, Unexpired Permanent Resident Card I-551 (Green Card) Issued by DHS or INS
• Unexpired foreign passport with a valid unexpired US visa affixed, accompanied by the approved I-94 indicating temporary evidence of Permanent Residence

Some non-US Citizens may be required to provide additional documentation.

PROOF OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER — You must present your social security card when applying for a REAL ID. Your card must be original.

• Social Security Card

PROOF OF YOUR PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENCY — You will need to provide TWO documents to prove your Pennsylvania residency when applying for a REAL ID.

• Current, unexpired PA driver’s license or photo ID card
• PA vehicle registration card
• Auto insurance card
• A computer-generated utility bill showing your name and address (cellphone, cable, electric, gas)
• Post-marked mail/package labels through USPS, UPS, FedEx etc.
• A W-2 form/pay stub
• Lease agreements or mortgage documents

PROOF OF LEGAL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH AND/OR GENDER DESIGNATION CHANGE (if applicable)

– If your current legal name, date of birth, or gender designation is different from the information on your birth certificate or legal status document, you must show legal proof of the change. Please note: If you are using a passport as your proof of identity and your passport reflects your current name, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF NAME CHANGE.

For a name or date of birth change, acceptable documents include:

• Certified marriage certificate(s), for each marriage to track name changes, issued by the county court (Clerk of Orphans Court, Register of Wills etc.) in which the license was issued
• Court order(s) approving a change of legal name or date of birth
• Original or certified copy of an amended birth certificate showing a change of name