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In order to comply with the Real ID Act, which is a federal law, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will be imposing certain requirements for the issuance of Massachusetts Driver’s Licenses which comply with the security requirements of the Real ID Act. This new secure credential will be required for entry into certain government buildings as well as for air travel after October of 2020, when the identification deadline goes into effect.
On March 26, 2018, to get or renew any driver’s license, ID card, or learner’s permit, customers will need documentation showing United States citizenship or lawful presence as required by both U.S. and Massachusetts law.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the United Statas is required to obtain a Real ID Act Complaint Driver’s License as well as a Registry Identification Card, which is not Real ID Act Compliant. The Real ID Act Compliant License cannot be processed and obtained on-line. Instead, you must physically visit a Registry Branch.
To get this new type of driver’s license, you must prove your identity with certain documents. Acceptable documents include a Social Security Card, W-2 Form from your employer, a Social Security Administration (SSA) 10-99 Form, or a pay stub which shows the customer’s name and Social Security Number. These documents must show the entire nine (9) digit Social Security Number and not just the last 4 digits.
The Registry will verify the Social Security Number through the Social Security Administration’s on-line database to insure that it is valid and was issued to the individual presenting it. This verification procedure is designed to prevent license fraud and the issuance of fraudulently obtained driver’s licenses.
A Mass. Driver’s License Applicant who does not have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) will have to provide a denial notice from the United States Social Security Administration, a foreign passport with a valid visa, and a U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) I-94 form, showing how the customer entered the United States.
Next, the customer seeking a Real-ID Compliant license must prove his or her Massachusetts residency with an official mail piece, which is not more than 60 day old. Acceptable examples include letters from the Registry, letters from a federal, state, or local government agency, utility bills, leases or mortgages, certain financial documents, and/or school-issued documents. Any item provided must be dated within 60 days of presentation.
All persons seeking a Real-ID Complaint license must prove lawful presence in the United States this can be accomplished by the presentation of a US Passport, Certified copy of US Birth Certificate, Citizenship or Naturalization certificate, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Card, Foreign Passport with U.S. Visa affixed and I-94 Stamp, or U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
There is no flexibility when it comes to the requirements to obtain a Real ID Act Complaint Driver’s License.