The deadline is looming for those flying domestically in the US. Starting on May 7th, you'll need to either have a REAL ID or one of 15 other ID's in order to board a plane to fly domestically in the United States. Online posts have talked about the delays in getting REAL ID's, so if you are still waiting for your new REAL ID in order to fly, here are the 15 other IDs that will be accepted for you to still board a plane to fly inside the US.

What is the REAL ID Act?

We've known that this day was coming for some time, and yes it has been kicked down the road for years, but the REAL ID Act will come to be May 7th, meaning you'll need an acceptable form of ID to fly, and or enter some other facilities in the US. According to the Department of Homeland Security website:

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes are:

• Accessing certain federal facilities
• Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft
• Entering nuclear power plants

I don't have a REAL ID, but I am scheduled to fly, what do I do?

Well let's say you are still waiting for your REAL ID, or you don't fly enough to warrant getting one, you CAN still fly but you'll need one of the following ID's in order to board the plane starting May 7th:

• State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (Minnesota's Enhanced ID meets Federal standards)
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker identification credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

So I don't need a REAL ID to fly?

Correct, right now, and I should preface this by saying the accepted forms of ID by the Department of Homeland Security can change without much notice, so check this page before you travel, but if you have any of the above ID's you can board a plane and fly across the US.

I've applied for a REAL ID, What's taking so long?

As of 5 days ago it was reported that REAL ID's were taking about 45 days to process, and with all the people lining up to get them in time to travel the delays might grow to more than that.