SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — A new change is coming to airports around the country, and it involves how you get through TSA. In just over a month, there’s going to be a new requirement for people traveling through our nation’s airports. Starting May 7, you will be required to have either a passport or a REAL ID to travel domestically. A REAL ID will have a gold or black star at the top. The act passed in 2005, but it’s being enforced this year. Many states have already implemented it for license renewals, and if you have renewed your license since 2012 in the states of Georgia and South Carolina, you are probably already compliant. “So, most likely, if you have a current driver’s license, you’re already ready to go, and in South Carolina as well, you know, states have been implementing this for years, knowing that it was coming down the road. So, chances are, you already have one,” said Lori Lynah, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. If you haven’t renewed your ID recently, you will need these three things to receive your REAL ID: Proof of identity, proof of social security number and proof of residency. There are other acceptable forms of verification for people who may not have a driver’s license, like a passport or veteran health identification card.
“A valid passport is acceptable even if you don’t have a driver’s license. That’s the easy way. If you have a current valid passport, you can easily, you know, use that for your I.D. There are some other forms as well, like a valid military I.D., that sort of thing,” Lynah explained. You will not be able to travel domestically after May 7 if you don’t have a compliant ID or other accepted forms of verification, which can be found by clicking or tapping here. You will also not be able to access federal government facilities or military installations, as well as nuclear power plants. “If you’ve traveled before, you know, the things that you need to have, and of course, the beauty of it is you can check your I.D. and look for the star, either a black star or a gold star. That’s how you know that it’s real. That it’s valid for travel,” Lynah said. You can go to your local DMV to get your real idea before the May 7 deadline…