Virginia Real ID Application

The year has flown by due to the pandemic, and I recently discovered that my driver's license is about to expire and I need to apply for a replacement at the DMV. A colleague had previously told me that non-citizens can also apply for a Real ID, so I looked into it.

Originally, starting in October 2020, those without a Real ID could not use their ID to fly, but this was postponed to October 2021 due to the pandemic. Carrying a passport every time you fly is very inconvenient (and my passport is about to expire), so I recommend everyone get a Real ID. The difference between a Real ID and a regular ID is that a regular ID has a "limit" icon in the upper right corner.

The entire replacement process went very smoothly, even better than my previous experience at the DMV. This might be because the pandemic changed the DMV's procedures—from walk-ins to appointments. Here, I'll share my tips and experience.

DMV appointment

First, you need to book an appointment. Currently, appointments are only available 2-3 months in advance, so please book as soon as possible. I booked mine for December in September. The website is as follows:https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/onlineservices/appointments.aspx

Having made several trips to the DMV before, I booked several appointments at different locations and times to ensure success. However, a month later, I received an email saying I could only book one appointment within a short period, and they canceled all my other appointments. Nevertheless, this didn't prevent me from successfully completing the process.

Material preparation

Official introduction:https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#real_id.asp

All available supporting documentation:https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/dmv141.pdf

Required files (listed below):

• • • A document proving identity
      • Unexpired passport + Unexpired visa + I-94 or entry stamp
    • A document proving legal status in the United States
      • Unexpired passport + Unexpired visa + I-94 or entry stamp (students must bring I-20)
    • Two main supporting documents or one main supporting document and one secondary supporting document (including your name and address).
      • The main materials can be (two are sufficient):
        • Loan statement
        • drving license
        • water and electricity bills
        • bank statement
        • payroll
      • Secondary material can be (one primary and one secondary):
        • mail
    • SSN original

Note: All materials must be original documents, not photocopies.

DMV Live

When your appointment time arrives, just go straight there. Once you arrive, give your name to get in. There are only a few people inside, each with their own chair, and they're spaced quite far apart. After getting the form, it'll be your turn very quickly. Give him all the materials mentioned above (you need to provide the materials, they won't ask you for them), and it will be processed very quickly. There was a little incident here: one of my bills had a Seattle address (I forgot to change it), but he still let me through (probably because he saw I had a lot of materials). I'd been given a hard time at the DMV several times before, so this was a pleasant surprise.