New Travel Rules, Same Confusion: 'real Id' Raises Questions, Concerns Among College-aged Travelers

The period of May kicks disconnected nan commencement of nan U.S. summer recreation season – and obscurity is that felt much acutely than connected assemblage campuses, wherever students are closing laptops, submitting finals and streaming disconnected field successful droves.

However, immoderate whitethorn not get past nan airport, acknowledgment to a national ID norm taking effect conscionable arsenic school's out.

The Department of Homeland Security group nan May 7 enforcement day for REAL ID past year, but nan rule itself has been delayed for astir 2 decades. Congress passed it successful 2005 – earlier astir existent assemblage freshmen were moreover born. With nan deadline landing correct aft outpouring semester ends, location is existent interest that students heading location could beryllium confused aliases caught flat-footed by nan caller requirements.

"We person tens of thousands of folks play that are showing up astatine our driver’s licence centers to get nan REAL ID," Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Michael Carroll said astatine a property conference this week. "It’s a existent situation for america correct now, because folks person waited until nan past minute." 

On campuses, nan buzz successful nan aerial is almost palpable arsenic first-year students clamor to stock their summertime plans, either to far-flung destinations aliases to sojourn friends and family. For many, their "plans" see simply packing a carry-on, grabbing friends and escaping arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to a formation for sun-drenched surf and relaxation. However, for immoderate travelers lacking a REAL ID – aliases confused astir what nan rule intends for them – this update could airs immoderate very real, very unexpected barriers to summertime travel.

REAL ID RENEWS AMERICA'S AGE-OLD DREAD OF THE DMV

TSA agents cheque hose passengers for REAL IDs aliases passports astatine nan information cheque constituent astatine Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport connected Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Today is nan first time erstwhile REAL ID will beryllium required for Americans, but DHS officials opportunity Americans without it will still beryllium allowed to recreation for now. (Robin Rayne for Fox News Digital)

Some students were prepared. Riley Davis, a inferior astatine nan University of Alabama, said she obtained a REAL ID-compliant licence earlier this year. 

"I first heard astir Real ID connected societal media past year, and sewage nan prima added erstwhile I renewed my licence this year," Davis told Fox News Digital. She praised her state's process arsenic "super fast" and easy, noting that she was besides capable to registry for nan assignment online astatine her section DMV – an action disposable successful immoderate states. 

Most assemblage freshmen conscionable wrapped up 2 aggravated semesters, adjusting to world pressures, building caller friendships and navigating nan quirks of dorm life – each while surviving distant from location for nan first time. Many besides turned 18 conscionable earlier aliases during their first year, meaning they whitethorn person only precocious go eligible for a REAL ID, which is issued to U.S. residents 18 and older. 

It is unclear really galore college-aged Americans are presently successful compliance pinch REAL ID requirements. Current estimates are constricted and alteration from authorities to state. New Jersey's REAL ID compliance is nan lowest successful nan state astatine 17% past month, according to information compiled by CBS News. Pennsylvania and New York reported compliance rates of conscionable 26% and 43%, respectively.

IDENTITY OF SECOND DEPORTED MAN WHO JUDGE WANTS RETURNED TO US REVEALED AS TRUMP ADMIN FIGHTS ORDER

Several patrons hold successful statement astatine nan San Francisco DMV connected July 23, 2019 successful San Francisco. (Getty Images)

College students person cited disorder successful caller conversations pinch friends and family astir nan caller IDs and enforcement, arsenic good arsenic whether different documents, specified arsenic a passport, would beryllium sufficient.

For anyone who is not prepared to meet REAL ID requirements, either because of erstwhile they turned 18 aliases owed to disorder complete nan law's enforcement date, they could look agelong lines and important hold times earlier they are cleared to alert domestically, if they tin unafraid an assignment astatine all.

Officials successful New Jersey, for example, said they station "thousands" of caller slots a time for residents to get REAL ID licenses, slots that person booked up almost immediately, owed to nan backlog of residents waiting to apply.

Alabama besides warned that its appointments are filling up fast, particularly successful larger cities, and whitethorn not beryllium disposable online owed to nan last-minute crush. "If appointments are booked successful your area, please cheque different adjacent examining offices," Alabama authorities officials said past month. 

NEED REAL ID IN A HURRY? HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS OUTSIDE THE DMV

TSA agents cheque hose passengers for REAL IDs aliases passports astatine nan information cheque constituent astatine Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport connected Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Robin Rayne for Fox News Digital)

Other states are besides dealing pinch an eleventh-hour surge successful visitors clamoring to get a REAL ID earlier they travel. 

Brilyn Hollyhand, an 18-year-old assemblage student and governmental commentator who met conscionable days earlier pinch President Donald Trump, told Fox News Digital this week that his rumor is not pinch REAL IDs, but nan measurement they will beryllium used, aliases not used, for that matter. 

"I deliberation it’s insane and stupid that we require an ID to alert domestically, but not to vote," Hollyhand said of nan caller requirements, which besides use to home flights. 

"It’s simple," he added. "If you request an ID to alert and sojourn your grandma retired of state, you request it to formed your ballot to determine nan early of our nation."

Many young travelers mistakenly judge their existent IDs will still activity – moreover if they deficiency nan prima successful nan apical correct area that indicates REAL ID compliance. Others do not recognize that a valid passport tin besides beryllium utilized for aerial recreation nether nan caller rules, adding to nan confusion.

Garrett McDonalds, a sophomore astatine Auburn University, said his parents told him astir nan caller ID requirements aft they sewage their ain licenses renewed – prompting him to renew his ain up of nan deadline.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

He described nan process arsenic easy and "crazy smooth," truthful agelong arsenic applicants bring nan correct paperwork.  "Now it should beryllium easier to fly, and hopefully I don’t person to interest astir losing my passport connected trips anymore!" he said. 

TSA agents person warned that individuals without REAL IDs will beryllium taxable to further screening opening May 7 and should hole for further clip astatine nan airdrome earlier their flights.