billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Dec 17, 2019 18:49:56 GMT -5
I got mine last month. I had an additional step I had to take. I figured out which documents I needed and then had to purchase one of them. Six weeks later when it arrived, I was set. I think one document many folks don't have is an original embossed/stamped copy of their birth certificate. Back around 2013 I ordered a copy of my birth certificate from the city where I was born. I thought I would need it to apply for Social Security as I was turing 62 in a couple of months. But even applying for SS was simple. I applied on-line; God knows the government knew EVERYTHING about me. Took less than two minutes to apply. That was the one I had to order.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 17, 2019 18:54:59 GMT -5
I got my REAL ID several months ago. Pretty easy process. Figure out which documents you need to bring with you and you're all set. Yep. I had to get my Birth Certificate and SS card from my safe deposit box. I gathered up the other stuff they wanted (bills, bank statement, paycheck stub) and then spent the day at the DMV waiting in lines. (it took alittle over 4 hours from the time I hit the doors at the DMV to the time I walked out the doors.) There was some question about my 55 year old Birth Certificate - since they couldn't seem to find my name on it and insisted that it was my Mom's Birth Certificate. Once I pointed out MY NAME it was still confusing. My middle name spelled out on it. None of my other documents have my middle name spelled out. My SS card just has an initial. I don't use my middle name or initial. None of my names are all that popular. I suspect I'm the only "my name" in the database. Anyway. it got OKd and I got a real id. So, now the DMV has an image of Birth Certificate and my SS card and a bank statement and my paycheck stub. They scanned the documents. I almost said "NO! you can't do that!!! I don't want a REAL ID!!"..... but I didn't. I'm hoping their database(s) are secure. I should probably get LifeLock or something now. The DMV office where I had to go to get my REAL ID was notorious for poor, slow service. If it wasn't the poster child for why folks hate going to the DMV, it should have been. The past 15 or so years I was able to renew my license on-line using the same photo. So I was able to avoid that hell hole. Nothing worse than standing outdoors in a line in 95 degree, beating sun, weather and waiting for the line to shorten and to finally get into what passed for an air-conditioned building. When I went there in August for the REAL ID, I was surprised the building had been remodeled. From the time I left home to go to the DMV to the time I returned back from the DMV it was all of 50 minutes. And I live about 14 miles from this DMV office. Received the REAL ID about two week later.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 17, 2019 18:58:42 GMT -5
I think one document many folks don't have is an original embossed/stamped copy of their birth certificate. Back around 2013 I ordered a copy of my birth certificate from the city where I was born. I thought I would need it to apply for Social Security as I was turing 62 in a couple of months. But even applying for SS was simple. I applied on-line; God knows the government knew EVERYTHING about me. Took less than two minutes to apply. That was the one I had to order. I thought that's what it might be. Six weeks seems to be the standard mailing time.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Dec 17, 2019 19:04:23 GMT -5
Yep. I had to get my Birth Certificate and SS card from my safe deposit box. I gathered up the other stuff they wanted (bills, bank statement, paycheck stub) and then spent the day at the DMV waiting in lines. (it took alittle over 4 hours from the time I hit the doors at the DMV to the time I walked out the doors.) There was some question about my 55 year old Birth Certificate - since they couldn't seem to find my name on it and insisted that it was my Mom's Birth Certificate. Once I pointed out MY NAME it was still confusing. My middle name spelled out on it. None of my other documents have my middle name spelled out. My SS card just has an initial. I don't use my middle name or initial. None of my names are all that popular. I suspect I'm the only "my name" in the database. Anyway. it got OKd and I got a real id. So, now the DMV has an image of Birth Certificate and my SS card and a bank statement and my paycheck stub. They scanned the documents. I almost said "NO! you can't do that!!! I don't want a REAL ID!!"..... but I didn't. I'm hoping their database(s) are secure. I should probably get LifeLock or something now. The DMV office where I had to go to get my REAL ID was notorious for poor, slow service. If it wasn't the poster child for why folks hate going to the DMV, it should have been. The past 15 or so years I was able to renew my license on-line using the same photo. So I was able to avoid that hell hole. Nothing worse than standing outdoors in a line in 95 degree, beating sun, weather and waiting for the line to shorten and to finally get into what passed for an air-conditioned building. When I went there in August for the REAL ID, I was surprised the building had been remodeled. From the time I left home to go to the DMV to the time I returned back from the DMV it was all of 50 minutes. And I live about 14 miles from this DMV office. Received the REAL ID about two week later. lol. Similar experience. Walked in, was greeted by a worker asking why I was there, told her, she handed me a number and said I was next. About a minute later I was called to a window, the guy efficiently processed things, and I was out of there. I had allocated two hours that day to get through it and it was maybe 15/20 minutes.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 17, 2019 19:05:10 GMT -5
The DMV office where I had to go to get my REAL ID was notorious for poor, slow service. If it wasn't the poster child for why folks hate going to the DMV, it should have been. The past 15 or so years I was able to renew my license on-line using the same photo. So I was able to avoid that hell hole. Nothing worse than standing outdoors in a line in 95 degree, beating sun, weather and waiting for the line to shorten and to finally get into what passed for an air-conditioned building. When I went there in August for the REAL ID, I was surprised the building had been remodeled. From the time I left home to go to the DMV to the time I returned back from the DMV it was all of 50 minutes. And I live about 14 miles from this DMV office. Received the REAL ID about two week later. lol. Similar experience. Walked in, was greeted by a worker asking why I was there, told her, she handed me a number and said I was next. About a minute later I was called to a window, the guy efficiently processed things, and I was out of there. I had allocated two hours that day to get through it and it was maybe 15/20 minutes. Sweet!
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Dec 18, 2019 20:33:16 GMT -5
i will never get a Real ID. unless Malta issues one. actually, Malta just fell out of the #1 spot for me. there is no clear path to citizenship there. so, I am looking at Spain and Portugal now. and Montenegro.
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Dec 20, 2019 7:24:21 GMT -5
Ah, I have been in other countries with my passport. I am not waved right through bypassing standing in line behind the masses from other countries No but almost anywhere you go there is a gate for “US passports”. That is like saying out loud “special people, this way please!”
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Dec 20, 2019 7:26:50 GMT -5
i will never get a Real ID. unless Malta issues one. actually, Malta just fell out of the #1 spot for me. there is no clear path to citizenship there. so, I am looking at Spain and Portugal now. and Montenegro. For one of those all you have to do is move there, ask for extended stay and then apply for citizenship(or follow the path for it). There is no jail time or any kind of hardship for that!
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oped
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Post by oped on Dec 20, 2019 7:39:27 GMT -5
Ah, I have been in other countries with my passport. I am not waved right through bypassing standing in line behind the masses from other countries No but almost anywhere you go there is a gate for “US passports”. That is like saying out loud “special people, this way please!” No this is coming home... most have lines specific to their own country coming home... Romania made you get an international card last time... but it was easy to ‘expedite’... because we didn’t realize it till you were there and Enterprise wouldn’t let you take the rental but for $150 the locals made you a card on the spot... it was just for driving though... did it have a picture? Nothing like a nice Friday morning 'discussion' ... I guess Heathrow has added lanes... but not just for US... so that point is still moot. www.cntraveler.com/story/us-travelers-jump-the-line-at-london-heathrow-in-2019
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Dec 23, 2019 1:57:13 GMT -5
i will never get a Real ID. unless Malta issues one. actually, Malta just fell out of the #1 spot for me. there is no clear path to citizenship there. so, I am looking at Spain and Portugal now. and Montenegro. For one of those all you have to do is move there, ask for extended stay and then apply for citizenship(or follow the path for it). There is no jail time or any kind of hardship for that! too many hoops to jump through.
I would go on explaining it, but I really haven't the time. it is easier for me to buy my way in, and not have to stand in line.
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Dec 23, 2019 8:04:51 GMT -5
For one of those all you have to do is move there, ask for extended stay and then apply for citizenship(or follow the path for it). There is no jail time or any kind of hardship for that! too many hoops to jump through.
I would go on explaining it, but I really haven't the time. it is easier for me to buy my way in, and not have to stand in line.
You could do that too! And don’t even have to actually try to go “covert” or anything. Walk up to the counter with a couple hundred bills in your passport and say : I’d like to have my stay extended if I could!- Done within 5 minutes!😂
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Dec 23, 2019 9:14:40 GMT -5
Ah, I have been in other countries with my passport. I am not waved right through bypassing standing in line behind the masses from other countries No but almost anywhere you go there is a gate for “US passports”. That is like saying out loud “special people, this way please!” Really? I’ve been to 26 countries and it’s always been one line for returning nationals and another line for “Foreign passport holders” Coming back into the US, there is a third line for holders of the GOES card (I have one and it really does speed things up)
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Dec 23, 2019 17:18:27 GMT -5
No but almost anywhere you go there is a gate for “US passports”. That is like saying out loud “special people, this way please!” Really? I’ve been to 26 countries and it’s always been one line for returning nationals and another line for “Foreign passport holders” Coming back into the US, there is a third line for holders of the GOES card (I have one and it really does speed things up) I had to go to Europe in November and on the way back in Heathrow I had a 3-4 hours layover. I went through security to go outside for a smoke. There are big signs “US, Canada passport holders”. It’s all done electronically
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 23, 2019 19:57:15 GMT -5
My Washington State enhanced driver's license which I was told qualifies as REAL ID doesn't have a star of any color on it. What indicates to the TSA that you are a citizen or are legally here?? (I'd complain. I think all the States should have agreed to have a special little star on their REAL IDs.... Think about how confusing it will be at US airports when the TSA people have to learn how to recognize each State's REAL ID... my very basic MA drivers license, renewed 9/2019,has a big "NOT FOR FEDERAL ID" underneath the heading "Driver's License" at the top. personally, I didn't feel like dealing with the hassle of finding all the required docs this time around, especially if I don't know that I'll still be living in MA. I have Global Entry clearance and a pair of current valid passports. I think I'm in good shape.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 23, 2019 20:01:14 GMT -5
i will never get a Real ID. unless Malta issues one. actually, Malta just fell out of the #1 spot for me. there is no clear path to citizenship there. so, I am looking at Spain and Portugal now. and Montenegro. Montenegro? don't get sick. their approvals process for medicines is atrocious. sorry, squirrel! that market has been a thorn in my side in releasing product.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 23, 2019 20:01:44 GMT -5
I'd rather them have a license that marks them as a non-citizen than have them just driving around with no proof they know how to drive. If they get a license, we know who they are, the level of their driving skills, and we can force them to register their cars and get insurance.
Granted, they can still drive around illegally, but we could increase the penalties for driving without a license, which would also help with compliance of citizens who get their license suspended for DUI. if we make it a felony, anyone in the country illegally and driving without a license could be deported.
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Dec 23, 2019 20:49:49 GMT -5
stop being rational. the hysterical yak brigade will trample you.
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Dec 23, 2019 20:51:16 GMT -5
i will never get a Real ID. unless Malta issues one. actually, Malta just fell out of the #1 spot for me. there is no clear path to citizenship there. so, I am looking at Spain and Portugal now. and Montenegro. Montenegro? don't get sick. their approvals process for medicines is atrocious. sorry, squirrel! that market has been a thorn in my side in releasing product. I am having a consultant look into that and other issues for me.
truthfully, since Montenegro is not part of the EU, there are other issues there, too. I would really like Shenzhen travel.
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oped
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Post by oped on Dec 24, 2019 9:31:54 GMT -5
No but almost anywhere you go there is a gate for “US passports”. That is like saying out loud “special people, this way please!” Really? I’ve been to 26 countries and it’s always been one line for returning nationals and another line for “Foreign passport holders” Coming back into the US, there is a third line for holders of the GOES card (I have one and it really does speed things up) GG it looks like Heathrow made changes last year... it wasn’t just US though... see my article above.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Dec 24, 2019 9:53:09 GMT -5
Might it be that people from other countries are begging to isolate Ugly Americans into separate lines?
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 24, 2019 11:07:41 GMT -5
stop being rational. the hysterical yak brigade will trample you. Oops. Sorry. I forgot.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Dec 24, 2019 11:10:06 GMT -5
Because the liberals want the illegals to be citizens. There is zero reason that anyone is our country illegally should be afforded any of the rights of an actual citizen, but these are crazy times. No, this liberal wants the illegals to be subject to the same driving rules as everyone else, including basic training on the rules of the road, insurance, requirements, and an ID to show when there is an accident. No, this liberal wants the illegals to be subject to the same driving rules as everyone else, including basic training on the rules of the road, insurance, requirements, and an ID to show when there is an accident. It's simply common sense. Having a DL is not the same as having the right to vote. Having a DL does not endow one with citizenship. It's not even a shortcut to citizenship. The assertion is beyond ridiculous.
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