Women Encounter Difficulties Securing Real ID

Towards the end of last summer, Debra Kohn found herself frequently visiting her local DMV in Pennsylvania.

She had to make three separate visits there, in addition to one to the clerk's office, in order to secure a valid Real ID. This was all because her 1986 marriage certificate was issued by a justice of the peace instead of the county.

Beginning May 7, traditional driver's licenses will no longer be acceptable for domestic flights. Instead, travelers will be required to present a Real ID or another form of federally accepted identification.

Like Kohn, U.S. citizens are required to provide various documents to DMV offices, including original marriage certificates for those who have undergone a name change. Procuring this original document often involves a wait of several weeks and a processing fee.

Kohn isn't alone in facing such hurdles for obtaining a Real ID. Many women, particularly those who are married or divorced, have shared their struggles online. Business Insider conducted interviews with four women who described the often-prolonged and bewildering nature of the process.

A Frustrating Experience

At 68, Kohn recounted to Business Insider how she spent approximately six hours acquiring the necessary certification, which required an official raised seal, after numerous trips to the DMV. She noted that none of her acquaintances had encountered similar problems.

Jessiqua, a 34-year-old from Oklahoma, shared her ordeal as she navigated a divorce while seeking a Real ID in 2020 and 2021. Though she hadn't reverted to her maiden name, the process was complicated by ongoing legal proceedings.

Jessiqua said, "I needed both my marriage certificate and divorce documentation for the Real ID. Caught in the midst of a divorce, I did not yet have the requisite documents, so I fought to obtain them." Eventually, her lawyer provided her with a legal separation paper.

Julie Anderson, 58, from Massachusetts, expressed relief when her application for a Real ID was accepted in April. She presented her marriage license copy alongside a divorce decree, never having possessed the original marriage certificate.

In contrast, Diane Wagner, 53, faced significant frustration as she attempted to procure a Real ID at the DMV in St. Louis, Missouri. Her daily efforts culminated in three trips to the office to obtain the right marriage certificate.

"I spent the entire day running around, trying to gather all the necessary documents and subsequently queuing repeatedly," Wagner explained. She resolved this by applying online for a certified marriage certificate, which she received two weeks later.

"Had I known about these numerous obstacles," Wagner admitted, "I might not have decided to change my name."

Rush to Meet ID Requirements

Enacted in response to the September 11 attacks, the Real ID Act was approved in 2005 but faced several deadline extensions. As the current deadline approaches, numerous Americans are urgently striving to obtain their Real IDs.

On May 2, Business Insider conducted a review of DMV openings. Certain offices, like those in Fort Benton, Montana, still had available slots in early May, while others reported no availability. For instance, the earliest appointment in Louisville, Kentucky, was July 1.

The Illinois DMV website prominently warns visitors that facilities and online services are inundated due to the mandated Real ID criteria. Illinois responded by opening a 'walk-in Real ID Only Supercenter' and some municipalities are arranging events to address the demand.

On the day she spoke with Business Insider, Wagner attempted to secure her Real ID. She arrived at the DMV at 4:40 p.m., ahead of its 5 p.m. closure, but was turned away due to an excessive number of applicants ahead of her.