chaos, confusion, discord, Bureaucracy

[redbird]

One of the umpteen moving-related things cattitude and I are doing is going to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to get ID with our current address (and move our voter registrations to Belmont).

I decided to get the "Real ID" version of the state ID, because I want a wallet-sized ID that I can use to get onto domestic flights. (When I renew my passport I will probably spend the extra money for a passport card, for similar reasons.)

According to the instructions on the RMV website, in order to get a "real" ID (which implies that they also issue fake IDs) you need to supply three things: a "lawful presence" document (such as a passport, birth certificate, or green card); proof of your social security number; and proof of Massachusetts residency (such as a recent utility or credit card bill, or a jury duty summons, or professional license).

The RMV wants people to fill out the forms online, then come to their offices to show them the paperwork.

So, I filled out the form, which surprised me by demanding two of the proof-of-residency documents. Fine, they can have the electric bill and a credit card statement. Cattitude was going to come with me tomorrow, but he doesn't yet have two such documents, because he gets a lot of his bills online. (Knowing the RMV would want these things on paper is part of why I'm getting paper utility bills.)

At this rate, they will turn me away because I didn't bring a goat to sacrifice.

Comments

[jenett]

I went and did mine last week (since my license expires in late September, and it is much easier for me to carve out time to go sit in the RMV before the school year begins.)

I wasn't able to do the online form, becuase I could not convince it to do the text confirmation, but I brought in the paper form and various documentation ,and it was fine. (They took the printout from the web car insurance confirmation, but interestingly enough would not take my lease, because despite being signed in late December, it's month to month. This is why I brought multiple things. I also had the renewal letter from them, which works if you're renewing, but not so much for moves.)

[julian]

They rejected my lease because it had crossouts. Feskinatin'.

[julian]

Though they do sometimes differ in what they'll accept at any given time, mine did accept printouts of online bills. (And took my car insurance's bill, last time around.)

Also, they do have at least one place where they specify you need two proofs of MA residency, on the website (specifically, this PDF), but there are other, more accessible places where they *don't* specify that. I find their website, overall, to be byzantine and unhelpful.

[flick]

I've never heard of a passport card! Do you get a normal passport as well, or is it just the card?

[redbird]

The options are either just a normal passport (which I have) or passport plus card. The card is good for travel from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico (for now, anyway) as well as being wallet-sized "government issued ID" for the increasing number of things in the U.S. that ask for that.

I didn't get it nine years ago in part because I expected more of my foreign travel to take me outside of North America; in practice, Mom has mostly visited me, and most of the rest of my travel was to see adrian_turtle or rysmiel. (Now that we're living within local bus distance of Adrian, I am hoping to find the time, energy, and money for a bit more other travel.)

[calimac]

The 2 proofs is a TSA requirement. California didn't realize that and was only asking for one, until the TSA made them go back and ask for a second one from everyone they'd already given a "Real ID" to. This happened to me.

[drwex]

I went through this last time I had the misfortune to have both an expired passport and license at the same time.

I was most boggled by the fact that the RMV won't even take **THEIR OWN LICENSE** as a proof of ID. I mean.. what??

[otter]

It's a lot of fuss, that's for sure. My partner got his real ID this year, after realizing his regular DL had been expired for a year. Oops. I've had enough other bureaucratic nonsense to deal with, so I'm not pursuing real ID yet. I'll have to also present my marriage/name change certificate. Because 31 years with the same last name isn't enough, I guess.