ASSISTING — Employees at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles office in Delaware helped individuals at the counter. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — The federal government is less than a month away from beginning to enforce REAL ID compliance, barring U.S. travelers from boarding domestic flights and accessing certain federal facilities without the enhanced-security identification card.

Come May 7, the federal government will stop considering standard driver licenses and identification cards as adequate forms of identification for air travel. The Transportation Security Administration will require a federally-compliant driver’s license, identification card or other acceptable form of identification — a U.S. passport or military ID, for example — for individuals 18 years or older to fly within the U.S.

Those who do not yet have a federally-compliant card should consider an early ID renewal, especially if they plan to fly domestically or enter particular facilities on or after the May 7 deadline.

All U.S. states are issuing REAL ID licenses and ID cards, and individuals can visit their state’s driver’s licensing agency website to learn what documents they must provide to acquire a REAL ID. For the benefit of Ohio and West Virginia residents, some pertinent information has been collected in this piece.

What is a REAL ID?

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted a recommendation from the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards” — motivated by the 9/11 attacks.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the REAL ID Act instituted minimum standards of security for license issuance and production, as well as forbidding federal agencies from accepting non-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards for some official purposes: Accessing certain federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft and entering nuclear power plants.

The REAL ID Act’s specific prohibitions do not affect other, unrelated uses of driver’s licenses or ID cards, the DHS says. Standard IDs will still suffice for purchasing alcohol or voter registration, for instance, while a standard license will permit operation of a motor vehicle.

A REAL ID bears a star in the physical card’s upper portion. Compliant cards are recognized at federal facilities and for domestic flight, though international travel still demands a passport.

To obtain a REAL ID, the DHS says, individuals must provide documents showing the following, at a minimum: Full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status in the U.S.

REAL ID in Ohio

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles customers have a choice between REAL ID and standard ID, which both cost the same, though standard IDs do not meet national travel security requirements.

Compliant cards require more identity documents than standard cards, the BMV says, and individuals must provide documents that prove the following: Full legal name; date of birth; legal presence in the U.S.; social security number; two different documents showing Ohio residency and street address and proof of name change, if applicable.

A full list of compliant card-acceptable documents in Ohio is available at https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx.

A person’s license or ID will be perforated while a new card is in the process of being issued. Until the card arrives in the mail, the recipient will be given Ohio interim documentation, which can be verified by law enforcement, the BMS says.

As a supplement to their physical card, Ohioans can upload their REAL ID — and standard cards — to their mobile device’s digital wallet for simple and secure validation at licensed establishments and some TSA checkpoints. This service is available through Mobile ID Acceptance on iPhone and the Ohio Mobile ID Check app or other compliant mobile ID readers, the BMV says.

REAL ID in West Virginia

The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles offers customers a choice between REAL ID “for federal use” cards, which bear a gold star, and standard, “not for federal use cards.”

According to the DMV’s website, applicants for a REAL ID must provide the following: One proof of identity, one proof of social security number, two proofs of West Virginia residency with name and physical address and proof of legal name change, if applicable.

A full list of compliant card-acceptable documents in West Virignia is available at https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/Drivers/Pages/Drivers-Licenses.aspx.

Due to processing and shipping costs, an additional $10 fee is required to obtain a REAL ID card, the DMV says.

A new card is sent to the applicant’s address through the Postal Service in 10-to-15 business days, the DMV says. At the time of application, a temporary license is issued for use until the new card arrives.

To make REAL ID application faster and smoother, the DMV offers a REAL ID Headstart Pre-Enrollment Service to all West Virginia residents, who can access it by visiting http://go.wv.gov/realidheadstart.

The Headstart service allows users to upload their required documents and book their appointment, once approved. The DMV claims that users could aspen up to 50 percent less time at the DMV office during their in-person appointment.

Applicants who use the Headstart service must still bring their original documents with them to their appointment. Headstart is only available at DMV regional offices that accept appointments. Eighteen offices currently accept appointments, including the Weirton office.