# Possible Real ID problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664 "2025-04-29T20:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/221 "2025-06-09T15:49:39Z")
So if one doesn’t have a RealID or passport one can’t get into a federal building; does that mean that a person w/o them is exempt from federal jury duty as they can’t get in the building to serve? My state charges an extra $30 for a RealID, along with all of the associated headaches of gathering all the necessary paperwork & possibly not wanting an ID with your birth certificate name, which you have never used anyway. There are lots of names that are common diminutives that aren’t even just shortening of the legal name (Chuck / Charles, etc.) Any of the above can be an impediment to someone getting a RealID. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/222 "2025-06-09T16:02:39Z")
Yeah, i think your congressional rep is you next step. It’s part of their job to help their constituents deal with federal bureaucracy, any most of them have staff who are pretty good at that. Best wishes. This all sounds maddening. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/223 "2025-06-09T16:16:00Z")
Second this. When I was having problems getting the passport office to even answer my questions about the status of my request, I got in touch with my local congresswoman. Her office responded within a day or two, got me an explanation for the delay, and provided me with all the information I needed to get my passport, including a direct contact instead of the general public address. They also had me give them the info on the certified letter I sent to the passport office so they could help track it. I had my passport within two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/224 "2025-06-09T17:23:22Z")
No - I distinctly remember seeing that Real ID is not needed for federal jury duty. Not sure if it was just jurors, so I checked and found [this](https://www.ncwd.uscourts.gov/news/real-id-not-required-enter-federal-courthouse#:~:text=Please%20be%20advised%3A%20The%20Department,of%20the%20REAL%20ID%20Act.) > A REAL ID is not required to enter the federal courthouse. > > Friday, May 16, 2025 > > **Please be advised: The Department of Homeland Security has determined that federal courthouses are exempt from the provisions of the REAL ID Act. A REAL ID is not required to enter the federal courthouse.** ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/225 "2025-06-09T17:28:50Z")
But always try to remember that unspoken Magic Word: _Yet._ ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/226 "2025-06-09T17:34:31Z")
I’m pretty sure that one won’t change, if only because the court system needs defendants, witnesses and jurors to show up. If the day comes when that doesn’t matter, REAL ID will be the least of our problems. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/227 "2025-06-10T12:56:50Z")
I’m most worried about USCIS. Which, you know, still deals with a lot of people who don’t qualify for REAL ID. But then I reassure myself by saying “If they don’t allow people without REAL ID in, they’ll lose the ability to trick people with green card applications to come in so they can be arrested by ICE and deported just before they’re about to get status.” ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/228 "2025-06-11T20:58:14Z")
In this day and time, I’d be more worried about being deported…and likely not to Guam. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/229 "2025-06-11T23:02:02Z")
Letter with money order sent-no response. Three day of calling the Guam Office Of Vital Statistics-no response. Now contacting my Representative. And all this just to get my birth certificate, which is only the first step in getting a Real ID. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/230 "2025-06-12T16:38:14Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Now contacting my Representative. I also recommend contacting the Guamanian Representative I linked above. You’re entitled to support from both. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/231 "2025-06-12T16:39:24Z")
That will be my next step if this doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/232 "2025-06-13T07:06:36Z")
Well, I got an email back from the office of my representative, and was told that there was nothing she could do…but I _was_ given instructions on how to apply (self-addressed stamped envelope, money order etc.), which was something I had told her I had already done in my previous email to her. 🙄 Next up: The Representative from Guam. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/233 "2025-06-13T12:23:57Z")
I’m actually quite shocked that your representative’s office didn’t at least pretend to get involved somehow. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/234 "2025-06-13T12:46:42Z")
I’m not - I wouldn’t be at all surprised if my representative from one jurisdiction couldn’t/wouldn’t help me with a problem with another jurisdiction. I would expect them to refer me to the correct person within the state - for example , my state senator referring me to my US Representative or city council member . But my NY representative’s office isn’t going to be able to help get my birth certificate from Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/235 "2025-06-13T13:03:02Z")
Deleted. Failed to read @doreen completely. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/236 "2025-06-13T13:10:05Z")
I agree; what influence would a Congressperson from Oregon have with the territorial government of Guam? The Oregon representative’s staff probably have no regular contacts there. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/237 "2025-06-13T13:23:13Z")
I wasn’t suggesting that the representative’s office would actually DO anything…just that they might pretend to do something. But Guam is a US territory and Congress does have significant power in that regard. If a representative wanted to intervene or exert influence, they certainly could. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/238 "2025-06-13T13:29:40Z")
And the fundamental request isn’t “hello me get my birth certificate”, it’s, “help me get id so I can fly”. And that’s a US government thing. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/239 "2025-06-13T13:44:44Z")
Next up: Hitting my head against the wall. I tried to contact Guam Representative James Moylan, who has a contact form right there on the website…which only accepts valid addresses from Guam. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664/240 "2025-06-13T13:47:34Z")
Find a soft wall. You may need to bang it a lot. 🫂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664.md?page=13)