A State-issued Enhanced Drivers License (EDL) provides travelers not only a license to drive but also a proof of identity and citizenship when exiting and re-entering the United States borders. This card was created under the
They provide travelers with a low-cost to a passport for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry.
An EDL qualifies as a REAL-ID that can be used for domestic air travel in the US. However, an EDL cannot be used for international air travel, nor can it be used for domestic air travel within the borders of any of the countries mentioned above.
VERIFY: Is an Enhanced ID as good as REAL ID?
I have an appointment to get an EDL this week and am wondering what the interview will entail? Is it just to make sure I am who I say I am? Any specific questions I should expect or any specific information I should be prepared with?
Then it was back out to the main room for a new photo, and I was on my way, all within 50 minutes, which is about two or three hours quicker than the average wait of late for the EDL identification card.
I had a certificate of birth from Mason General Hospital in Shelton, not a state-approved birth certificate. I was sent packing.
Here in Thurston County, the Lacey licensing office is my only option. Walk in the door, take a number and wait. The Parkland office at 2502 112th St. E. is nearest to Tacoma.
“I came last week but got number 85, so I left,” Garden said. “Then I went to the state licensing office in Centralia, but they don’t do the enhanced driver license.”
The initiative requires citizens to carry standard documents to reliably prove their identity and citizenship at border crossings back into the U.S.
When will Minnesota require a EDL?
As of now, there is a date set for October 1, 2020 but this could change. If it doesnt, everyone living in Minnesota will need an EDL for any air travel. Remember, you will still need your passport for international air travel. This has been extended once already so we may see another extension before it goes into affect.
What does an Enhanced Driver’s License offer? Enhanced Driver’s Licenses include security features and technologies designed to make travel both easier and safer. Each EDL includes both a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) barcode that CBP officers can scan to quickly access to your biometric information.
The top 39 land ports of entry in and out of the US (which service over 95% of all U.S. land border crossings each year) are equipped with RFID-reading technology. This helps facilitate speedy travel for those presenting EDLs or one of the other RFID-enabled documents. The MRZ barcode is available as a backup to CBP officials if a particular port-of-entry does not have access to RFID or there is an RFID malfunction.
Scanning either the RFID or MRZ on an enhanced license is as fast if not faster than processing a traditional passport. An EDL is also significantly more durable and convenient than a passport book. As a result, an EDL can make life easier for both travelers and border officials – particularly for travelers who cross the border frequently.
FAQ
What is an enhanced US driver’s license?
Can you get into Canada with an enhanced license 2022?
How long does it take to get an enhanced drivers license in Washington state?
What is needed for an enhanced driver’s license in Minnesota?
