Giannoulias Unveils REAL ID Supercenter to Serve Unprecedented Demand

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

Giannoulias Unveils REAL ID Supercenter to Serve Unprecedented Demand

New Downtown Facility Will Offer Walk-In Service Exclusively for REAL ID

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will expand REAL ID services in Chicago by launching a new REAL ID Supercenter in the Loop. Located at 191 N. Clark St., the facility will offer non-appointment, walk-in services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The supercenter, equipped with 30 individual service counters, will supplement the office’s existing efforts to serve the unprecedented demand for REAL IDs, largely stemming from confusion and misinformation surrounding the federally mandated requirements and enforcement date.

“To meet the demand for REAL IDs and ease the strain on our DMV operations, we’ve established a REAL ID Supercenter conveniently located in the Chicago Loop to offer quick, walk-in service for Illinoisans who need a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement period starts,” Giannoulias said. “Most Illinoisans do not need one before May 7 and they can still get one after that date. Before visiting the supercenter or any of our DMVs, I urge you to confirm that you actually need a REAL ID by visiting realid.ilsos.gov.”

In February, the office increased the number of available daily appointments by nearly 2,500 at the 44 appointment-only DMVs in Chicago and the suburbs. This past Saturday, the office introduced REAL ID Saturdays – extending hours at six DMV appointment facilities and opening 12 others exclusively for REAL ID walk-in services through May 10. As a result, a record-setting 10,641 REAL ID transactions were processed last Saturday.

Giannoulias is encouraging Illinoisans to use the office’s designated multilingual “Get A REAL ID” portal on its website – realid.ilsos.gov – to determine: 1) if they need a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement period begins; and 2) how to find a walk-in location or schedule an appointment near them.

Prior to going to a DMV for a REAL ID, Giannoulias stressed that that Illinoisans should make sure they need a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement date, adding the demand for REAL IDs has made it challenging for the public to access other services at DMVs:

Individuals who have a valid U.S. passport, global entry card or military identification and those under the age of 18 will not need a REAL ID to fly domestically on a commercial aircraft or visit certain federal facilities, such as a military base or federal courthouse as of May 7.

REAL IDs are not mandatory for driving a vehicle or required for valid identification or proof of citizenship.

Illinoisans will still be able to apply for a REAL ID after May 7 and non-REAL ID identification – driver’s licenses and state IDs – will remain valid until the printed expiration date.

Meanwhile, TSA has not provided details on how it plans to enforce the REAL ID Act once the enforcement date arrives, suggesting it will implement a “phased enforcement approach” over a two-year period, which could allow travelers to board flights with warnings about the requirement.

Individuals applying for a REAL ID must do so in-person at an Illinois DMV and are required to present:

A U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form is also acceptable. If you've changed your name, you'll need to provide name change documents.

Proof of a full Social Security number (SSN). Examples include: a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub with your full SSN.

Two current residency documents that list your full name. Examples include: a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title or a bank statement.

Proof of your signature. Examples include: a signed credit or debit card, canceled check, or current state driver’s license or state ID.

Illinois residents can go online to access an interactive checklist to make sure they have

the documents they need before heading to a DMV.

Some Illinois DMVs require an appointment, so residents are encouraged to plan ahead and visit www.ilsos.gov if they need to schedule one.


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