JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The Department of Homeland Security granted non-compliant states, which included Alaska, a 90-day grace period to the deadline for REAL ID Act of 2005 compliance. The suspense was originally set for October 10, 2016, but officials moved it to January 10, 2017. During this grace period, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is allowing access to the base based on current practices, but will be informing customers of the REAL ID Act Enforcement Phase requirements to help them prepare for the change in access rules.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 established federally mandated requirements and standards for the production and issuance of state driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Drivers with licenses from non-compliant states now have more time to acquire additional identification to gain access to JBER should states not meet the new Jan. 9 deadline. Additional forms of REAL ID compliant identification that may be used in conjunction with a state issued identification to request access to the installation include: Current U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card, Federally-issued Personal Identification Verification card, State Department Driver’s License, Border Crossing Card, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Cards, Veterans Health Identification Card, U.S. Permanent Resident Card, U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, U.S. Refugee Travel Document, or Current foreign government passport. CAC cards, dependent and retiree cards still are acceptable for personal entry.
More information about REAL ID is available at https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs. The list of compliant and non-compliant states can be found at https://www.dhs.gov/current-status-states-territories.