My CA driver license expires this year. Will my renewal automatically qualify as a "Real ID"?

[Captante]

Once while skiing I fell directly on my thumb... was only a bad sprain not a fracture but the pain was literally constant for a couple months!

 

[Muse]

I broke my thumb once. Almost passed out from the pain.

Yeah, the doctor I talked to the day of the accident (day before I had the x-ray) told me (via video) if it was broken we wouldn't be talking like we were. I was lucky. But I can't remember having such a difficult time with pain before. A sprained finger joint can be a bitch. It is getting better, but very slowly. Contrast baths for the pain several times a day, and I'm splinting to try to get the finger to straighten out.

 

[Captante]

Yeah, the doctor I talked to the day of the accident (day before I had the x-ray) told me (via video) if it was broken we wouldn't be talking like we were. I was lucky. But I can't remember having such a difficult time with pain before. A sprained finger joint can be a bitch. It is getting better, but very slowly. Contrast baths for the pain several times a day, and I'm splinting to try to get the finger to straighten out.

The problem is two-fold.... first your thumb is packed tight with complex nerves and muscles that all interact and second you use your thumbs constantly in ways you don't even think about.

Much like pain from a rib-injury or a pulled/torn muscle in the stomach-area there's no escaping it even when sleeping.

🙁

 

[nakedfrog]

Yeah, the doctor I talked to the day of the accident (day before I had the x-ray) told me (via video) if it was broken we wouldn't be talking like we were. I was lucky. But I can't remember having such a difficult time with pain before. A sprained finger joint can be a bitch. It is getting better, but very slowly. Contrast baths for the pain several times a day, and I'm splinting to try to get the finger to straighten out.

I hear cannabis can be good for pain 😛

 

[Muse]

I hear cannabis can be good for pain 😛

Ah, well I have some. I'm very sensitive to it. One good toke and I'm altered.

The pain is quite variable. The joint is 2nd from tip of dominant hand pinky. Fingers are quite complex anatomically. I believe the issue now is the slow to heal ligaments at that joint.

At the same time I've been experiencing thumb soreness at the base, mostly evidently the CMC joints, both wrists. I just bought Comfort Cool CMC joint restriction braces for both and am wearing them ATM. Not sure they help, but Dr. said to wear them for 3 weeks to calm down the irritation. Mostly I haven't been wearing them, though. Have to take off for a lot of things including the exercises I do for the sore pinky. I'm used to having functional hands, this is tough for me, I have a ton of stuff to do!

 

[Crotulus]

You have to go in to the DMV to upgrade you CA driver license to a Real ID. The renewal packet will give you the option to either simply renew (if you don't have to retest) or upgrade. I upgraded last year and my wife has an appointment to upgrade/renew to a Real ID this coming week. Moving to a Real ID requires a visit to DMV to present your proof of residence documents and take a new photo. Make an appointment. Do not just walk in.

 

[allisolm]

You have to go in to the DMV to upgrade you CA driver license to a Real ID. The renewal packet will give you the option to either simply renew (if you don't have to retest) or upgrade. I upgraded last year and my wife has an appointment to upgrade/renew to a Real ID this coming week. Moving to a Real ID requires a visit to DMV to present your proof of residence documents and take a new photo. Make an appointment. Do not just walk in.

This. I don't know how it is in Muse's town, but where I am in Florida ALL services provided by the DMV are currently done BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. No walk-ins allowed.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Dunno wtf everyone is complaining about. Make an appointment online, go into your local DMV with a passport, get everything wrapped up in 30 minutes to an hour.

I don't even live in some podunk place, I went to the Daly City DMV 15 minutes south of SF.

 

[VashHT]

Here in IL you can renew online if you have a safe driving record and not getting a RealID. I was trying to make an appointment to go in but for a while could not get anything close to me (everything was 4-6 hours away). Of course I never got the letter with the PIN for online renewal so I pretty much have to go in, my DL expired 3 weeks ago and finally was able to make an appointment today for the DMV close to me.

 

[Muse]

I am doing the online application process for Real ID that allows driving a car. Probably the toughest online application I have ever had to deal with. Hit Submit, nothing happens. No clue why. Drill down in the options and change some things, rinse, repeat, eventually I move on because, well, I did something required. Very opaque. I just took pictures of my car registration and my checking account statement and uploaded them (proof of residency) after having uploaded photos of both sides of my passport card (proof of identity). Approvals of the residency documents is PENDING MANUAL REVIEW, which it said is taking longer than usual after having said it could take up to 5 days, do I want to hang around or receive an email when determination is made? I'm hanging, but not optimistic, this after all is the CA DMV. 🙄 Meantime I'm hoping I can get an appointment in advance of my DL expiration which is less than 2 months.

While You Wait
While most documents are securely verified the same day, documents submitted after business hours (Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) will be securely verified on the following business day.

I had started an application for a Real ID back in 2020 but dropped it because I didn't want to go into a crowded DMV office as the covid-19 pandemic was taking off. So, I basically picked up where I left off today, which wasn't very far in the process. This is nasty business. Much of what you see on their website is just WTF are they talking about????? To make things sweeter, my injured hand hurts (pretty constant the last 2 months) and it's the peak of the heatwave this week and it's about 90F in the room.

 

[Torn Mind]

I am doing the online application process for Real ID that allows driving a car. Probably the toughest online application I have ever had to deal with. Hit Submit, nothing happens. No clue why. Drill down in the options and change some things, rinse, repeat, eventually I move on because, well, I did something required. Very opaque. I just took pictures of my car registration and my checking account statement and uploaded them (proof of residency) after having uploaded photos of both sides of my passport card (proof of identity). Approvals of the residency documents is PENDING MANUAL REVIEW, which it said is taking longer than usual after having said it could take up to 5 days, do I want to hang around or receive an email when determination is made? I'm hanging, but not optimistic, this after all is the CA DMV. 🙄 Meantime I'm hoping I can get an appointment in advance of my DL expiration which is less than 2 months.

While You Wait
While most documents are securely verified the same day, documents submitted after business hours (Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) will be securely verified on the following business day.

I had started an application for a Real ID back in 2020 but dropped it because I didn't want to go into a crowded DMV office as the covid-19 pandemic was taking off. So, I basically picked up where I left off today, which wasn't very far in the process. This is nasty business. Much of what you see on their website is just WTF are they talking about????? To make things sweeter, my injured hand hurts (pretty constant the last 2 months) and it's the peak of the heatwave this week and it's about 90F in the room.

In actuality, these delays are systemic exploits the an organization with decision-making power, such as government or private business, takes advantage of.

The local county usually fucks up applications for assistance and then the person has to call the state to clear up the record. This is by design, as it basically gatekeeps out "phantom people" and those who don't followup do not get their benefits.

For IDs, yes, the state is very much vested in avoiding ID fraud, so they WILL make the online option a pain in the ass by "apparent accident".

Real ID doesn't have an online option in my state.

 

[Muse]

This option pops up:

Would you like to complete your noncommercial driver’s license application through the DMV Virtual Test Center?

I want to complete my test through eLearning.

I want to complete my test through eLearning.
I want to complete my test through MVProctor.

I want to complete my test through MVProctor.
I do not want to complete my test through the DMV Virtual Test Center.

I do not want to complete my test through the DMV Virtual Test Center.


I'm duh? They have onsite computer driving rules testing. I figure I should bone up on the rules some before taking a test and figure that's available online, so when I went through that I left each unchecked and figured I'd test in the office. But if you walk away from your computer while doing this application process online you are automatically logged out (10 minutes?) and have to sign in again, tap in your password (mine's around 15 characters), agree to this and that again and again (including 2 step verification) have to answer the query above about the virtual test center. Dunno, maybe I should bone up and then do a virtual test. BUT, they have mvproctor and elearning to chose from and I have no clue in the world what either is. Or how to find out. 🙄 Google searches have me going nowhere on it... yet.

 

[Muse]

So, I get an email saying one of my documents needs a change, go to this link. But it wants me to sign in again using 2 step verification but now my phone does not ring with the new code. Request a new code, same thing. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Muse]

We have an update on your REAL ID application
There was a change on one of your uploaded documents.

Click below to review it: SIGN IN​ � or copy and paste this link into your browser:

Clicking SIGN IN does NOT work and pasting the link leads to 2 step verification not working. Great job, DMV!

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

One above assumes all have passports. There's a thing others say about those who assume.


I have no passport. I've never had a passport. I will never have a passport.

 

[manly]

Dunno wtf everyone is complaining about. Make an appointment online, go into your local DMV with a passport, get everything wrapped up in 30 minutes to an hour.

I don't even live in some podunk place, I went to the Daly City DMV 15 minutes south of SF.

Last I checked, CA DMV is taking appointments only for road driving exams.

Other than inefficiency and waiting, getting a CA Real ID isn’t complicated.

 

[Torn Mind]

So, I get an email saying one of my documents needs a change, go to this link. But it wants me to sign in again using 2 step verification but now my phone does not ring with the new code. Request a new code, same thing. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!

The social services screwed me out of food stamps because they never sent paper documents to my address and back in January, their only way to access my application online was with a PIN, which was not provided. But come March, oh NOW there's a way to link an open case online without PIN using address, etc, and the option is readily visible.

 

[snoopy7548]

I like going to the DMV and seeing all the commonfolk.

 

[Muse]

Last I checked, CA DMV is taking appointments only for road driving exams.

Getting a Real ID requires in person appointments in CA

Other than inefficiency and waiting, getting a CA Real ID isn’t complicated.

Sure is complicated when you go to do it online and the 2 step verification process is down. I called and reached Reps and was suggested I wait 24 hours, that their system is temporarily not gonna ring me with a code for whatever reason, but she expects that will reset, if not in 10 minutes, well, try 24+ hours. 🙄 Meantime, the other rep scheduled me for an appointment at the local office Monday morning, so I may be good, heaven knows. I'll bring a bunch of documents and I guess my Kindle. 😉

 

[Muse]

I like going to the DMV and seeing all the commonfolk.

I'm sure they get a kick out of you.

 

[Spacehead]

Getting a Real ID requires in person appointments in CA

Sure is complicated when you go to do it online and the 2 step verification process is down.

If you know it requires an in person appointment why are you trying to do it online?

 

[Muse]

If you know it requires an in person appointment why are you trying to do it online?

Folks here and their website said it would be easier if I did the online application first and upload documentation. Also, that process lets me know what to bring.

 

[Stopsignhank]

I just went through this. The CA DMV website is 9 kinds of awful. I struggled through trying to navigate through it. Fortunately my work has some stupid people in it so I have learned to ignore Bat shit crazy. I uploaded the documents and waited. Did not hear anything so I check my application process. They rejected my birth certificate, figured it was time to make my appointment.

I made it for 3:30 today. About 1:00 I checked on my appointment and there was no record of an appointment. Tried to make a new appointment and there were plenty today. I made it for 3:20. I was in and out of there in 20 minutes. Others who did not have an appointment were still sitting in the same place they were in when I walked in.

 

[Torn Mind]

I just went through this. The CA DMV website is 9 kinds of awful. I struggled through trying to navigate through it. Fortunately my work has some stupid people in it so I have learned to ignore Bat shit crazy. I uploaded the documents and waited. Did not hear anything so I check my application process. They rejected my birth certificate, figured it was time to make my appointment.

I made it for 3:30 today. About 1:00 I checked on my appointment and there was no record of an appointment. Tried to make a new appointment and there were plenty today. I made it for 3:20. I was in and out of there in 20 minutes. Others who did not have an appointment were still sitting in the same place they were in when I walked in.

I'm getting the vibe the website is just there to silence the uninvolved public and the press with appearing to provide "accommodations and accessibility". The ones who try the website will do not do much more than go in person an call it day. Only to whack the butt would be to file a discrimination complaint...just so happens that the affected classes are also the most lacking in time and energy to file a complaint to the right agencies.

 

[Muse]

I'm getting the vibe the website is just there to silence the uninvolved public and the press with appearing to provide "accommodations and accessibility". The ones who try the website will do not do much more than go in person an call it day. Only to whack the butt would be to file a discrimination complaint...just so happens that the affected classes are also the most lacking in time and energy to file a complaint to the right agencies.

What amazed me (and I was fully not prepared for) was that I called the DMV twice yesterday, the 2nd time I believe it was website tech support) and both times got a live person very very quickly, both women who seemed quite personable, understanding and were fairly helpful, if not fully aware of what was going on with my problems, but I expected no more. I was also quite surprised to get an appointment for in facility on the next business day, with a choice of times! I'm hopeful and will bring pretty much every damn thing I can find that I think could help.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the problem is that my passport has my full name including my middle name and that my support documents for residence proof all have only first, middle initial and last names. I never bother to provide my full middle name because (1) they usually only ask on applications for the middle initial and (2) there's likely no other person on earth with my 1st, 2nd and surname. Might they deny me a Real ID therefore? 🙄