Illinois residents seeking to obtain REAL IDs ahead of a looming federal deadline will now have more opportunities to do so on Saturdays.
As part of an effort to alleviate the burden of obtaining these essential identification documents, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced that Saturday hours are being added at the downtown Supercenter. This move comes as many residents struggle to gather the required additional documentation before February 1st, when the Transportation Security Administration will begin charging a $45 fee for travelers without REAL IDs.
Currently, almost half of Illinoisans have secured REAL IDs, with 44% of the state's population now having one. Despite this progress, officials are urging those who remain unaccounted for to take action, citing the impending fee as a compelling reason to do so.
Giannoulias has teamed up with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon to streamline processing and provide services on select Saturdays in January. The added hours will be available at both the walk-in REAL ID Supercenter and Vital Records Department. Residents can also expect assistance from local DMVs, which will offer additional Saturday appointments at 15 locations across the Chicago area.
To prepare for the deadline, residents are encouraged to contact the secretary of state's help line at (800) 252-8980 or visit [email protected] for guidance. More information is available on the Illinois Secretary of State website, where residents can make appointments and access resources related to REAL IDs.
Travelers without REAL IDs will be able to pay TSA fees online before their trip, with some airports also offering in-person payment options. However, officials warn that these processes may take up to 30 minutes, highlighting the need for residents to act swiftly to avoid added inconvenience.
As part of an effort to alleviate the burden of obtaining these essential identification documents, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced that Saturday hours are being added at the downtown Supercenter. This move comes as many residents struggle to gather the required additional documentation before February 1st, when the Transportation Security Administration will begin charging a $45 fee for travelers without REAL IDs.
Currently, almost half of Illinoisans have secured REAL IDs, with 44% of the state's population now having one. Despite this progress, officials are urging those who remain unaccounted for to take action, citing the impending fee as a compelling reason to do so.
Giannoulias has teamed up with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon to streamline processing and provide services on select Saturdays in January. The added hours will be available at both the walk-in REAL ID Supercenter and Vital Records Department. Residents can also expect assistance from local DMVs, which will offer additional Saturday appointments at 15 locations across the Chicago area.
To prepare for the deadline, residents are encouraged to contact the secretary of state's help line at (800) 252-8980 or visit [email protected] for guidance. More information is available on the Illinois Secretary of State website, where residents can make appointments and access resources related to REAL IDs.
Travelers without REAL IDs will be able to pay TSA fees online before their trip, with some airports also offering in-person payment options. However, officials warn that these processes may take up to 30 minutes, highlighting the need for residents to act swiftly to avoid added inconvenience.
. I'm not buying it.
. I got a friend who's been trying to get her ID for months and she was so stressed about having to take time off work or deal with traffic 
. This is gonna make such a huge difference for people like her. I'm glad Alexi Giannoulias is on it! 
. The fact that almost half of the state's population already has a REAL ID is promising, but it's clear that there are still many who need assistance. By partnering with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is demonstrating a commitment to addressing the needs of his constituents and mitigating the impact of the impending fee. The added Saturday hours will undoubtedly be a welcome respite for those seeking to secure their identification documents 
. However, I do worry that some residents may still struggle to access these services, particularly those in rural or underserved areas, so I hope that the state can continue to work towards increasing accessibility and equity in its ID issuance processes 
.
at least now ilinois is tryin to help out by addin saturdays though 15 locations in chicago? that's a lot of people who will be able to get theirs on time i just hope they can handle the demand tho 
also, 15 locations across chicago getting saturday appointments? that's like, super convenient 
gotta get on that, cant afford another fee 
. And don't even get me started on trying to schedule an appointment... good luck with that! The real issue is that people are struggling to get REAL IDs in the first place 
. I guess adding Saturday hours at one location is a good start, but it's just not enough 
.
saturday hours r a game changer tho i mean who doesnt love a good saturday afternoon of waiting in line at the supercenter lol but seriously its about time they made it more accessible cuz like 45 bucks isnt exactly chump change and now we got to deal with TSA fees too 
This is like life, right? We all gotta deal with deadlines and tight timelines, whether it's for work or personal stuff. The key here is to stay ahead of the game and not wait till the clock runs out 
. Take care of yourself, stay organized, and you'll be golden! 
But seriously though, I'm stoked that Secretary Giannoulias is trying to help out those who are struggling. It's a bit ridiculous that they're charging $45 for not having an ID but at least now people have more options to get it done without having to take time off work or anything. I've seen some of my friends still waiting on their IDs and it's like, come on guys, just do it already! 
! but seriously though, i think it's a great move by Secretary Giannoulias and Monica Gordon to add more Saturday hours for people to get their REAL IDs. Illinoisans have been struggling for ages, and now we finally get some reprieve 
. let's hope everyone can gather the necessary docs and get those IDs before Feb 1st 
...fingers crossed!
It's like they're building this whole surveillance system, one ID at a time. And now they're making it harder for people who don't have them by charging a fee... I call foul! They want us to get these IDs so we can be monitored and controlled. Don't fall for it, folks! 
At least now people have a slightly better chance of getting it together before Feb 1st. Fingers crossed they don't all just magically get their IDs done over the weekend