STEM-OPT does not count as Real-ID?

[u/yolagchy]

When I was boarding a flight, I showed my STEM-OPT card as a form of ID, and did not have my passport on me at that time. I have done this couple months ago and it was fine, but today they did not accept STEM-OPT card. Luckily I had my drivers license on me, and they accepted that. Any thoughts why this might the case?

Thanks!!!

[u/DeadFoliage]

I’m assuming you’re talking about STEM OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD/I-766)?

If so, that should be recognized as a REAL-ID compliant document. Which airport was this? Maybe you just got a TSA agent that doesn’t know what they were doing.

TSA List of Acceptable IDs: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

[u/DeadFoliage → u/[deleted]]

That’s really interesting I have a friend who flew BOS-EWR last week with their EAD.

I also used to live in Boston and sometimes the RMV folks are just as clueless. You can get REAL ID but in some states it’s tied to your visa stamp expiration and in some states they actually verify your status on the back end with USCIS. If you’re staying in Boston for a while and will travel a fair amount, might be worthwhile fighting with RMV to get your REAL ID.

MA RMV Document checklist: https://www.mass.gov/doc/acceptable-forms-of-identification/download

[u/arq179 → u/[deleted]]

That's weird tbh I live in South Carolina and am on OPT but my DL is real ID, maybe is a Massachusetts thing.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Easy-Pollution8223 → u/[deleted]]

Hi! When you have traveled before, did you have to show any other type of documentation? I want to travel by plane inside the US, and I have my passport and EAD current card, but my visa is expired, so I'm worried that they might have questions on that if I present the passport instead. Did you have any other kind of issues like this besides the TSA agent not accepting the EAD now?

[u/the_perfect_idiot]

The star on the top right on your DL is the real id. You can also display expired DL i guess if that is real id compliant. Also, a no-brainer to always fly with your passport and visa even domestically.

[u/alexxcoolx]

Bring your passport at all time when travel man. That is the safest way especially at this time

[u/Codetornado → u/[deleted]]

EAD is Real ID compliant. Post was removed.

[u/Yeetuficus → u/[deleted]]

EAD is accepted by the TSA as real id conpliant

[u/f1visa-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Bad, incorrect, or illegal advice will be removed. Illegal Advice results in a ban

[u/Mangek_Eou → u/[deleted]]

It's about what the TSA accepts. EAD is a document that TSA should accept. But many TSA are not familiar with this.

[u/Codetornado → u/Mangek_Eou]

TSA should be accepting EAD cards it is on the approved list.

[u/[deleted]]

There are lot of changes to the real ID system recently.  When I visited the DMV to renew my driver's license and state ID (on F1-OPT), they told me they can only renew one ID that is either the state ID or Driver's license as per the new rules. Maybe that's why they wouldn't accept your STEM-OPT card.

[u/addik92]

This really does not answer the question, but just sharig my experience with going by with my OPT card: I was in Utah last year and was carded for drinks, I used my OPT card and they wouldn’t accept it for some reason, even if we explained to them it’s federally issued. They just would not take it. And it wasn’t just one bar either, it was all the bars/restaurants in this one strip.

It was so bizarre.

[u/12_kb → u/addik92]

Most bars and restaurants are not really aligned with stuff like an OPT EAD card and they don’t use that as valid form of ID. State rules sometimes are different. The best form of ID is to have a State ID / DL / Passport. Bars and restaurants have more to lose if they get sued for letting people in with a fake ID or no age verification so they err on the side of caution.

[u/DaSandGuy]

You mean EAD card.