India, April 19 -- Real ID would be strictly mandatory for U.S. citizens from May 7 onwards. Citizens who want to access domestic commercial flights, federal buildings, or military installations will need to show a Real ID, starting from May 7. The Real ID is an additional security measure that was mandated by federal law under the Real ID Act of 2005.

New York, just like other states, also has the Real ID deadline on May 7, 2025. If you reside in New York and your ID doesn't have a star on the upper-right corner of the card or says "Federal Limits Apply", it's a standard ID and won't be accepted at US airports from May 7. To get one right now, you need to show and verify extra documentation to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (...