(VIRGINIA) Starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant Virginia driver’s license or ID card to board a domestic flight or enter many federal facilities unless you use a passport or another approved document. Visa holders, including H-1B workers, L-1 transferees, and F-1 students, qualify when they can prove lawful status and Virginia residency at the DMV.
What changes on May 7, 2025 — how REAL ID affects daily life
The REAL ID rule does not change immigration status, but it changes what happens at airport security and at the door of federal buildings. If your license is not REAL ID, TSA can turn you away for a domestic flight unless you show another acceptable ID, such as a passport.
Many people keep a passport for travel, but a REAL ID is often simpler for quick work trips, family visits, and emergency travel.
Virginia treats REAL ID as an option, not a separate license class. You pay your normal license or ID fee, plus a one-time $10 REAL ID surcharge. Once approved, the card is mailed, and Virginia DMV says delivery usually takes 10–15 days. You leave the office with a temporary paper credential.
Updates are posted on the Virginia DMV REAL ID page.
Who qualifies: lawful presence and why visa type matters
Virginia DMV issues REAL ID cards to non-citizens who are legally present in an eligible status. That includes many work visas, such as H-1B, E-3, L-1, and O-1, and many student categories, including F-1, J-1, and M-1.
The DMV links the card’s expiration date to your authorized stay. If your immigration documents show validity through December 2026, the REAL ID will expire then as well. That short expiration can surprise people who are used to longer state license terms. It also makes timing important for anyone close to an extension filing, a job change, or a travel plan.
VisaVerge.com reports that readers often miss that Virginia’s REAL ID validity is tied to status, not to the standard license cycle.
Important exception:
– Virginia DMV does not accept an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) as proof of legal presence for REAL ID. Some applicants still bring it for context, but they should not rely on it to meet the legal presence requirement.
Documents DMV staff expect to see at the counter
Virginia requires original documents only — no photocopies. Names must match across documents, or you must bring a linking document (marriage certificate, court order, etc.).
Bring originals from these five buckets:
| Bucket | What to bring (examples) |
|---|---|
| Identity (1 proof) | An unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa stamp affixed |
| Legal presence (1 proof) | Evidence tied to your status, often an I-94 admission record plus the status document for your category |
| Social Security number (if issued) | Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub showing the full number; or provide the number for electronic verification |
| Virginia residency (2 proofs) | Two items showing your name and current residential address in Virginia (not a P.O. Box) — e.g., lease, utility bill, bank statement |
| Name change (if needed) | Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing old and new names |
Notes and practical examples:
– For most H-1B workers: bring a valid passport and visa, plus a current I-94. You can retrieve and print your I-94 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the official I-94 website.
– For F-1 or J-1 students: bring passport, visa, I-94, and the I-20 issued for the current program. For OPT or STEM OPT, schools commonly advise adding the OPT I-20 and the EAD — although the EAD does not serve as the legal presence document for REAL ID.
– For Virginia residency: a current lease, utility bill, or bank statement usually works. Redact account numbers before handing documents over.
A four-step REAL ID application path, with realistic timeframes
- Step 1 — Complete the application (30–45 minutes).
- Virginia recommends starting online, but you must appear in person for document review.
- If you prefer paper, use the driver’s license application DL1P from the official Virginia DMV forms page.
- Step 2 — Assemble originals and check dates (1–2 hours).
- Confirm your passport is unexpired, your visa stamp matches your passport, and your
I-94shows the right class and end date. - Match your Virginia address across the two residency proofs.
- Confirm your passport is unexpired, your visa stamp matches your passport, and your
- Step 3 — Visit a DMV customer service center (same day).
- Virginia requires in-person service, and the DMV does not allow pre-uploading documents for REAL ID.
- Bring your entire set; staff check each category.
- Step 4 — Receive the card by mail (10–15 days after approval).
- Pay the license or ID fee plus the $10 surcharge.
- Keep the temporary paper credential with your passport until the plastic card arrives.
What authorities check and what to expect during verification
At the counter, DMV staff will:
– Verify identity and lawful presence
– Confirm your Social Security number (if you have one)
– Confirm two proofs of Virginia residency
The check is document-driven, so neat organization helps. Put identity and immigration papers together, then residency proofs, then name-change papers.
Expect questions about your current address and your status end date. If you recently entered the United States, your I-94 date controls the DMV’s view of your authorized stay. If you changed employers or extended status, bring the updated documents that show the new validity window.
Practical tip from Old Dominion University (ODU):
– If a DMV employee questions student documents, request a VISA office letter confirming enrollment or program participation. This helps visiting scholars and dependents as well.
Important: bring updated evidence if your status has changed (extension, amendment, employer change). DMV bases validity on the documents you present that day.
Common denial points and how to avoid a wasted trip
Frequent reasons for denial and prevention steps:
– Residency proof fails:
– Update your address with your bank and landlord first, then print statements. Avoid old addresses or initial-only bills.
– Name mismatches:
– If names differ across documents, bring the legal name-change document or correct the lease/utility account before going.
– EAD confusion for work-authorized applicants:
– Use passport, visa, and I-94 as the backbone. If on OPT, also bring the OPT I-20.
– If staff reject your documents:
– Note the employee’s name and the date, then contact your employer’s immigration team or your school’s international office before returning.
Planning around H-1B extensions, travel, and card expiration
Because Virginia ties REAL ID expiration to your authorized stay, extensions and amendments matter.
- If your H-1B extension is approved after you get the card, the card’s date does not automatically update. Return to DMV with the new approval evidence when you want the longer validity.
- If you plan international travel close to an extension filing, keep a passport in your carry-on even if you expect to use REAL ID at TSA. A REAL ID helps for domestic trips, but it does not replace a passport for border crossings.
- Keep scanned copies of what you presented, even though DMV requires originals. A scanned set helps if the mailed card is delayed, lost, or returned because of an address error.
Warning: Virginia DMV does not accept Form I-766 (EAD) as proof of legal presence for REAL ID. Do not rely on the EAD alone.
If you need updates or the latest guidance, check the Virginia DMV REAL ID page: https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/licenses-ids/real-id.
Virginia will enforce REAL ID requirements starting May 7, 2025. Non-citizens on work or student visas can obtain these IDs by providing original documentation of their legal status and state residency. Because validity is tied to authorized stay dates, cardholders must monitor their immigration status closely. The application process is in-person, costs an extra $10, and results in a card delivered by mail.
