I normally am not a procrastinator, but...
So my driver's license expires on my birthday (soon), and I need to get the new "Real ID" so I can fly domestically. I called the BMV to find out what documents I will need. My passport expired and I didn't renew it yet since I hadn't planned on flying internationally anytime soon, so I thought that my SS card, my current DL, and 2 pieces of mail (such as bank or credit card statement) showing my name and address on them would be sufficient (according to the document list on their website), but I called just to double check before going down there. Well I was wrong. I need my birth certificate as well. I thought it was in my desk drawer with my expired passport, but I was wrong about that, too. I looked in a few other places and it wasn't there, either. I ended up having to go to the state of my birth's website and order a certified copy. It's going to take 20-25 days and cost me $43. And that's supposed to be the expedited fee. It was only $10 for the certificate, $13 for the processing fee, and $20 for the UPS delivery fee. I went ahead and ordered it, though. I'll probably find my birth certificate before the new one arrives, but I can't remember if it's a certified birth certificate or just a copy, so I am okay with paying for the new one. I could have risked sending them a check or money order in the mail and it would have only been $10 plus postage, but it's a risk to use USPS for a document this important. And if I had sent it snail mail, it might not arrive for a few months. Or not at all.
I can drive for a month with my current license and I am not flying anywhere until probably the fall. I just have to go get an e-check for my vehicle and get my tags renewed. I might as well go ahead and send off for my new passport next week just so I have it, though I think we won't be leaving the country until you-know-who is no longer in office.
