News in Brief

Vietnam to Introduce New Passports

The Ministry of Public Security will issue new-style passports from 1 July 2022, according to the Vietnam Government Portal.

The move implements Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on passport specimens.

Each page of the new passport will be printed with Vietnamese scenery and cultural heritage, such as Hung King Temple (Phu Tho Province), Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh Province), Hue Citadel and Hoi An Ancient Town.

Apart from promoting the beauty of Vietnam to the outside world and upholding the tradition, history, geography and culture of the country, the new passport is expected to ensure technical safety and prevent counterfeiting.

From 6-30 June, the Ministry has only issued ordinary passports for urgent cases, including those with medical treatment certificates, working decisions, or plane tickets.

On 1 June the Ministry of Public Security launched the online issuance of ordinary passports (without electronic chips) to Vietnamese citizens, according to the Immigration Department.

Vietnamese citizens can access public administration services offered at the two government websites to make an online declaration, pay the fee and receive their passports by post or collect them at immigration offices.

Previously issued passports are still valid until their dates of expiration.

Under a Year Until REAL ID Deadline

In just under a year, every US citizen 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driving licence, state-issued enhanced driving licence, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

Due to circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline. The new deadline for REAL ID enforcement is 3 May 2023. REAL ID-compliant cards are marked with a star at the top of the card.

Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, and New York states issue REAL ID and state-issued enhanced driving licences, both of which are acceptable. Washington State issues enhanced driving licences only.

State-issued enhanced driving licences are marked with a flag. These documents will be accepted at the airport security checkpoint when the REAL ID enforcement goes into effect.

According to the DHS website, all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and four of five US territories covered by the REAL ID Act and related regulations are now compliant with REAL ID security standards and are issuing REAL ID-compliant driving licences and identification cards.

However, many state licensing agencies have extended the deadline for renewing expiring licenses due to a widespread shift to appointment-only scheduling protocols during the pandemic that has significantly limited states’ capacity to issue REAL ID-compliant driving licences and identification cards. As a result, only 43% of all state-issued driving licences and identification cards are currently REAL ID-compliant.

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government ‘set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driving licences.’ The Act and implementing regulations establish minimum security standards

for state-issued driving licences and identification cards and prohibit federal agencies, like the TSA (Transport Security Administration), from accepting driving licences and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as getting through the airport security checkpoint to board a plane.

Instagram Wants Physical IDs to Verify Age

Meta-owned Instagram said it is testing new options to verify age by uploading an ID like a driving licence or ID card in a bid to provide age-appropriate experiences on the platform.

Starting with the US, if someone attempts to edit their date of birth on Instagram from under the age of 18 to 18 or over, Instagram will require them to verify their age.

They can verify their age by uploading their ID, record a video selfie or ask mutual friends to verify the age. The person vouching must be at least 18 years old and must not be vouching for anyone else at that time.

‘We’re testing this so we can make sure teens and adults are in the right experience for their age group. We are also partnering with Yoti, a company that specializes in online age verification, to help ensure people’s privacy,’ the company said in a statement.

‘Your ID will be stored securely on our servers and is deleted within 30 days,’ it added.

The users can choose to upload a video selfie to verify their age.

‘After you take a video selfie, we share the image with Yoti, and nothing else. The technology cannot recognize your identity – just your age,’ informed the company. ‘If you choose to upload an ID, after you send us a copy of your ID, it’ll be encrypted and stored securely’, said Instagram.

New Yorkers Can Now Choose an ‘X’ Gender on Their State ID

After the US issued its first passport with an ‘X’ gender marker (see IDN November 2021), New Yorkers can now get their gender marker changed to ‘X’ on their driving licence, learner permit, or non-driver ID card at all Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices state-wide.

The change is one piece of the Gender Recognition Act, which was passed by the New York state assembly in 2021.

‘As we prepare to celebrate Pride Month in a few days, I am excited to announce this historic change that represents another victory in our fight to help ensure equality and respect for the LGBTQ+ community,’ US Governor Hochul said in a release.

‘Every person, regardless of their gender identity or expression, deserves to have an identity document that reflects who they are’, she said.

The Gender Recognition Act will go into full effect on 24 June. In addition to allowing New Yorkers to change their gender marker, the legislation will allow them to attest to their own gender identity when petitioning a court or updating an identification document, eliminate the requirement to publish name changes in a local newspaper, and allow parents the choice to be designated as ‘father’, ‘mother’ or ‘parent’ on their child’s birth certificate.

With the new legislation, New York joins 24 states that offer a gender-neutral marker on at least some official documents, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

‘Nonbinary, transgender, and gender non-conforming New Yorkers now have access to accurate, state-issued identity documents that are critical to day-to-day life in New York’ said Carl Charles, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal, a civil rights organisation focused on LGBTQ rights.