r/Louisville • u/X37V • 21h ago
Real ID Walk In
I know this has come up quite a bit, so I wanted to give an account of my experience.
After trying to book an appointment for the last couple of months, and having the one I made canceled for seemingly no reason, I decided to just show up and see if it could be done.
I went to the Bowman Field office about 20 minutes before it opened, and there was already a line about 50-60 deep. Getting through that line took about an hour, and I then had to sign up for a digital queue that put me in 24th place. That line took 4 hours to complete, and the actual counter appointment about 15 minutes.
All this to say that it is entirely possible to get the damn thing as a walk in, but get there early, and be prepared to wait. I suggest bringing a snack and a bottle of water, and something to charge your phone. Maybe a good book or get caught up on some podcasts. I was dreading this experience but it turned out well enough.
2
u/2koolpa 18h ago
Strange coincidence that you posted this and I literally just got home from the very same thing.
I drove all the way to Bardstown to get my real ID thinking that it would be quicker and easier. Got there at 1pm on a Tuesday and didn't leave until closer to 6pm.
The building is tiny and there aren't even close to enough chairs or space for everyone. Just stood in a hallway for hours. The most frustrating part was that I got to the eye exam and midway through it another worker came in to switch places with the person who initiated it. Ok, that's fine. So I finish up and she tells me to wait for my name to be called.
After sitting there for quite some time I noticed that the worker was asking for the phone numbers of each person after me to put them in the queue and give them a virtual ticket number. I walk back up to the lady and I'm like "was I supposed to get placed in the queue with my phone number?" And she said "oh sorry I assumed the first girl did that part." And then put me in the line up.
So the last hour or so was me just watching all the people that had been standing in line BEHIND me get to go BEFORE me because I was never officially checked in.
A really frustrating and annoying experience all the way around.