When the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced in November that it was ready to accept applications for new Veterans Identification Cards, the program was too popular.

“When the site first opened, it was so much in demand that the site crashed,” Warren County Veterans Affairs Director Ed Burris said. The card “provides a safer and more convenient and efficient way for most veterans to show proof of service,” VA secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin said. “With the card, veterans with honorable service to our nation will no longer need to carry around their paper DD-214s to obtain veteran discounts and other services.”

“Veterans who served in the armed forces, including the reserve components, and who have a discharge of honorable or general (under honorable conditions) can request a VIC,” according to a VA release.

“The VA site for veterans to request an ID card is back online,” Burris said. The application must be handled online at vets.gov, he said.

“To request a VIC, Veterans must visit vets.gov, click on ‘Sign In’ in the top right hand corner and establish an ID.me account,” according to the VA release. “Once the Veteran verifies their identity they may request to ‘Apply for the Veteran ID Card’.”

Anyone experiencing problems applying for the card may email VIC@va.gov, Burris said.

“Veterans who apply for a card should receive it within 60 days and can check delivery status of their cards at vets.gov,” according to the release. “A digital version of the VIC will be available online soon.”