Author: New York Immigration Lawyer Alena Shautsova
Driver’s License for Undocumented Immigrants
One of the problems that undocumented immigrants face in this country is that they cannot legally drive in the US: they do not possess necessary documents to receive state issued licenses. The Real ID Act which demanded that the immigrants present certain documents verifying identity and immigration status before a driver’s license can be issued, placed millions of persons into disrepair: they choices became to either drive in violation of the laws and risk obtaining criminal convictions for which they can get deported; or not to drive at all and for many it would mean loss of significant income. The activities opposing the Real ID Act created a website called Real Nightmare: http://www.realnightmare.org/
However, almost a decade later, more and more states came to conclusion that it is better and safer to issue license to immigrants than force them to find sometime not so legal solutions to the problem.
Recently, another U.S. territory : Washington D.C. announced that it will issue driver’s license to the undocumented for “limited purpose”:
“The Limited Purpose credential also requires a one-time validation of source documents when applying for your DC Limited Purpose driver license or identification card. The driver knowledge and road tests will be required for all applicants applying for the Limited Purpose driver license. First time DC applicants must be a resident of the District of Columbia for at least 6 months. Applicants must have never been issued a social security number, previously been issued a social security number but no longer eligible, or not be eligible for a social security number. The Limited Purpose driver license/identification card may not be used for official federal purposes, and it will be marked to reflect this requirement. You must schedule an appointment
to obtain a Limited Purpose credential. Prior to your DMV appointment for a Limited
Purpose driver license, be sure to study and review the Driver Manual in preparation for the knowledge test. If you fail the knowledge test, you will be required to make another appointment.”
So, to receive this document, a person would have to pass the road test and the theoretical portion of the test as well. The DC DMV will accept foreign birth certificate and foreign passports as proof of identity! Here is the link to the DC DMV that explains the procedure and requirements: http://dmv.dc.gov/page/limited-purpose-credential
