To make your time in the States easier, you may want to acquire a U.S. driver’s license. Here’s how to do it.
As a J-1 exchange visitor, you may apply for a driver’s license or ID card, per state or territorial law. You must present necessary supporting documents that verify your residence in the United States. The required documents for J-1 exchange visitors are below:
- Valid passport with visa (if applicable)
- Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
- Form DS-2019
- Social Security Number (SSN) on a Social Security card or a Social Security Administration (SSA) Form SSA-L676 (Refusal to Process SSN Application)
An accompanying dependent who applies for a driver’s license or state ID should present supporting personal status documentation as well as the status documentation of the primary status holder: the DMV will check for consistency between the documents of the primary status holder and accompanying dependent. Accompanying dependents should bring the following documents to the DMV when applying:
- The primary and dependent’s most current Form I-94
- The primary and dependent’s valid passport with visa (if applicable)
- Proof of identity (per state requirements)
- Proof of relationship (for example, a marriage certificate)
- The primary and dependent’s most current Form DS-2019
Contact the RO, which will provide you with information about what the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in that state or territory will expect from you, and explain the process for obtaining a driver’s license or ID. Be aware of the following timing requirements for applying:
- Your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) must be in Active status when you apply for any benefit, including a driver’s license or ID.
- Wait at least 10 calendar days from your date of entry into the United States before applying to allow time for arrival data processing.
- Wait at least 2 federal business days from the activation date in SEVIS before applying, to ensure that your Active status has updated in all relevant databases.
- Several states require you to have at least six months left on your Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status) to be eligible for a driver’s license or ID. Either consult with the state or territory’s DMV or visit the DMV website to see if this is a requirement where you are staying.
Your name must match all supporting documents, and your status, name, and date of birth must be correct in SEVIS and in all supporting documents before you apply. You must be within the program start and end dates in SEVIS when you apply.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@gravityintprog.com.
