An applicant who has no proof of legal presence will receive an AB 60 license, which will have a visible distinctive feature. Licenses will only be available at the DMV. No, obtaining a California driver's license DOES NOT give you any type of legal status in the United States. The Federal Government has the power to legalize the U.
S., and no individual state can do so. What obtaining a California driver's license does mean is that you are allowed to drive a vehicle within the state of California and carry an identity card that proves it. The main reason the California legislature passed this law was road safety, as they pointed to several studies that found that about one in five fatal crashes involved a driver without a proper license, and that millions of California drivers lacked car insurance. For example, you can't use your California AB60 license for federal identification purposes, to show it to an employer, or to vote in the U.
S. You will need to provide proof of your identity, probably from your country of origin, such as a passport, a consular card (consular registration) or an electoral card. You will also need to provide proof of your California residency, such as rental or lease agreements that show your signature and that of the landlord, mortgage and utility bills for the home in your name, school, medical, insurance, banking and employment records, a letter from your church, temple, mosque, or another place of worship, etc. If you submit documents in a language other than English, you will also need to submit a certified translation or an English translation affidavit. To apply for your license, you can make an appointment or show up at one of several California driver's license processing centers during business hours.
For more information, see the AB 60 driver's license page of the California DMV website. The law also prohibits discrimination against individuals who hold an AB 60 license. California police generally don't hand over undocumented immigrants to federal immigration agents. However, it remains true that nothing prevents federal immigration officials from arresting someone who has an AB 60 license and who cannot prove their legal immigration status, perhaps after meeting them during a raid on their home or workplace, placing a hold on them after an arrest and incarceration by law enforcement or accessing DMV files because they are looking for that person. Think twice before filing an application if you have a history of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) or other criminal history, if you have been ordered to deport (withdraw) in the past, or if you have used false documents to obtain a previous driver's license.
Consult with an Attorney About Risks Before Applying for Your AB 60 License. If you are an undocumented person living in California and would like to obtain a driver's license, see the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website for more specific guidance. You'll also find suggestions for what documents to submit on the AB 60 license and AB60 checklist pages on the DMV website. The California DMV is there to help people get their California drivers license. This can be a new driver for the first time, a new resident in the state, or a legal alien. You can find the information for each case below or here to apply for a new license for teens. If you're already a licensed driver in another state, you don't have to start from scratch after moving to California.
Once you have met these requirements and USCIS verifies your legal presence, you will obtain your driver's license. California residents who have never obtained a driver's license before have to go through a few more obstacles. After passing your driving test, you will get a temporary driver's license that will be valid for 90 days. If the name on your document is different from the name on your & driver's license ID application, you must also bring an acceptable true full name document. You should know that your driving test is likely to be waived if you already have a driver's license from another state.
When applying for a new California driver's license, you should refer to the steps in the Applying for a California Driver's License section below. Another thing you'll need is a certificate of completion from a California driver's education provider or proof that you are currently enrolled in driving training. As an undocumented person seeking a California driver's license despite not having legal immigration status or a valid Social Security Number (SSN), you must comply with the terms set forth in AB 60. Once you have established your residency in the state, you must apply for your CA driver's license in 10 days or less. Before going to the DMV, check if you should apply for a new driver's license or not.
