Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants – What You Need to Know
If you’re an undocumented immigrant living in California, here is what you need to do to obtain a California driver’s license under AB 60, which went into effect on January 1, 2015.
- Make an appointment at the DMV
- Complete the Driver License or Identification Card Application (Form DL 44). The form is not available online. You can pick one up at the DMV or call the DMV’s Automated Telephone Service at (800) 777-0133 to have one mailed to you
- Obtain an accepted form of ID, if you don’t have one. The DMV will accept:
- A valid foreign passport. If you don’t have a current one, go to your country’s consulate here in the U.S. to get one
- A California ID or old California driver’s license issued after October 1, 2000
- If you cannot comply with the ID requirements above, things get more complicated. You can read more about the documents the DMV will consider here: http://bit.ly/1xxdDZy
- Have your thumbprint taken
- Have your photo taken
- Pass the vision exam
- Pay a $33 fee
- Pass the written permit test
- The written exam consists of 36 questions on traffic laws and signs. You have 3 chances to pass
- Prepare for the written permit test by studying the state’s driver’s handbook and taking a few practice tests
- The California Driver License Handbook is available here for free, in many languages: http://bit.ly/1Kg87Q2
- Practice tests are available here: http://bit.ly/1xz0ZJd
- Obtain your learner’s permit, if you’ve never had a license
- Pass the driving test!
An AB 60 license will have a visible distinguishing feature and cannot be used for certain federal purposes, such as to enter restricted areas of federal facilities. I strongly recommend everyone eligible take advantage of this new law. Unlicensed driving is a misdemeanor in California, and an applicant’s criminal history is always an issue in immigration cases.
In 1993, a measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson required driver’s license applicants to provide a Social Security number and proof that their presence in the state was “authorized under federal law.” AB 60 effectively repeal’s the measure signed into law by Wilson.
