INS-DMV issue...

I'm an H4 holder, and I know I'm not elegible for an SSNumber, but I need to drive, so I went to the SS Office and they gave me a letter that said that I'm not elegible for an SSNumber. I went to the DMV in order to apply for my driver's license and an ID in October 2001, I passed my test (both) and I showed all my documents (visa, I-94, Social Security letter, etc, everything was in order) so, I received a temporary driver's license. At this moment my 4th, temporary license is about to expired and I haven't received the permanent. In the DMV (Sacramento, CA) say that they haven't received autorization from the INS but it's been almost 1 year.
My questions are: Is this normal? do I need to call myself and try to find out what's going on? to where? Thanks

I'm an H4 holder, and I know I'm not elegible for an SSNumber, but I need to drive, so I went to the SS Office and they gave me a letter that said that I'm not elegible for an SSNumber. I went to the DMV in order to apply for my driver's license and an ID in October 2001, I passed my test (both) and I showed all my documents (visa, I-94, Social Security letter, etc, everything was in order) so, I received a temporary driver's license. At this moment my 4th, temporary license is about to expired and I haven't received the permanent. In the DMV (Sacramento, CA) say that they haven't received autorization from the INS but it's been almost 1 year.
My questions are: Is this normal? do I need to call myself and try to find out what's going on? to where? Thanks

The DMV does not need any authorization from the ins.Its normal procedure for those on H4 to go to the SS office and get a tax id number so that they can open a bank account or get a drivers licence.There are a lot of morons on a power trip in the US after sept 11th.The ins is short staffed to look after immigration needs,where do they have time to answer to dmv's?

Hi Alamo. Thank you for your replay, I forgot to write that in my temporary DL says that the reason for issuance is because they are checking my legal presence in the US, I don´t understand why, if I showed all my documents, anyway, they also told me that in march they sent a "reminder" to the INS about my case and that they are going to send another "reminder" so I need to wait another 30 or 45 days. I´ve been calling every month and always they say the same. Every time that I call they ask me a different question: Have you left the US? I say Not since I arrived 2 years ago, Do you have SS#? nop, but I gave my letter of not elegibility from the SS office, etc, every time is a different question. I think I´m never going to get neither my DL nor my ID

Adriana, you don't have to tell the DMV whether you are legal or not...they just need to know whether you have an SSN or not. You would need to let Social Security Office know of your immigration status, in case they would offer you the opportunity to give you an SSN.

The DMV in New Jersey will not do ANYTHING unless you have a valid SSN number (it is their ID number for you). However, I have been told that a TIN number is acceptable when you are not eligible for a SSN. By the way, a TIN number is a Tax ID Number that anyone can get (no matter where in the world you live). If you earn income from US investments, you need to file US taxes even if you don't live in the US. It is for that purpose that the TIN is used.
So, to get to the point, if you cannot get a SSN. apply for a TIN and use it when dealing with DMV.

The SS is now sending letters out as they are cross matching SS numbers with other records and finding problems. In some states the DMVs share information closely with SS and are trying to get all crossed info in their data bases. This could be the reason for the delay and asking ??s of INS.

DMV may or may not accept an ITIN.

In South Carolina everyone has to present their social security card, not just the number, and a birth certificate and a lot of other documents to get a license. Word is that they check the SSN number, and that may be the reason for the delay.

Hi Adriana!
Don;t worry. You will have your DL. Can you not dirve with the paper DL? I did.
I'm on a H4 as well. It took the DMV/INS about 7 months to give me the plastic driver's licence, in California. I passed my exam in august (do before 9/11) and I think it arrived sometime during the spring, April-March. I don't have a SSN and I had to give them the same documents as you did. I also kept calling them and everytime they used to tell me that the verification process was slowing down because of 9/11. So maybe, it is even slower now.
Why worry? The only thing I was upset about was that I had to have my passport with me every time I wanted to buy alchool and cigarettes, because they were very suspicious about my Romanian driver's licence. :-) And if you want to sign up for a library card, you can do that with the paper drivers' licence and a photo ID combined.
Good luck.

Hi,
My boyfriend was here on a tourist visa when his license was scheduled to expire. We went to the DMV and they took copies of his paperwork showing that he was legally here, we obtained the same letter from the social security admin. stating he wasn't eligible for a SS#, and then everything was sent to Sacramento. After a few weeks I was wondering where everything was so we called Sacramento. I really wish I could give you that phone #, but I no longer have it. Anyway, some kind woman looked up the file using the drivers license number on the temporary DL, and asked us to call back in 3-4 days to make sure that it "went through". We did call back and she indicated to us that it had been "submitted".

Anyway, we did have a drivers license in hand in the next couple of weeks with an expiration date well beyond what his immigration paperwork would allow him to stay in this country.

I think it was luck that this all happened really.....but you may want to try to call the DMV in case you find some helpful person there just like we did. We did get the runaround trying to find the right person to handle this......but eventually someone did.

I called information in the Sacramento, CA area to get the number for the dmv.

good luck.

The answer is at the included URL:
http://www.nilc.org/immspbs/DLs/2001...ents_11.02.PDF


Good luck