Traveling within US

[juliava 80]

Well, I am getting a little bit confused.

I recently changed my MD DL into a NJ DL. I have just noticed that on my new driver license it is written in red caps "TEMP IMMIGR STATUS". I never had that written before on any of my previous driver licenses.

I am going to fly to FL on Sunday and I was wondering if my DL would be enough or should I carry my GC as well just to be safe?Awww, NJ MVC!

Thank you for your clarification!!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Well, I am getting a little bit confused.

I recently changed my MD DL into a NJ DL. I have just noticed that on my new driver license it is written in red caps "TEMP IMMIGR STATUS". I never had that written before on any of my previous driver licenses.

I am going to fly to FL on Sunday and I was wondering if my DL would be enough or should I carry my GC as well just to be safe?Awww, NJ MVC!

Thank you for your clarification!!

I'm guessing it is because you have a 2-year GC. Since 2001 (post 09/11), each state ties the expiry of a DL issued to a temp-visa holder to the expiry of the visa. For 2-year GC's, it seems to vary by state .

So long as it isn't expired, it's adequate for domestic check-in ID.

[w8inglongtime 29]

Well, I am getting a little bit confused.

I recently changed my MD DL into a NJ DL. I have just noticed that on my new driver license it is written in red caps "TEMP IMMIGR STATUS". I never had that written before on any of my previous driver licenses.

I am going to fly to FL on Sunday and I was wondering if my DL would be enough or should I carry my GC as well just to be safe?Awww, NJ MVC!

Thank you for your clarification!!

It's nornal in New Jersey for them to write that on your drivers license. The hijackers from Newark had NJ DLs so they took a different turn since then. It works just fine as any other it just tells whoever is checking your ID that you are not quite a permanent resident or a citizen. Don't lose sleep over it. It is as good as any body's license.

[juliava 80]

Thank you, guys! I'll plan my trip accordingly.

[HeatDeath 430]

For day-to-day existence, you can generally get away without carrying your GC, even though by the strict wording of the Welcome Letter, not to mention the law, you're supposed to cary (sic ) it at all times. I can understand why someone might not want to carry it - it is an expensive bauble to replace if it gets lost or damaged.

For domestic air travel, though, I would definitely carry it with me, notwithstanding the risk of something happening to it.

It's just probably a good idea to be able to prove your immigration status clearly and unambiguously whenever you're in the same building with a bunch of xenophobic mall cops TSA officers who could get curious about it.

Edited March 20, 2011 by HeatDeath

[juliava 80]

Quick update: I had used only my DL to fly down to FL and I had no problems.

Now here is an interesting part:

My husband who is a USC lost his wallet the day before coming back to NJ. Because he had no picture ID whatsoever, nothing really to prove his identity, we called the airline to see what we were supposed to do. I thought he would have to go through a long secondary inspection or maybe the TSA agents would not even let him board the plane. They asked us to file a police report and luckily his parents kept a copy of his birth certificate and we attached that to the report. By the way, that police report looked like something that anybody could've typed and printed at home, so I was really worried that it won't count that much.

Surprisingly, his secondary inspection lasted 30 seconds: he showed his police report, his birth certificate, he pointed me as

his wife and that was all, he was let in. Now I must say this again: this was a domestic flight and the Ft.Myers airport in FL is not as busy as JFK or Newark and such.