SSN and California Drivers License

[kstrozyk 13]

My wife received her green card on Monday, and today she applied for her SSN. She wants to apply for her driver's license as soon as possible. We have 2 kids and I work all day and my wife would like to take advantage of her cousin visiting us to take care of them. Her SS card won't come in before the cousin leaves, so my question is: Is it possible to apply for the CA driver's license without actual SSN, but only with the paper given in SSA office that shows that a person is eligible to receive a number?

Thank you

[Inky 1,111]

How will she fill out the form with the question as to what her SSN is if she does not have it? No ssn no drivers license.

[ClassyBee 19]

How will she fill out the form with the question as to what her SSN is if she does not have it? No ssn no drivers license.

Don't think having SSN is a must to have a drivers licence but It will depend on states.

in 2010, I applied for a drivers licence with a pending SSN app and I ticked the No SSN on the form because I didnt have an SSN then.

SO call your DMV and ask. Let them know you have a GC. It might suffice

[DandT14 272]

I believe in CA they require a SSN. They verify that it's legit with the SSA while you're sitting in the DMV. You could check with DMV and see if the fact you've applied for a number will get you anywhere. My guess is they'll say no. The DMV is notoriously unhelpful.

The only thing I can think of to speed up the process would be to call Social Security in a few days (they usually are very helpful) and see if they can fax you a letter stating what the number is. The DMV would probably accept that. They don't need the actual card, they just need a number to verify.

[Mike X Man 37]

If you were getting a state ID, probably but I have not seen any state that will give you a DL w/o SSN nowadays (other than the usual 2 or 3.) Back when I lived in MO, it was actually used as my DL#. Not that way in OK but they still need it. It's part of your identity and they use it as an extra layer for security especially with all the Real ID act stuff in place now.

Edited May 27, 2012 by MikeX

[ClassyBee 19]

I believe in CA they require a SSN. They verify that it's legit with the SSA while you're sitting in the DMV. You could check with DMV and see if the fact you've applied for a number will get you anywhere. My guess is they'll say no. The DMV is notoriously unhelpful.

The only thing I can think of to speed up the process would be to call Social Security in a few days (they usually are very helpful) and see if they can fax you a letter stating what the number is. The DMV would probably accept that. They don't need the actual card, they just need a number to verify.

Excerpt from CA DMV http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#SSN

Exception to the SSN requirement:

If you are legally present in the US, but ineligible for an SSN, you are exempt from SSN requirements. However, you must still provide an acceptable birth date/legal presence document for any DL/ID card application OR provide a valid SSN.

So yes, they are right to ask for SSN from her because she is eligible to have one but An F-1 student who doesn't have an SSN(& yes, there are) can still have a driver's licence in CA

Note: The SSA wont issue SSN on the basis of DL issuance

If you were getting a state ID, probably but I have not seen any state that will give you a DL w/o SSN nowadays (other than the usual 2 or 3.) Back when I lived in MO, it was actually used as my DL#. Not that way in OK but they still need it. It's part of your identity and they use it as an extra layer for security especially with all the Real ID act stuff in place now.

I'll rephrase the the bolded as

I have not seen any state that will NOT give you a DL w/o SSN nowadays to eligible persons (other than the usual 2 or 3.)

Edited May 28, 2012 by ClassyBee