Applying for citizenship but I need to check DMV record first to make sure

[JasonPII 30]

Hello VisaJourney, I'm applying for naturalization in just a couple of months. But first, I would like to request DMV record of all my applications since I've been here in 2014.

 

My first license was only valid for 13 months (due to duration of my I-20), second, third and fourth were for 2 years (also due to duration of I-20), and my current one (when I have a GC) is valid for five years.

For the first four applications, I used I-20 and I-94. The last one I used my GC.

 

The chances of accidentally claiming to be US citizen on these applications are small because I would have had five-year driver licenses (prior to my GC one that is) but I would still like to make sure before applying.

Is there a way for me to request DMV record of all of my applications?

 

Thank you VisaJourney members.

Edited March 8, 2020 by JasonPII

[Loren Y 2,755]

Not sure what state your in, but I'm sure all have a way to check your driving record and license status, usually online ( For a fee of course). Pull your record and it will have your license status, any violations, etc. Not sure if it will list if you are a citizen or not, and honestly from a LE perspective, I have never been able to see if someone is a citizen or not based on what is in the computer on a license? And I have run licenses from many states. The only thing you have to be careful about is that they don't register you to vote by mistake.

[JasonPII 30]

3 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Not sure what state your in, but I'm sure all have a way to check your driving record and license status, usually online ( For a fee of course). Pull your record and it will have your license status, any violations, etc. Not sure if it will list if you are a citizen or not, and honestly from a LE perspective, I have never been able to see if someone is a citizen or not based on what is in the computer on a license? And I have run licenses from many states. The only thing you have to be careful about is that they don't register you to vote by mistake.

I live in CA and recently managed to pull my driving record but that doesn't show if I claimed to be citizen or not.

The full applications will I'm sure, but am I able to get my old applications by visiting a DMV?

[xyz12345 260]

32 minutes ago, JasonPII said:

I live in CA and recently managed to pull my driving record but that doesn't show if I claimed to be citizen or not.

The full applications will I'm sure, but am I able to get my old applications by visiting a DMV?

You have your old licenses? I think that that should be enough. Like LorenY says, I would be more worried if they automatically registered you to vote. You can ask DMV about it. If they don't have automatic voter registration and you didn't accidentally sign up somewhere else, then you're in excellent shape.

[JasonPII 30]

Just now, xyz12345 said:

You have your old licenses? I think that that should be enough. Like LorenY says, I would be more worried if they automatically registered you to vote. You can ask DMV about it. If they don't have automatic voter registration and you didn't accidentally sign up somewhere else, then you're in excellent shape.

I do. I keep all my DLs and, again, they all lasted for between 1-2 years. DMV extended my DLs based on my I-20s.

 

I’m not registered to vote. BUT isn’t false claim to citizenship still false claim no matter where you did it?

 

The durations of my DLs suggest that I did not false claim but I still want to check it out to be 100% certain before moving forward with N-400.

[xyz12345 260]

1 minute ago, JasonPII said:

I do. I keep all my DLs and, again, they all lasted for between 1-2 years. DMV extended my DLs based on my I-20s.

 

I’m not registered to vote. BUT isn’t false claim to citizenship still false claim no matter where you did it?

 

The durations of my DLs suggest that I did not false claim but I still want to check it out to be 100% certain before moving forward with N-400.

No harm in that but the fact that your DL dates were very short are proof enough. They wouldn't do that with USCs (unless maybe if underage). Do you still have the I-20s that coincide with the expiration dates of the DLs?

[JasonPII 30]

5 minutes ago, xyz12345 said:

No harm in that but the fact that your DL dates were very short are proof enough. They wouldn't do that with USCs (unless maybe if underage). Do you still have the I-20s that coincide with the expiration dates of the DLs?

Yes I do. I keep all my I-20s. Every time I extended it, I used the latest I-20 to renew my DL. And since I could only extend I-20 up to 2 years, my DLs are never longer than 2 years.

 

There is no harm in false claiming to citizenship to obtain a DL? 
 

It does make sense, at least in term if it being material false claim... because being a USC or not, it doesn’t affect one’s chance of getting a DL. Am I wrong here?

 

 

[cosmonauts 125]

1 minute ago, JasonPII said:

Yes I do. I keep all my I-20s. Every time I extended it, I used the latest I-20 to renew my DL. And since I could only extend I-20 up to 2 years, my DLs are never longer than 2 years.

 

There is no harm in false claiming to citizenship to obtain a DL? 
 

It does make sense, at least in term if it being material false claim... because being a USC or not, it doesn’t affect one’s chance of getting a DL. Am I wrong here?

 

 

I think you're overthinking this. Make sure you keep your past DL and I-20s. I don't think it's "easy" to make the mistake of saying you're a citizen when you were clearly a non resident alien. I also have several DLs in CA from when I was on J-1, they were all valid for less than a year, and I now have a 5 year DL because of my green card.

[JasonPII 30]

4 minutes ago, tamaara said:

I think you're overthinking this. Make sure you keep your past DL and I-20s. I don't think it's "easy" to make the mistake of saying you're a citizen when you were clearly a non resident alien. I also have several DLs in CA from when I was on J-1, they were all valid for less than a year, and I now have a 5 year DL because of my green card.

So I should be ok then? And no need to check my previous DL applications?
 

My last and current driver license is indeed valid for 5 years because I am now a LPR. 

[cosmonauts 125]

2 minutes ago, JasonPII said:

So I should be ok then? And no need to check my previous DL applications?
 

My last and current driver license is indeed valid for 5 years because I am now a LPR. 

I think you should be fine

[Mounat02 63]

1 hour ago, tamaara said:

I think you're overthinking this.

Just a wee bit.

[JasonPII 30]

2 minutes ago, Mounat02 said:

Just a wee bit.

Haha false claim to citizenship is as serious as it gets, im sure you guys know. So I just want to make sure everything is ok.

[Mounat02 63]

14 minutes ago, JasonPII said:

Haha false claim to citizenship is as serious as it gets, im sure you guys know. So I just want to make sure everything is ok.

Everything is OK!

[Rick & Apple 233]

2 hours ago, JasonPII said:

So I should be ok then? And no need to check my previous DL applications?
 

My last and current driver license is indeed valid for 5 years because I am now a LPR. 

You should be fine. If you used an I-20 or a Green Card, then the DMV would have done a SAVE check with USCIS, so you are obviously not claiming to be a citizen.
You can look at your record of SAVE checks here: https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/

It will list the date and the agency that requested the check.

[Loren Y 2,755]

I do not see anywhere on the form that you declare citizenship? How would you do that if there isn't a spot for it? And even then It was very difficult for me to find a copy of this form, as you have to fill it out online only according to the website, as they are serialized forms now. I think you are safe.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Loren Y