Updating DMV/Drivers License Records After Naturalization

[Suze1 366]

UPDATING DRIVERS LICENSE RECORDS at the DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AFTER NATURALIZATION

NB: This might be state-dependent.  (I am in Florida.)

 

Updated SSA Via US Mail - No Issues!

Updated SSA via mail earlier this year. Was quick & easy.

Mailed the passport (not naturalization certificate) with the required form, and within 3 days got the passport back, and within a few weeks got the new and updated Social Security Card (same SSN, of course, but with an updated issue date on it.)

 

DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)

Have heard that updating the drivers license was also a step to do after citizenship.

Spoke with several DMV agents over the subsequent months, and heard conflicting stories, including  -

1) "Yes, you should come in and update your record at DMV once SSA has updated their database."

 and

2) "No, there is no real need to come in to update your DMV record if there is no name or address change."

 

Spoke with a Sheriff while waiting on the COVID Vaccine Shot line, today, and -

1) He looked at my drivers license and said that there was nothing on the physical license indicating that I was NOT a citizen.

2) He said, "Their electronic database system would normally have a notation indicating if a person is NOT a citizen."

3) He typed my drivers license into his console and said, "The Florida DMV database does NOT have a notation indicating that I was a non-citizen".

4) He said, "Since there is no notation on my DMV record that I am NOT a citizen, there is no need to go to DMV to update my record on their system."

 

This occurred today, April 9th, 2021.

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Suze1

[VinnyH 59]

On 4/9/2021 at 5:05 PM, Suze1 said:

UPDATING DRIVERS LICENSE RECORDS at the DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AFTER NATURALIZATION

NB: This might be state-dependent.  (I am in Florida.)

 

Updated SSA Via US Mail - No Issues!

Updated SSA via mail earlier this year. Was quick & easy.

Mailed the passport (not naturalization certificate) with the required form, and within 3 days got the passport back, and within a few weeks got the new and updated Social Security Card (same SSN, of course, but with an updated issue date on it.)

 

DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)

Have heard that updating the drivers license was also a step to do after citizenship.

Spoke with several DMV agents over the subsequent months, and heard conflicting stories, including  -

1) "Yes, you should come in and update your record at DMV once SSA has updated their database."

 and

2) "No, there is no real need to come in to update your DMV record if there is no name or address change."

 

Spoke with a Sheriff while waiting on the COVID Vaccine Shot line, today, and -

1) He looked at my drivers license and said that there was nothing on the physical license indicating that I was NOT a citizen.

2) He said, "Their electronic database system would normally have a notation indicating if a person is NOT a citizen."

3) He typed my drivers license into his console and said, "The Florida DMV database does NOT have a notation indicating that I was a non-citizen".

4) He said, "Since there is no notation on my DMV record that I am NOT a citizen, there is no need to go to DMV to update my record on their system."

 

This occurred today, April 9th, 2021.

 

I think it makes all the more sense not to have to notify the DMV especially in the states that offer a Driver License regardless of your immigration status (incl. to undocumented immigrants). There is no mention of your citizenship in their database or on the card.

 

I still remember 10 years back when I used to live in NYS, my driver license had in red letters the mention "TEMPORARY STATUS" with the ending date of that temporary status. For people on a work visa like me (I was on a H1-B), it was the date on the latest I-94 stamp on your passport, which was like 18 months (not even the end date of your visa). So I had to go back to the DMV frequently after the return of my most recent trip with a newer I-94/stamp with a newer date. In Vegas, I even had a bouncer at a nightclub telling me, after checking my DL for my age "Your temporary status has ended. You're no longer here legally". I replied to him to mind his business and call Immigration if he wanted to. NYS DMV ended the practice later on.

 

 

[Suze1 366]

@VinnyH

Yeah. It does make ya think/wonder.

Regarding changes in procedure, Hawaii drivers licenses used your SSN as your license number.

They finally stopped that too.

Probably won't get a new license till we move or some other reason arises.