Immigration Status and How It Relates to Your Driver’s License
Have you ever asked yourself how your immigration status affects your driver’s license chances? Perhaps you are an immigrant and don’t know where to begin applying for a driver’s license.
Don’t fret. We’ve put together this article to explain how your immigration status might relate to your driver’s license and how immigration attorneys in Tampa, FL can help when problems arise.
What Is an Immigration Status?
Immigration status refers to how a person is present in the United States. Examples of immigration status include the following:
- You are a U.S. citizen.
- You are a green card holder”, which a lawyer may also help you to obtain.
- You are a foreigner with an employment visa. In this case, you’ll use a Florida driver’s license for immigrants.
- You might also be a Conditional Permanent Resident, and so forth.
As a Florida resident, you may have to show specific documentation that proves your immigration status. Only an immigration attorney in Tampa FL will be in the best position to know which documentation to present or how to fill it out.
What You Need To Know About Florida Drivers License for Immigrants
Florida drivers license for immigrants works slightly differently from other states.
If you’re an Immigrant living in Florida, there is a specific process you need to follow to renew or replace your driver’s license. The same applies if you’ll be reapplying for a new driver’s license.
You need to submit two different documents with your Florida residential address as proof that should be printouts most of the time.
Remember, Florida no longer accepts out-of-state or U.S. territory addresses for applicants obtaining a Florida Class E license.
How Does Your Immigration Status Relate to Your Driver’s License?
Your immigration status affects your chances of getting a driver’s license in various ways. For example, if you are a non-Immigrant, you will only be entitled to the issuance of a driver’s license for four years or less.
But that will largely depend on the expiration date of current immigration documents. In some cases, authorities may require your social security number before they can assist you.
2020 marked a watershed year globally. In Florida, it was a year when the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles decided to adjust the identification documents required for immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses within the state.
All immigrants should now show an I-94 form and an unexpired passport. Interestingly, an immigration attorney can help you comply with the form and tell you what other documents you should bring.
How Can an Immigration Lawyer Help You?
The new requirements have made it difficult for immigrants in Florida to obtain and present the required documentation to qualify for a driver’s license. This problem affects immigrants still involved in South Florida immigration or deportation proceedings.
Those people entered the state as undocumented foreigners, and their chances of getting a driver’s license are slim. But the good news is if you are a green card-approved resident, you can now enlist the help of an immigration lawyer near Tampa Bay.
If you were unfairly rejected, an immigration lawyer at the Espinoza Law Offices will fight for you and win your case in a court of law. Our firm has been experienced in handling many driver license immigrant issues for years. Contact us today to set an appointment.