Don't worry. You are allowed to get a license in Georgia. Unfortunately, you found some idiots that have no clue about Deferred Action or know and do not want to help you. ThinkProgress wrote an article in August saying the state’s Republican attorney general will allow us to obtain one.

If I were you, I would print out the Georgia Statute just in case you run into another issue.

This is a link to a spreadsheet with the requirements for all 50 states from this thread.


The Georgia DDS website isn't exactly very helpful. It says that we have to provide two documents proving authorized presence/identity. One of these documents is an unexpired employment authorization document (EAD) issued by DHS, form I-766 or Form I-688B. But then the chart says something about travel authorization being required as a second document. I did a little digging and while Approved Deferred Action is not listed on the Georgia DDS website, according to the Georgia statute, it is an acceptable document to obtain a license:

NOTE: Non-citizen customers whose identities are proven using either of the documents below must also present a second document issued by DHS that is acceptable pursuant to O.C.G.A. 40-5-21.1. All Documentation of lawful presence is subject to verification with the DHS' Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program.

Georgia statute outlining acceptable documentation for a Georgia driver's license or identification card:

O.C.G.A. 40-5-21.1 (2010)
40-5-21.1. Temporary licenses, permits, or special identification cards; foreign licenses or identification cards as evidence of legal presence in the United States

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, an applicant who presents in person valid documentary evidence of:

(1) Admission to the United States in a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant status;

(2) A pending or approved application for asylum in the United States;

(3) Admission into the United States in refugee status;

(4) An approved application for temporary protected status in the United States;

(5) Approved deferred action status;

(6) Other federal documentation verified by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be valid documentary evidence of lawful presence in the United States under federal immigration law; or

(7) Verification of lawful presence as provided by Code Section 40-5-21.2

may be issued a temporary license, permit, or special identification card. Such temporary license, permit, or special identification card shall be valid only during the period of time of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States or five years, whichever occurs first.

Georgia DREAMers should be allowed to get a driver's license as long as we have:

• Deferred Action approval letter (I-797)
• Employment Authorization (EAD)
• Official Letter from SSA with your Social Security Number
• Two (2) documents to proving your Residential Address

It's only valid for the length of your Deferred Action. So, the license will only be valid for a up to two years.