Questions about EAD and Cal DL

Dear all dreamers:

I know there is a long threat on the forum talking about California DL and my situation is slightly different so I thought I would post a different thread.

I was able to get a DL from New Mexico through a friend's help prior to deferred action and after I granted the EAD, I was thinking to get a local DL which would be Arizona, but we all know what AZ governor Janet Brewer had to say about dreamers applying for any state funded benefit (she basically made it a law NOT TO give out any state-sponsored benefits to any dreamers after deferred action was granted). Well, my NM DL expires on 2014 so that's why I been thinking about getting a DL from California.

I have a friend that lives in Orange county so he could let me use his address there. What I need to know is that because instead of applying a brand new license, I am basically would just be changing my existing license from one state to another. What are your thoughts, dreamers? And as I was reading the post for CAL DL as well as California MVD website, none mentioned about proof of address (for my NM license, I had to prove that I lived there so I had to have my phone bills companies and bank to send statements to NM address), so either way I wanted to know what are the requirements for getting Cal DL? Anything is greatly appreciated. Thanks.



Linda

the CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES otherwise known as the DMV does require proof of residence within California to be able to apply for a drivers licence.

"If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents."

I'm not sure how this would work.

I understand and was expecting to see some kind of residency requirements on Calif MVD site but I don't see any and that's why I asked......in New Mexico when I established residency, I didn't live there; I only send out some of my bills to NM address...I supposed I can do the same thing to Calif? I live in Arizona and right now even with us the dreamers who received their DACA and all, Brewer won't let us receive any state-funded benefit including driver license and that's why I want to get one from California...

you stated that twice, we just told you what you need. You do need proof of residency.

DMV not MVD get your AZ lingo out of CA.


Motor Vehicle Division. gtfo AZ.

This is still pretty unclear, because as per CA DMV's own website

"Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents."

It doesn't say anything in terms of specific documents that are required or accepted.

From what I understand reading their website on how to apply for a new DL, you have to be a CA resident, but they don't actually verify that, other than having a CA address to where the DL is registered to. Other than that, I just see the standard ID requirements (SSN, EAD, etc).

Here in NYS it's similar, you have to be a 'resident of the state', but they don't actually require you to prove your residency in the state. Just legal US presence..

PS. This is what the DL Application forms looks like.

Thank you for all responses. I called back Calif MVD and was told that they will not need proof of residency, that I will have to show SSN and EAD, and using these docs they will run residency through the homeland security dept or some sort.

I am getting different feedback (from here on the forum vs Calif MVD website, etc) regards to this matter so I am just going to have some of my bills mail out to Cali just as backup. Like I said, New Mexico MVD clearly stated their requirement for "resident of state" but I guess every state run things differently. Thanks again for all inputs.

fuck it, the ca dmv shall now be called calif mvd.

Doesn't that mean that you will have to file an AR-11 Change of Address with USCIS?

That's a good question, didn't think of it. Although what they probably mean is just legal US presence/residency.