Getting a US Driver’s License on an F-1 or J-1 Student Visa

Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yes, international students on F-1 or J-1 visas can get a US driver’s license. You apply in the state where you study, with your passport, immigration documents and proof of address, and pass the same tests as everyone else. The two things that trip students up are the Social Security number and the license end date, which is often tied to your authorized stay. This guide walks through both.

Key facts

• Licenses are issued by states, so the exact list depends on where you live.
• If you can’t get a Social Security number, many states accept a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) saying you are not eligible.
• States check your immigration status electronically before issuing a license.
• Your license may expire when your authorized stay ends, not after the usual 4 to 8 years.
• A foreign license usually doesn’t let you skip the tests. See foreign license reciprocity.

Documents F-1 and J-1 students usually need

• Valid passport with your US visa.
• I-94 record showing your admission and status.
• Form I-20 (F-1) or Form DS-2019 (J-1).
• Social Security card, or an SSA ineligibility letter (see below).
• Proof of your US address, often two documents. A lease, a bank statement or a letter from your school may count, depending on the state.
• Your home-country license, if you have one. Some states count it toward the paperwork, and a few waive tests for certain countries.

Idaho, for example, accepts a valid foreign passport with an I-94 as proof of lawful presence. Check your state’s list via the permit documents checklist.

No Social Security number? The ineligibility letter

Many F-1 and J-1 students aren’t eligible for a Social Security number unless they have authorized work. States handle this in different ways:

• District of Columbia: if you aren’t eligible for a Social Security number, you must get a letter from the SSA saying you are not allowed or not eligible to obtain one.
• New York: a Social Security card or an ineligibility letter is needed for a REAL ID, and the letter must be issued within the past 30 days. You can apply for a standard license without either.
• New York courts have described this SSA letter as form L676, so you may see it called the SSA-L676.

How to get the letter

1. Ask your school’s international student office whether your state’s DMV wants the letter, and how recent it must be.
2. Visit a local SSA office with your passport, I-94 and I-20 or DS-2019. Ask for a letter stating that you are not eligible for a Social Security number.
3. Take the letter to the DMV while it is still in date. New York wants one issued within 30 days.

Check the current process with the SSA before you go. If you later get authorized work, such as an on-campus job, you can apply for a number then.

Status checks at the DMV

States verify non-citizen documents electronically before issuing a license. Delaware, for example, asks non-citizens to bring immigration documents the DMV can verify electronically. Many states use the federal SAVE system run by US Citizenship and Immigration Services for this. If the check doesn’t match straight away, your license can be delayed while the record is reviewed. Bring the newest versions of every document, and make sure your name is spelled the same on each.

How long will my license last?

Often only as long as your authorized stay:

If your program is extended, update your documents and renew the license before it expires.

Can I drive on my home license meanwhile?

Often, for a limited time. Pennsylvania lets a visitor use a valid foreign license for up to one year from entering the US, or until it expires. New Jersey also allows up to 1 year. New York lets visitors drive on a valid license from any nation. Rules differ by state and by whether you count as a resident, so check before relying on it. More in driving in the US on a foreign license.

Steps to your first US license as a student

1. Confirm your state’s document list and whether you need a Social Security number or the SSA letter.
2. Study the state handbook and pass the vision and knowledge tests. Formats: permit test by state. Language options: taking the test in another language.
3. Practice on your permit with a licensed driver.
4. Take the road test. See the road test day checklist.
5. Check any adult course rules: learning to drive as an adult.

How licensing works in each state: learning to drive in the USA.

Common questions

Can I get a REAL ID on a student visa?

Usually yes, if you have lawful status. In New York it is marked “TEMPORARY VISITOR” and ends on your DHS document date. See REAL ID and your first license.

Do I need a Social Security number to get a license?

Not always. Many states accept an SSA ineligibility letter instead, and New York issues standard licenses without either. Check your state’s rule before you go.

Which state should I get my license in?

Usually the state where you live while studying. See college students from out of state.

Can I swap my home-country license?

Only if your state has an agreement with your country. Some states list Germany, France, South Korea and Taiwan, for example. Most students take the full tests. See foreign license reciprocity.

Do I need car insurance as a student?

Yes, if you drive. Every state requires financial responsibility for the car you drive. See car insurance for new drivers.

Sources

• DC DMV, “REAL ID Proof of Social Security Number” (dmv.dc.gov)
• New York DMV, “Applying for a standard license without a Social Security number or ineligibility letter” (dmv.ny.gov)
• New York DMV, “Moving to New York” and REAL ID pages (dmv.ny.gov)
• New York State Court of Appeals, “Cubas v Martinez” (2007) (nycourts.gov)
• Social Security Administration, “International Students and Social Security Numbers” (ssa.gov)
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services, “SAVE” (uscis.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “New Idaho Residents” and lawful presence pages (itd.idaho.gov)
• Delaware DMV, “Driver License” (dmv.de.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Temporary Visitor Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
• Ohio Traffic Safety Office, “Limited Term License Law Update” (otso.ohio.gov)
• PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual (PUB 95)” (pa.gov)
• New Jersey MVC, “New Jersey Driver Manual” (nj.gov)