Tons of immigrant people from all over the world come to New York City seeking a better life for themselves and their families and with their skills they contribute to society with a great impulse. It was a limitation for an undocumented person, not to be able to drive a car, and since most U.S. cities are not designed for arriving at places by just simply walking, it is a huge need to drive, whether it is to send their kids to school, go to work, visiting hospitals and other places. The need was there, and it was not until June 2019 that the Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, signed a law known as the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, commonly referred to as the Green Light Law. Prior to the enactment of this law, undocumented immigrants were not eligible to apply for driver's licenses in New York. This was a dangerous thing because the need of driving made people do it without any license or insurance, and since New York is a no-fault state where people get compensation from their own insurance policies, made potential car accidents even more prone to the economic burden for people involved in traffic accidents.
What is Green Light?
The Green Light legislation or the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, allows immigrant people to obtain driver's licenses in the state of New York. If these people that are in the process of getting their residence are allowed to obtain driver’s licenses in a legal form, will improve road safety and facilitate their integration into the community. Of course, immigrant people who want to be part of the benefit from this law, need to meet certain requirements which we will discuss later in this article. Another benefit for beneficiaries is that all the information they provide in order to get their driver’s license would not be accessible by federal immigration enforcement agencies without a court order.Who can apply for a license?
Any person native from outside The United States is eligible for getting a driver’s license regarding their immigration status. People who don’t have a Social Security number (SSN) can apply for a “standard” driver’s license by signing an affidavit saying they have not been issued an SSN. The DMV now also accepts consular identification cards and other foreign documents as proof of identity, allowing more foreign-born New Yorkers to get a license. To apply for a driver's license, applicants are required to provide one form of proof demonstrating their residency in the state of New York. If an applicant for a driver’s license has never had one before, they will need to pass a knowledge test to get a learner's permit. Then, you must practice driving, take a pre-licensing course, and finally pass a road test before you can get a driver's license.Are there different types of driver’s licenses immigrants can get?
Yes, as there are different types of driver's license for undocumented immigrants that the DMV provides it is valid to mention that people that do not have a social security number (SSN), can apply just for a standard license. Therefore, they are not eligible for:Enhanced driver’s licenses
An Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) is a type of driver's license that goes beyond the standard driver's license and incorporates additional features to serve as both a driver's license and a travel document for specific purposes. The primary purpose of an EDL is to enable residents of designated states or provinces to travel between the United States, Canada, Mexico, and certain Caribbean countries by land or sea without the need for a separate passport. It provides a convenient alternative for those who frequently cross the border and require a reliable form of identification.REAL IDs
REAL ID is a set of federal standards for identification documents that were established by the U.S. Congress in response to increased security concerns after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The purpose of REAL ID is to establish a more secure and reliable form of identification that can be used for various purposes, including boarding domestic flights and accessing federal facilities. It aims to enhance the integrity and authentication of identification documents and reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud. To comply with the REAL ID Act, states must issue driver's licenses and identification cards that meet specific requirements. These requirements include:- Proof of Identity
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof of Residency
- Proof of Legal Status
I'm an immigrant, what do I need to get a license?
The basic requirements for an immigrant person to apply for a driver’s license are the following:- Must be at least 16 years old
- Documents to prove identity (6 point worth of documents)
- Get an appointment online.
- To prepare yourself for the test, you can download and print the driver’s manual online.
- Visit and present your documents
- Pass the test. You must get more than 14 correct answers out of 20 multi-choice questions in the test.
- Wait. After you have done the test, you must wait up to 2 weeks for receiving a permit.
- Prepare yourself for the driving test.
- Take a road test before the permit expires.
- You get your driver’s license
Documents that provide 1 point each are:
- IDNYC (Also counts as proof of residency)
- Foreign School Report Card or School record (if it has a photo then provides 2 points)
- Tax Documents
- Valid Consular ID
- Valid Foreign Passport
- Foreign Driver’s License