FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARYLAND MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE PROOF OF LEGAL PRESENCE

New Law Takes Effect June 1, 2009

GLEN BURNIE, MD (May 7, 2009) -- Effective June 1, 2009, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) will implement new procedures and requirements to comply with the new State legal presence law (HB 387).   The new State law requires proof of legal presence in the United States before an individual can be granted a Maryland driver's license, learner’s permit, or identification card.  Proof of legal presence is also a condition required by the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, which has a January 1, 2010 deadline for compliance.  Licenses and identification cards from states that are not in compliance with the federal act will not be accepted by federal agencies for official purposes such as boarding airplanes and entering federal buildings. 

In addition to proving identity, age and Maryland residency, the MVA now will require applicants for a Maryland driver’s license or identification card to provide proof of a social security number (SSN) that can be verified by the Social Security Administration.    Acceptable documents to bring to the MVA are:

• Your social security card (not a copy, the actual card itself)

OR:

• A current W-2 form
• A current SSA-1099 form
• A current non-SSA 1099 form
• A current pay stub with the applicant’s name and social security number on it

If an individual is not eligible for a SSN, he/she must provide satisfactory evidence that he/she is not eligible but has lawful status in the United States.                               

Documentation will also be needed to prove lawful presence in the United States.  To demonstrate lawful presence, the MVA will accept any of the following documents:

• A valid un-expired U.S. passport
• An unexpired foreign passport with a valid unexpired U.S. visa affixed and an approved I-94 form documenting your most recent admittance into the U.S.
• A certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual’s state of birth
• A consular report of birth abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, form FS-240, DL-1350 or FS-545
• A valid, un-expired permanent resident card (form I-551) issued by the DHS or INS
• A certificate of naturalization issued by the DHS, form N-550 or form N-570
• A certificate of citizenship, form N-560 or form N-561, issued by DHS
• Other documents may be added based on federal law

Also under the provisions of the new law, an individual who currently holds a valid Maryland driver’s license or identification card issued prior to April 19, 2009, but cannot provide proof that he is in the United States legally, will be allowed to renew their license or identification card until June 30, 2015.  However, the renewed license or identification card will not be acceptable for federal purposes and will be marked as such.  Any renewal on, or after, July 1, 2015, will require proof of legal presence with acceptable documentation.

Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions about the proof of lawful presence requirement can be found on the MVA website at the following link: www.mva.maryland.gov/Driver-Services/Apply/LawfulPresence/lawfulfaq.htm.  Or contact the MVA Customer Service Center at 1-410-768-7000.

###

Return to Press Release Main Page