Birth Date and Legal Presence and True Full Name Requirements

Why Is DMV So Careful About Identification?

The issue of identification—its reliability, integrity, confidentiality, etc.—is of prime concern to all citizens. The eligibility for government services, the issuance of various licenses, the assessment of taxes, the right to vote, etc., are all determined through evaluations based on identification documents.

It is critical that identification documents and systems be authentic and accurate in order to positively and uniquely identify each individual. The California legislature has declared the California driver license (DL) and identification (ID) card as the primary identification documents in this state. California state law requires that all applicants for an original California DL/ID card submit proof of legal presence in the United States (U.S.) as authorized under federal law. Your true full name, as shown on your legal presence document, will appear on your DL/ID card. These requirements help safeguard the accuracy and integrity of the documents issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Do You Need to Replace Documents?

If you need to replace or obtain your birth date/legal presence document, refer to the Vital Statistics information on the outside panels or visit their website at: www.vitalrec.com. Immigration-related services and benefits have been transferred from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The customer service phone number and website for USCIS is listed on the back panel.

Requirements For An Original Driver License Or ID Card

When you apply for an original California DL/ID card, you must present:

• An acceptable birth date/legal presence (BD/LP) document(s).
• An acceptable true full name document if the name on your BD/LP document is different from the name on your DL/ID card application.
• Your Social Security number (SSN). It will be verified with the Social Security Administration (SSA) while you are in the DMV office. You must also provide verification of your SSN to change an existing SSN on DMV’s data base.

NOTE: If you are legally present in the US, but ineligible for an SSN, you are exempt from providing an SSN to DMV. The SSA will notify DMV directly of your SSN ineligibility.

For additional application requirements, refer to the California Driver Handbook.

What is an Acceptable Document?

An acceptable birth date/legal presence or true full name document is one produced by an issuing authority such as a county, state, or federal agency. The document is a certified copy of the original (the original is always retained by the issuing authority) and will contain an impressed seal or an original stamped impression. The certified copy will be given to you. If you make a copy of the certified copy, DMV will not accept it for birth date/legal presence or true full name verification.

List of Acceptable Birth Date/Legal Presence Documents

Present one of the following for a DL/ID card.

• US Birth Certificate or U. S. Passport
• US Certificate or Report of Birth Abroad
• Federal Proof of Indian Blood Degree
• INS American Indian Card
• Birth Certificate or passport issued from a US territory
• US Military Identification Cards
• Common Access Card (only if designated as Active Military or Active Reserve or Active Selected Reserve)
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
• Northern Mariana Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• Temporary Resident Identification Card
• Valid foreign passport with a valid Record of Arrival/Departure (form I-94)
• Certified order or judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction
• Certification from California Department of Corrections or California Youth Authority
• Employment Authorization Card
• “Processed for I-551” stamped in a valid foreign passport
• Permanent Resident Re-entry Permit
• Refugee Travel Document
• Valid I-94 stamped “Refugee,” “Parole or Parolee,” “Asylee,” or Section 207, Section 208, Section 209, Section 212d(5), HP or PIP
• Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition)
• Immigration judge’s order granting asylum
• Valid I-94 with attached photo stamped “Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence”

What is a True Full Name?

Your true full name appears on your BD/LP document. If you change your name, then you must provide one of the following documents to verify your name change:

• Adoption documents that contain the legal name as a result of the adoption.
• A name change document that contains the legal name both before and after the name change.
• Marriage certificate (issued from a local or state Office of Vital Statistics).
• A certificate, declaration, or registration document verifying the formation of a domestic partnership.
• Dissolution of marriage document that contains the legal name as a result of the court action.
• A completed Medical Information Authorization form (DL 328) in conjunction with a gender change.
  

This document must be issued by a government agency within the United States or a foreign jurisdiction that is authorized to issue such documents. The document must be a legible and unaltered original or certified copy with a government seal, stamp or other official imprint. You will need to surrender your current driver license and/or ID card.

What are the Requirements for a Name Change Document?

The name change document must be:

• Provided by an authorized US governmental agency or foreign jurisdiction.
• A legible and unaltered original or certified copy.
• Used only for a change of name on an existing California DL/ID card or when the name on your BD/LP document is different from the name on your DL/ID card application form.

Changing Your Name

To change your name, bring in your old DL/ID card and an acceptable name change document. The fee is $20 for the DL or $21 for a regular ID card (no fee for a senior citizen ID card). Another picture and thumb print will be taken.

Vital Statistics Offices - States

Call to request a “Full Record” certified copy of your birth certificate or visit www.vitalrec.com.

NOTE: These phone numbers are subject to change without notice.

Alabama (334) 206-5418

Alaska (907) 465-3391

Arizona (602) 364-1300

Arkansas (501) 661-2174

California (916) 445-2684

Colorado (303) 692-2224

Connecticut (860) 509-7897

Delaware (302) 744-4549

District of Columbia (202) 442-9009

Florida (904) 359-6900 ext. 1029

Georgia (404) 679-4701 ext. 4702

Hawaii (808) 586-4533

Idaho (208) 334-5988

Illinois (217) 782-6553

Indiana (317) 233-2700

Iowa (515) 281-4944

Kansas (785) 296-3253

Kentucky (502) 564-4212

Louisiana (504) 568-8353

Maine (207) 287-3181

Maryland (800) 832-3277

Massachusetts (617) 740-2600

Michigan (517) 335-8666

Minnesota (612) 676-5120

Mississippi (601) 576-7960

Missouri (573) 751-6387

Montana (406) 444-2685

Nebraska (402) 471-2871

Nevada (775) 684-4242

New Hampshire (800) 852-3345 ext. 4651

New Jersey (609) 292-4087

New Mexico (505) 827-2338

New York (518) 474-3038

New York City (212) 788-4520

North Carolina (919) 733-3526

North Dakota (701) 328-2360

Ohio (614) 466-2531

Oklahoma (405) 271-4040

Oregon (503) 731-4108

Pennsylvania (724) 656-3100

Rhode Island (401) 222-2811

South Carolina (803) 898-3630

South Dakota (605) 773-4961

Tennessee (615) 741-1763

Texas (512) 458-7111

Utah (801) 538-6380

Vermont (802) 863-7275

Virginia (804) 662-6200

Washington (360) 236-4300

West Virginia (304) 558-2931

Wisconsin (608) 266-1371

Wyoming (307) 777-7591

Vital Statistics Offices - Territories and US Possessions

Call to request a “Full Record” certified copy of your birth certificate or visit www.vitalrec.com.

American Samoa (684) 633-1222 ext. 214

Canal Zone (202) 955-0307

Guam (671) 734-4589

Puerto Rico (787) 767-9120

Virgin Islands:
St. Croix (340) 773-4050
St. John (340) 774-9000 ext. 4685

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands... (670) 236-9830

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), A Bureau of Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

National Customer Service Center 1-800-375-5283

For a list of local USCIS offices visit uscis.gov.

Department of State

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (202) 955-0307

NOTE: These phone numbers are subject to change without notice.

FFDL 05 (REV. 3/2007) WWW