Driver’s License and Social Security Number issues for F and M students
As previously reported, the U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officers confirmed Association of International Educators (NAFSA) that they have stopped stamping I-20s at U.S. ports of entry (POEs). Now there have been reports that some Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Social Security Administration (SSA) offices which are accustomed to seeing stamped I-20s as evidence of valid nonimmigrant student status, in the absence of stamped I-20s, are refusing to
issue driver’s licenses, identification cards, or Social Security Number (SSN) to foreign students.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is aware of these issues and is conducting extensive outreach to ensure that these governmental agencies are made aware of this change. US Citizenship & Immigration Services’ (USCIS) and SEVP are also working on a solution that they intend to implement on September 14, 2012.
In the meanwhile, students who have been refused driver’s licenses, identification cards, or SSN have two options:
- Return to the government agency which refused the benefit on or after September 14, 2014;
2. Email dmvssa.sevp@ice.dhs.gov the following information:
- Benefit requested (Drivers’ license or SSN);
- Family name;
- First name;
- Date of birth;
- Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” admission number (11 digits);
- SEVIS ID;
- Applicant’s physical address (required), phone number (required), and email address;
- Address of the office where problem occurred (and the name of the official, if known);
- Date of latest visit to office;
- SAVE case number (if available);
- Current driver’s license/customer number and/or DMV receipt number (if available).
Once SEVP office receives the above information, its representative will contact the concerned DMV or SSA on behalf of the student to help with processing. SEVP response center can also be contracted at either 703-603-3400 between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, except holidays, or SEVP@ice.dhs.gov.