This is a serious question and I hope you guys spread around the States can tell me if the situation I am about to describe is the same in all States.

As most of you know I really live on t'other side of the Atlantic.
Many years ago when we visited the States as vacationers rather than people who lived there part of the year I decided to try for a Texas Drivers Licence....just for the hell of it.
I didn't really need one as cars can be rented on foreign licences, but I just thought it would be rather a neat thing to do.
(I never realised how 15 years down the line it would be such a useful thing to have done).

However when I came to renew my licence at about the second renewal I was told that in the State of Texas I needed a Social Security number to apply for the renewal.
I pointed out that as an alien I could not be given a SS number.
However there was a loophole in the law that provided for this to happen to obtain the licence, and after much aggravation I did indeed get a SS number, albeit stamped with "Not valid for employment". (Not that I want to work you understand!)

Anyway my wife never went through all this because she is always happy for me to drive and as far as we understood our insurance company (Geico) was happy for her to drive on an International licence.
We recently noticed however that her name was left out from the "Operators" list on the policy.

They now say she must have a Texas Driving Licence.

But here's the rub.

To obtain a Tx licence she must have a SS number.

From March this year however (Presumably to cut down on fraud etc with illegal immigrants) SS will not issue foreigners with numbers purely for the purpose of obtaining a licence.

So my question is ...if you have persevered with all this lot.....

"Do all States require a SSN for the issuance of a drivers licence?"

"Could she get a licence in another State and later convert it to a Tx licence (Though I bet they would say she still needed a SSN !")

Thanks in anticipation if you know any info regarding this matter.

 

Lenny,

I'm not sure if SSNs are required in SC but I'll check and get back with you. You might be able to look up on the internet what each state requires to issue a drivers license though. Just a thought, I'll find out what SC requires and let you know.

~DM~

 

This might be a help to you......

http://nevadadmv.state.nv.us/50_state_dmv_list.html

 

err, just looked at the Florida site listed in my previous post and there is a section that talks about issuances to non-US citizens.

 

I'm not sure Lenny. I have a friend that works at the Dept. of Transportation for Kentucky. I'll email her and see if she can provide some insight.

RP

 

here in california the governor is wanting to let illegals get DL's and although i'm quite against this law it could be useful to your wife to get one out here if that option becomes available.