Thread: N.M. to require appointments for immigrant licenses

NM to require appointments for immigrant licenses

BARRY MASSEY / Associated Press Writer
Posted: 07/23/2010 10:06:30 AM MDT

SANTA FE - New Mexico is requiring illegal immigrants and other foreign nationals seeking a driver's license to make an appointment at a Motor Vehicle Division office, rather than walking in at any time for the transaction.

MVD Director Michael Sandoval said the change, which takes effect next week, should improve security by ensuring clerks have enough time to review applicants' identification documents.

It also should reduce the waiting time for customers in an MVD office because issuing licenses to foreign nationals is among the most time-consuming transactions handled by the agency.

MVD is launching an online system Monday that will let people schedule appointments at any of its 33 state-run offices. People without access to a computer can make appointments by telephone.

Initially, the reservation system will be for just two transactions - a first-time driver's license for a foreign national who is ineligible for a Social Security number, and anyone needing to take a road test before they can get a license.

"Those, at this point, are our two most complex transactions, so we're going to be requiring people to make an appointment," Sandoval said.

In coming months, MVD plans to expand services for which an appointment can be scheduled. The goal is to help residents avoid long waits.

A 2003 law allows foreign nationals in New Mexico, including those living in the country illegally, to get a driver's license.

Rather than provide a Social Security number as part of their identification, applicants can submit a passport, a Matricula Consular card issued by a Mexican consulate, or a certified foreign birth certificate with a notarized English translation.

More than 82,000 licenses have been issued to people without a Social Security number, according to MVD. That's about 3.5 percent of all licensed drivers in New Mexico.

Sandoval said MVD makes an online check of Matricula Consular cards to verify the applicant's identity. Clerks also must make copies of identification documents, which are sent to the state's tax fraud investigation division for follow-up checks.

By scheduling appointments for lengthy transactions, Sandoval said, clerks shouldn't feel pressure to rush their work to deal with a backlog of other customers. It can take 30 to 45 minutes to complete a road test or handle a driver's license for a foreign national.

"If we get a lot of people wanting those same transactions on the same day and you walk in to just renew your vehicle registration or to do more of a simple transaction, you could end up waiting quite a long time. That's what we're trying to avoid," Sandoval said.
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Online:

Motor Vehicle Division: http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_15582545

Anything pertaining to illegal immigrants by the New Mexican government (did you catch that?) is first run through LaRaza Imperial Wizard Bill Richardson.

You can bet on it.

Gov. Bill Richardson - Obama is an Immigrant

Video of Bill Richardson ACKNOWLEDGING BARACK OBAMA IS AN IMMIGRANT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NcZ7eLI3Bs

Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME

Anything pertaining to illegal immigrants by the New Mexican government (did you catch that?) is first run through LaRaza Imperial Wizard Bill Richardson.

You can bet on it.

Gov. Bill Richardson - Obama is an Immigrant

Video of Bill Richardson ACKNOWLEDGING BARACK OBAMA IS AN IMMIGRANT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NcZ7eLI3Bs

Totally Agree!!!

Um, during this lengthy process, are they required to provide proof of insurance???

Originally Posted by keekee

Um, during this lengthy process, are they required to provide proof of insurance???

I'm not sure but I don't think you have to show proof of insurance to get a driver's license, because you don't necessarily have to have a car to get a license to drive, but you have to show proof of insurance to get a plate for a car in N.M.

MVD New Mexico - Insurance
Minimum auto liability insurance amounts required in New Mexico are: ...
Forms of Proof of Insurance to take to MVD when registering your vehicle: ...
the vehicle is insured by an insurance company not licensed to do business in the State of New Mexico ... You may also obtain this form at any New Mexico MVD office. ...
www.mvd.newmexico.gov/Vehicles/Insurance.html

Originally Posted by keekee

Um, during this lengthy process, are they required to provide proof of insurance???

Tie it to a database and if the insurance is dropped so is their drivers license and car tags!! If caught do like they do in a few states...take the car until they have a paid policy and pay for storage and such...

Originally Posted by BARRY MASSEY / Associated Press Writer

...applicants can submit a passport, a Matricula Consular card issued by a Mexican consulate, or a certified foreign birth certificate with a notarized English translation....

They also accept the Junior G-Man Badge from Cracker Jack. (Can we say "cracker" here?)

Sorry that this is a little off-topic but I wanted to tell the forum that my adult son attempted to open a bank account where he would be putting money into. He showed his US Passport as an identification. The teller asked him if he was working, or if he was a student. When he said "no" to both, the teller then demanded PROOF of his residence in the form of a legal, binding lease! When did they start this since most banks accept the matricula consular card! Has anyone else experienced this?

Brazilian man arrested in license scam

Posted at: 09/06/2010 7:00 PM
By: The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A Brazilian man has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony after being accused of trying to get driver's licenses for two other men.

State police allege Cristian Sobral was paid $3,000 by two other Brazilian men to fly them to New Mexico from New Jersey. They say Sobral was trying to get driver's licenses for the men Friday afternoon at a state Motor Vehicle Division office in Albuquerque, using a city address.

A Taxation and Revenue agent remembered seeing Sobral at the office with different people a couple of times over the past year.

The other two men are charged with forgery. All three remained jailed Monday in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S173 ... ml?cat=504