All must prove legal status to get, renew license starting in July

KELLY WIESE

Associated Press


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - If it's about time to renew your driver's license, be warned: everyone in Missouri will need to show proof he or she is legally in the country to get a license.

Under a state law passed last year, everyone obtaining or renewing a driver's license, nondriver's license or permit starting July 1 must provide proof of their "lawful presence" in the United States.

For U.S. citizens, the Department of Revenue will require a birth certificate or valid passport, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.

However, if a person got married, for example, and has a different last name, a copy of other paperwork explaining the change, such as a marriage license, must accompany the birth certificate.

Non-U.S. citizens must provide documents to prove they belong in the country. Details on which documents will be required, such as a valid foreign passport or visa paperwork, are still being hammered out, but will be determined by July 1, the agency said.

Another part of the law stipulates that licenses for non-citizens must expire when their legal presence in the country ends.

"There's stories throughout the Web of cases where these terrorists have legal identification from somewhere," Sen. Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis, who handled the legislation last year, said Tuesday.

But Dolan expressed concern that U.S. citizens can't satisfy the requirement with something simpler, such as a Social Security card.

"They better implement this effectively and conveniently," he said. The intent is "not to bother Granny who's an 84-year-old citizen. It is to bother a basic illegal immigrant and possible terrorist in some cases."

Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said U.S. citizens only must provide that extra paperwork once, and after that the state's system will note they showed proof they are legally in the country, making future renewals simpler - a point that somewhat eased Dolan's concerns.

A new federal law also steps up requirements nationwide for obtaining and renewing driver's licenses.

The law is aimed at stopping illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses to prevent them from boarding planes or entering protected federal buildings. States have three years to meet the new standards that include verifying applicants are American citizens or legal residents.

Immigrants' rights groups have criticized the federal law, saying it will do nothing to make the country safer but shows increasing hostility toward people from other countries.

Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said that with the state law's effective date looming, the agency hasn't thoroughly reviewed the federal law to see if changes should be made in Missouri.

All must prove legal status to get, renew license starting in July

KELLY WIESE

Associated Press


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - If it's about time to renew your driver's license, be warned: everyone in Missouri will need to show proof he or she is legally in the country to get a license.

Under a state law passed last year, everyone obtaining or renewing a driver's license, nondriver's license or permit starting July 1 must provide proof of their "lawful presence" in the United States.

For U.S. citizens, the Department of Revenue will require a birth certificate or valid passport, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.

However, if a person got married, for example, and has a different last name, a copy of other paperwork explaining the change, such as a marriage license, must accompany the birth certificate.

Non-U.S. citizens must provide documents to prove they belong in the country. Details on which documents will be required, such as a valid foreign passport or visa paperwork, are still being hammered out, but will be determined by July 1, the agency said.

Another part of the law stipulates that licenses for non-citizens must expire when their legal presence in the country ends.

"There's stories throughout the Web of cases where these terrorists have legal identification from somewhere," Sen. Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis, who handled the legislation last year, said Tuesday.

But Dolan expressed concern that U.S. citizens can't satisfy the requirement with something simpler, such as a Social Security card.

"They better implement this effectively and conveniently," he said. The intent is "not to bother Granny who's an 84-year-old citizen. It is to bother a basic illegal immigrant and possible terrorist in some cases."

Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said U.S. citizens only must provide that extra paperwork once, and after that the state's system will note they showed proof they are legally in the country, making future renewals simpler - a point that somewhat eased Dolan's concerns.

A new federal law also steps up requirements nationwide for obtaining and renewing driver's licenses.

The law is aimed at stopping illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses to prevent them from boarding planes or entering protected federal buildings. States have three years to meet the new standards that include verifying applicants are American citizens or legal residents.

Immigrants' rights groups have criticized the federal law, saying it will do nothing to make the country safer but shows increasing hostility toward people from other countries.

Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said that with the state law's effective date looming, the agency hasn't thoroughly reviewed the federal law to see if changes should be made in Missouri.

All must prove legal status to get, renew license starting in July

KELLY WIESE

Associated Press


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - If it's about time to renew your driver's license, be warned: everyone in Missouri will need to show proof he or she is legally in the country to get a license.

Under a state law passed last year, everyone obtaining or renewing a driver's license, nondriver's license or permit starting July 1 must provide proof of their "lawful presence" in the United States.

For U.S. citizens, the Department of Revenue will require a birth certificate or valid passport, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.

However, if a person got married, for example, and has a different last name, a copy of other paperwork explaining the change, such as a marriage license, must accompany the birth certificate.

Non-U.S. citizens must provide documents to prove they belong in the country. Details on which documents will be required, such as a valid foreign passport or visa paperwork, are still being hammered out, but will be determined by July 1, the agency said.

Another part of the law stipulates that licenses for non-citizens must expire when their legal presence in the country ends.

"There's stories throughout the Web of cases where these terrorists have legal identification from somewhere," Sen. Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis, who handled the legislation last year, said Tuesday.

But Dolan expressed concern that U.S. citizens can't satisfy the requirement with something simpler, such as a Social Security card.

"They better implement this effectively and conveniently," he said. The intent is "not to bother Granny who's an 84-year-old citizen. It is to bother a basic illegal immigrant and possible terrorist in some cases."

Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said U.S. citizens only must provide that extra paperwork once, and after that the state's system will note they showed proof they are legally in the country, making future renewals simpler - a point that somewhat eased Dolan's concerns.

A new federal law also steps up requirements nationwide for obtaining and renewing driver's licenses.

The law is aimed at stopping illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses to prevent them from boarding planes or entering protected federal buildings. States have three years to meet the new standards that include verifying applicants are American citizens or legal residents.

Immigrants' rights groups have criticized the federal law, saying it will do nothing to make the country safer but shows increasing hostility toward people from other countries.

Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said that with the state law's effective date looming, the agency hasn't thoroughly reviewed the federal law to see if changes should be made in Missouri.
http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=22208
http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/idrequirements.htm