FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces that Gov. Jim Hodges signed House Bill Number 4670 today, which authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue driver’s licenses or identification cards to non-United States citizens who are authorized to live, work or study in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis. DMV will begin issuing secure temporary paper documents to these individuals at 16 offices around the state tomorrow.

As amended by H. 4670, Section 56-1-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws says that all persons authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or the U.S. Department of State to live, work or study in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis is eligible to apply for a beginner’s permit, identification card or driver’s license.

The driver’s license or identification card will be valid for a period equal to the length of time the person’s visa or other acceptable document is valid. The applicant will be required to meet all South Carolina requirements for getting a driver’s license or identification card. The fee will be the same as for a regular driver’s license ($12.50) or identification card ($5).

When non-U.S. citizen applicants apply to DMV for a license, they initially will receive a paper temporary driver’s license, which is valid for 45 days until DMV mails them the actual credential. This temporary credential will not include a photo. It is vital that the driver keep this paper document with them as proof of their driver’s license.

All applicants will be required to submit a passport with a visa or other valid documents issued by DOJ, INS or DOS and meet all South Carolina requirements for a license. Applicants who have resident alien cards (I-551 documents) will be issued a driver’s license for five years. All other eligible applicants will be issued a driver’s license or identification card that will expire one year from the date of issue. Beginning March 2003, DMV will have the technological capabilities to issue the license to correspond with the remainder of the time on the person’s authorized stay in the United States. Upon the expiration of the one year license, the person will be required to bring that old license to the DMV and get a replacement license at no charge.

For more information on the new law, please log onto the DPS web site at www.scdps.org.

SI/79/02

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