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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 14, 2010
Contact: Terry Woster,Public Information Officer, 605-773-3178
Contact: Terry Woster,Public Information Officer, 605-773-3178
Passport Works As Proof Of Driver License Name-Change
PIERRE, S.D. – A valid U.S. Passport will cut through some of the paperwork for many South Dakota residents who must show proof of a legal name change to get a driver license.
Married or divorced women and others who have changed their legal names have been the ones struggling most with new federal rules for driver licenses, according to Cindy Gerber, Director of South Dakota’s Driver Licensing Program.
The federal regulations require legal proof of each name change, Gerber explained.
“That proof could be a certified marriage license or divorce decree,’’ she said. “Some people are having trouble locating those documents. We’d like them to know that a valid U.S. Passport or Passport Card will serve as both their identity document and name-change document if the name on the passport matches the name on the current driver license.’’
South Dakotans generally are adjusting to the need for additional documents to obtain or renew a driver license or non-driver ID card. The basic documents required by the new federal rules are usually obtained without too much trouble, she said.
Gerber encourages anyone struggling to find any of the documents required by federal regulations to call the Driver Licensing Program or visit the web site.
“We will do whatever we can to help applicants successfully obtain or renew their driver licenses,’’ she said.’’
The new, more-secure driver licenses are being phased in over the next five years as South Dakotans receive new licenses, get duplicate licenses for those that are lost or renew their licenses.
Documents needed include:
§ One identity document, which can be a certified birth certificate (hospital birth certificates are not acceptable), valid U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, valid permanent resident card, valid employment authorization document, or a foreign passport with a valid U.S. Visa with I-94. This is where the name-change requirement comes in. Those whose current legal name is different from that on their basic identity document will need additional proof of legal name, such as a certified marriage certificate, a certified adoption certificate, or a court order authorizing a name change, such as a divorce decree.
§ One document to prove your Social Security number. A Social Security card, W-2 Form, SSA 1099 Form, non-SSA 1099 Form, or a pay stub with name and Social Security number included are acceptable documents.
§ Two documents to prove your address, such as a utility bill, credit card statement, pay stub or earnings statement, rent receipt, phone bill, transcript or report card from an accredited school, bank statement, mortgage document, tax document, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy (people unable to provide two of those documents may call for exceptions at 1-800-952-3696); Post Office box addresses are acceptable in areas not assigned street or 911 addresses; if minors do not have two documents proving residency, a parent may provide the two forms for them.
People with questions about driver licensing may call 1-800-952-3696 or visit http://dps.sd.gov.
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