New law relaxes driver's license requirements

By Kawehi Haug
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i is no longer one of four states that require a Social Security number to get a driver's license, making it easier for non-U.S.

citizens to exercise their driving privileges — provided that they are here legally.

A new law, which took effect July 1, allows legal aliens to submit alternative documents such as an in-state student photo identification card, passport or some other government-issued identification document to apply for a driver's license.

To get around the requirements of the old law, local Social Security Administration officials had been issuing Social Security numbers to foreign nationals if the applicant had a letter from the state Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing stating that the individual was eligible to apply for a driver's license. Eligibility was based on immigration documents issued through the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said immigration attorney KahBo Dye-Chiew.

But post 9-11 restrictions forced the Social Security Administration to discontinue that procedure for a short time, making it impossible for non-U.S. citizens to get a Social Security number or a driver's license, said Dye-Chiew.

Although the Social Security Administration had started to relax the restrictions, and the staff here was issuing the necessary documents for foreign nationals to get a driver's license, state officials said they pushed for the new law because they wanted to ensure that any future clampdown wouldn't affect the driving privileges of legal aliens.

"This was really an issue of state law versus federal regulations," said Christina Messner, public affairs specialist for the Social Security Administration. "Social Security numbers weren't meant to be issued for the sole purpose of obtaining a driver's license."

Now state law has caught up with federal regulations, Messner said.

"Legal aliens will be able to get a license even if the federal regulations on Social Security numbers were to change again," said Dye-Chiew.

"This law ensures that."

Messner said that Social Security numbers are issued to non-U.S. citizens only if they have a permit to work or if they qualify for financial government assistance.

Foreign nationals who are here on student or tourist visas are not eligible for a Social Security number, according to Messner.