Mercuryrules

Hello, I'm new to this forum and have a question.
I've been in the states for 4 years and unfortunately I've overstayed my visa and also my passport is expired. I'm thinking of visiting California and I'm wondering if it will be possible to obtain a driving license there.
I'd be grateful if someone could share their experience or had any advice to give.

lairdside

If you are referring to SB 60 - the bill signed by former CA Govenor Gray Davis on September 5, 2003 allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses - it was subsequently repealed by Govenor Schwarzenegger on December 1, 2003.

There is a bill - SB 1160 - currently introduced by State Senator Gilbert Cedillo on February 4, 2004, however if passed it would still require the applicant to show proof of CA residence and the provision of either a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.

nojbor

...when u say unfortunately overstayed visa...what kind of visa did u have in the first place

Mercuryrules

Oh, it was a J-1 visa, valid for 18 months initially. So I'm 3 approaching 4 years overstayed.

lairdside

Darn. Water under the bridge now but you could have gotten your DL whilst your J-1 was still valid? Or at least a state ID card.

Mercuryrules

Yea , i suppose i could have. Right now I'm in the mood to go anyway and chance it, perhaps i could obtain a "provisional type" this happened last time i was there, pre-9-11.
The way things are looking now i may be in the last phase of my stay in this country. I've seen a laywer and it seems that my best bet at getting legal would be through marriage (though recently i saw a statistic saying that roughly 50% of these type of marriages i.e. us citizen to illegal do not go through) so even that may not be a sure route.

lairdside

I didn't mean to sound harsh btw. I know a few J-1 "overstays", one of my best friends came on a J-1 and is a political assylum applicant.

They are all young (early to mid twenties), with 4 year degrees and for the most part did not want to return to their home countries because, once ineligible for the J-1 their chances of ever getting a visa to leave their home countries again (except to a very limited number of countries) were slim to nothing without coming from a very wealthy background. Also they just plain love it here. I'm not condoning their action, which is illegal but I cannot imagine life in their shoes and do not judge them. I overstayed from the VWP myself afterall! Although for different reasons.

The statistic you saw may include people who EWI'd (Entered Without Inspection), which is a different can of worms to adjust from than someone who entered legally and overstayed. I'd trust your attorney's advice rather than some random statistic

Mercuryrules

Yes, thanks for clearing up that statistic, it seemd a bit extreme. The reason I'm in this boat is the one you gave, i.e. I was under the strong impression that the J-1 made it very difficult to return anytime soon.