First, read SEVP'sFact Sheet to read about common issues, troubleshooting, and SEVP contact information. The Fact Sheet also addresses information specific to accompanying spouses and dependents seeking a driver's license or state ID.
If further assistance is needed, the student's SEVIS school official (DSO or RO/ARO) may send an email to dmvssa.sevp@ice.dhs.gov with subject line: 'SSA/DMV issue, ______[Note: list the city/state where the particular SSA/DMV office is located].' The DSO and RO/ARO can even send a list of students with issues with the same SSA office/DMV so that the cases can all be dealt with at once.
In the e-mail message, DSO and RO/AROs should include the following information about the applicant:
- SEVIS ID
- Family name
- First name
- Date of Birth
- Form I-94 admission number (11 digits)
- Applicant's physical address
- Applicant's phone number
- Applicant's e-mail address (not required, but helpful)
- Address of the SSA/DMV office where problem occurred
- Date of the latest SSA/DMV office visit
- SAVE case number (if available)
- Current driver's license/ID/customer number and/or DMV receipt number (if available)
- Explanation of the problem
SEVP has reported that most SAVE database conflicts in these circumstances are due to the student's registration not being reflected in SAVE, either because the student has not been registered in SEVIS yet, or because there is a delay in batching to SEVIS and then to SAVE. Another common scenario is a failure to terminate the previous SEVIS record after a change in status.
SEVP offers some practice tips:
- Wait 10 calendar days from the date of entry or other immigration transaction, to give time for the SAVE database to be updated by other DHS systems.
- Students and exchange visitorsmust be in Active SEVIS status, and should allow 1-2 additional business days after F or M registration or J validation for the information to appear in the SAVE database.
- The DSO and RO/ARO should confirm that the name and date of birth match throughout SEVIS and other documentation (I-94, visa, passport)
- Note: Several states require that a nonimmigrant have at least six months left on the Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," or Form DS-2019, "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status," to be eligible for a driver's license.