Please read over the PA Department of Transportation Instructions for Non-United States Citizens.

• Valid Passport 

• Valid US Immigration Visa Stamp (except Canadian nationals)

• I-94

• Two Documents to Prove PA Residency (Tax records, Lease agreements, Mortgage documents, W-2 Form, Current weapons permit, Current utility bills such as water, gas, electric, cable, etc.) See below for more information.

• Original I-20 (F-1 Students) or Original DS-2019 (J-1 Exchange Visitor) or Original I-797 (H-1B or O-1 / some E-3s and TNs). Note that several states require that a nonimmigrant have at least six months left on the individual’s immigration document (DS-2019, I-797, I-20 etc)  to be eligible for a driver's license

• Social Security Card (SSN), receipt notice, or Social Security Rejection Letter

• Have a physician, physician assistant, certified registered nurse practitioner or chiropractor conduct a physical examination and complete Form DL-180 (PDF), "Non-Commercial Learner’s Permit Application."

• The completed DL-180 (PDF)

• Current utility bills (water, gas, electric, cable, etc., which you will most likely get after living in your current home for at least one month, so many people must wait a month to apply)
• Lease agreements
• Tax records
• Mortgage documents
• W-2 Form

Cellular/Mobile or Pager Bills are not acceptable. If you reside with someone, and have no bills in your name, you will be required to bring the person you reside with along with their driver’s license or ID card, to a Driver License Center. All documents must show the same name and/or date of birth, or an association between the information on the documents. Additional documentation may be required if a connection between documents cannot be established (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Court Order of name change, Divorce Decree, etc.).

To apply for an American driver's license or State ID:

• Wait at least ten calendar days from the date of entry into the US to apply for a driver's license or ID.
• Several states require that a nonimmigrant have at least six months left on the individual’s immigration document (DS-2019, I-797, etc)  to be eligible for a driver's license. Temporary Workers with an original Receipt Notice from USCIS are eligible to extend their license.

Please find the instructions here.

Renewing Your License after USCIS receives an H-1B, O-1, TN or E-3 Extension Petition:

• Email sharonl@temple.edu to pick up your original Receipt Notice or to request it by mail (you must provide an address and a phone number for the UPS label).
• Visit   http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BDL/BDL%20Publications/pub%20195nc.pdf    Print out page 10 which states you can use your Extension Petition Receipt notice from USCIS.
• Request an Employment Verification Letter for University Employees or TUH/TUHS Employees. TUH/TUHS employees should contact their Supervisor for the access code.

Bring these documents with you to the DMV:

• Copy of your current employment offer letter
• Employment Verification Letter
• Current Approval Notice (H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1) or Receipt notice indicating extension of status has been filed if stay documents are expired or are soon to expire
• If you only have a Receipt Notice for an Extension/Amendment/Transfer Petition, print out Page 10 of PUB 195NC and bring it with you:
• Social Security card or ineligibility letter from Social Security Administration•
• Two (2) proofs of residency (See page 1 PUB 195NC)
• Valid Passport
• Most recent I-94
• Most recent Visa Stamp except for Canadian nationals (it is fine if the status on your visa stamp does not match your current immigration status)

You can find a list of PA DMV locations here.

New Jersey:

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission

Required Documents for NJ Driver's License

Delaware:

DE Department of Motor Vehicles

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a document recognized by many countries which allows the permit-holder to drive a private motor vehicle in that country.

To be valid the IDP must be accompanied by a valid license from the home country. The document is slightly larger than a standard passport and is essentially a multiple language translation of the permit-holder's normal driver's license, complete with photograph and vital statistics.

Individuals can usually apply for an IDP in their home country prior to arriving in the U.S. 

An accompanying dependent who applies for a driver's license or state ID should present supporting personal status documentation as well as status documentation of the primary visa holder. The DMV will look for consistency between the dependent's duration of status and that of the primary visa holder.

Sometimes DMV offices have difficulty when verifying dependents. The best way to alleviate this is for the Primary Visa Holder to accompany their dependent at the DMV office. The Dependent should bring the following:

• The primary and dependent's most current Form I-94

• The primary and dependent's valid passport with visa (when applicable

• Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate)

• The primary and dependent's most current immigration document (I-797, DS-2019, etc)

Learn more about SAVE at isss.temple.edu/faculty-staff-and-researchers/helpful-information/save-federal-database

SAVE and USCIS are aware of an issue affecting some former F and J nonimmigrants who have changed status, specifically to an H-1B status, and are unable to receive a valid initial verification response when applying for a benefit.

Based on the dynamic nature of the different data sources, SAVE can verify changes in status either in real time or in daily uploads, depending on the database. It is important to note that SAVE is reliant on the source databases, as well as the accuracy of that data.

If there is an instance when a SAVE response does not match the information on the applicant's immigration documents or there is a material discrepancy between information on an applicant's immigration documents and the SAVE response, the DMV should initiate an additional verification request.

You can view the PA Driver's Manual here.

You can visit Penn DOT's website here.