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.

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 DS-2019 (if you are a J Exchange Visitor), OR Original I-797 (if you are on H-1B or O-1 status / 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.).

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