Moving within the US and don't have access to my citizenship papers
July 14, 2020 4:37 PM Subscribe
I became a U.S. citizen as a child and recently applied for a U.S. passport. The accepting agency required I submit my original citizenship papers to them as well a my birth certificate from my country of origin, and some other documentation about how I came to live in the US. I'm moving within the U.S. in a couple of weeks. I realize I won't be able to get a new driver's license in the state I'm moving to until I get my original documents back (I verified with the new state they will require my citizenship papers to transfer my license).
I'm a very anxious person, and I immediately regretted surrounding my documents, I went back to the agency just a few minutes after submitting my documents to ask if I could have my application back but they refused to give it back stating it was illegal to return to me. I have never lived outside of my home state before. My family has become very paranoid recently because of the political climate and I am leaving a very liberal state for a very conservative one. They urged me to get a passport because they thought having a passport in my possession would prove beyond any doubt that I am a citizen. Now we are all regretting doing the passport application.
My question is will I be ok living in a new state without getting a new driver's license? I am bringing my car and it is registered in my home state for the next six months. Is there anything else that I am not thinking of? I am scared to not have my citizenship papers, my birth certificate, and my other documents. I know the passport agencies are very backlogged. I feel very foolish to have given away these precious documents and am very scared to not have them.
I'm a very anxious person, and I immediately regretted surrounding my documents, I went back to the agency just a few minutes after submitting my documents to ask if I could have my application back but they refused to give it back stating it was illegal to return to me. I have never lived outside of my home state before. My family has become very paranoid recently because of the political climate and I am leaving a very liberal state for a very conservative one. They urged me to get a passport because they thought having a passport in my possession would prove beyond any doubt that I am a citizen. Now we are all regretting doing the passport application.
My question is will I be ok living in a new state without getting a new driver's license? I am bringing my car and it is registered in my home state for the next six months. Is there anything else that I am not thinking of? I am scared to not have my citizenship papers, my birth certificate, and my other documents. I know the passport agencies are very backlogged. I feel very foolish to have given away these precious documents and am very scared to not have them.
While this is going to totally depend on the new state you’re living in, most have the amount of time you can live there without establishing residency clearly stated on their DMV page. But in practice, I’ve almost never seen an issue with this. My husband didn’t get his drivers license transferred until after we bought a house (after attending university in current state, living in an apartment as a leaseholder, and getting married in this state over about 6 years).
OTOH I had a friend move to North Carolina with NY plates, get a speeding ticket, and then get a warning because he hadn’t registered his car yet and it had been like 45 days?
There are also exceptions to establishing residency - which again may depend on the state. But for example students keep residency at their parents address. I was able to stay on my parents car insurance while i was a student (same state, but way cheaper to not pay city rates).
And last, do you at least have copies of your documents? If something happens I think it would be totally reasonable for you to provide a copy, it’s easy enough for anyone who matters to be able to verify.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:57 PM on July 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
OTOH I had a friend move to North Carolina with NY plates, get a speeding ticket, and then get a warning because he hadn’t registered his car yet and it had been like 45 days?
There are also exceptions to establishing residency - which again may depend on the state. But for example students keep residency at their parents address. I was able to stay on my parents car insurance while i was a student (same state, but way cheaper to not pay city rates).
And last, do you at least have copies of your documents? If something happens I think it would be totally reasonable for you to provide a copy, it’s easy enough for anyone who matters to be able to verify.
posted by DoubleLune at 4:57 PM on July 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I would not be worried at all about having an out of date driver's license, as long as it has not expired yet. Yes, you might get a warning, but that's a warning. Worst case you might have to pay a small fine. This is not a problem you need to worry about on, I have several friends who have done this for more than 6 months, in North Carolina, and only got a warning. In normal times you would definitely get the documents back before 6 months has passed, I think it usually takes around 2 months max. But with extra delays now I cannot predict how long it will take
On the other hand, I would definitely be worried right now if I did not have any documents that proved I was allowed to be in America. Homeland security has gotten very, very paranoid and the chance of them deciding you are not legally allowed to be here is much higher than it used to be. If you have any copies, just make sure have those with you. If not, the easiest option might be to order an official Census Record, as that combined with the old license counts as proof of citizenship in a lot of cases. The new DMV might take this combination as proof, it depends on the state.
posted by JZig at 5:35 PM on July 14, 2020 [3 favorites]
On the other hand, I would definitely be worried right now if I did not have any documents that proved I was allowed to be in America. Homeland security has gotten very, very paranoid and the chance of them deciding you are not legally allowed to be here is much higher than it used to be. If you have any copies, just make sure have those with you. If not, the easiest option might be to order an official Census Record, as that combined with the old license counts as proof of citizenship in a lot of cases. The new DMV might take this combination as proof, it depends on the state.
posted by JZig at 5:35 PM on July 14, 2020 [3 favorites]
For the future, have copies.
Fornthe immediate future, will the passport office provide younwith copies? Couldnt hurt to ask.
Huh, I hadn't realized that states differed so much in their procedures until I looked it up. The various states I've moved between, the window was 60 days. Check that linked table for states you're moving to & from, and the specifics for their DMV.
But if you still have your Social Security card, and your out of state license, and a utility bill with your name on it, that might be all you need to get a new license in your new state.
And an out-of-state drivers license is not suddenly invalid as a form of identification in another state, for casual purposes. IIRC, it's a ticketable offense if you've been pulled over for some other traffic violation: you were speeding, and it comes out that you moved to Utah eight months ago but are still using your Illinois license, you get a 2nd fine for that and an admonishment to go get your Utah license paperwork taken care of.
And this may be citizen privelege, but it's really very rare for people to need proof of citizenship on a regular basis? Other than registering for university, or getting your _first_ driver's license, perhaps some job applications? I can't recall having to provide proof of citizenship?
So depending on the timeline of the passport office to get you your originals back, you're worried about a month or two where all you have as ID is an out of state driver's license. (Or an in-state one if you held onto your Social Security card, your old license, and an electricity bill with your name and new address.) Maybe people whose citizenship gets questioned more can tell you otherwise. But I think its unlikely to be a problem over that time frame.
posted by bartleby at 5:45 PM on July 14, 2020
Fornthe immediate future, will the passport office provide younwith copies? Couldnt hurt to ask.
Huh, I hadn't realized that states differed so much in their procedures until I looked it up. The various states I've moved between, the window was 60 days. Check that linked table for states you're moving to & from, and the specifics for their DMV.
But if you still have your Social Security card, and your out of state license, and a utility bill with your name on it, that might be all you need to get a new license in your new state.
And an out-of-state drivers license is not suddenly invalid as a form of identification in another state, for casual purposes. IIRC, it's a ticketable offense if you've been pulled over for some other traffic violation: you were speeding, and it comes out that you moved to Utah eight months ago but are still using your Illinois license, you get a 2nd fine for that and an admonishment to go get your Utah license paperwork taken care of.
And this may be citizen privelege, but it's really very rare for people to need proof of citizenship on a regular basis? Other than registering for university, or getting your _first_ driver's license, perhaps some job applications? I can't recall having to provide proof of citizenship?
So depending on the timeline of the passport office to get you your originals back, you're worried about a month or two where all you have as ID is an out of state driver's license. (Or an in-state one if you held onto your Social Security card, your old license, and an electricity bill with your name and new address.) Maybe people whose citizenship gets questioned more can tell you otherwise. But I think its unlikely to be a problem over that time frame.
posted by bartleby at 5:45 PM on July 14, 2020
I think this is an issue that requires legal advice. Check new state's website thoroughly, maybe you can begin the application process.
posted by theora55 at 6:16 PM on July 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 6:16 PM on July 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I understand your anxiety. I'm so sorry. The fear of someone targeting you as a non-citizen must be very stressful.
Do you have the receipt or something similar from the post office, to show your passport application is currently in process? If you needed to, you could show this to someone to prove why you don't have your documents.
As a general rule of thumb, keep photocopies of all your documents. I have copies I keep hold of, and I also leave a set of copies with a trusted friend, especially when I travel. Perhaps your parents could hold onto them for you?
I'm sorry that you have to live with this kind of fear.
Ultimately it will be good to have a passport. If it really does take a long time, perhaps you could also apply for a replacement copy of your naturalization certificate.
But like others above, I suspect that you will be fine with your out-of-state driving license for a few months. You could also find some form of documentation (a copy of a lease?) showing that you have just moved into the state. If you are very worried still, I would contact the DMV in the state you are moving to, to ask their advice.
I'm sorry that you have to live with this kind of fear.
posted by EllaEm at 5:02 AM on July 15, 2020
Do you have the receipt or something similar from the post office, to show your passport application is currently in process? If you needed to, you could show this to someone to prove why you don't have your documents.
As a general rule of thumb, keep photocopies of all your documents. I have copies I keep hold of, and I also leave a set of copies with a trusted friend, especially when I travel. Perhaps your parents could hold onto them for you?
I'm sorry that you have to live with this kind of fear.
Ultimately it will be good to have a passport. If it really does take a long time, perhaps you could also apply for a replacement copy of your naturalization certificate.
But like others above, I suspect that you will be fine with your out-of-state driving license for a few months. You could also find some form of documentation (a copy of a lease?) showing that you have just moved into the state. If you are very worried still, I would contact the DMV in the state you are moving to, to ask their advice.
I'm sorry that you have to live with this kind of fear.
posted by EllaEm at 5:02 AM on July 15, 2020
When I moved to N.C. I was all nervous about getting my car registered and my license right away in the specified timeline. Then I found out that many people who move down from NJ don’t change their plates or registration until 3 years after they’ve moved because that’s how often NJ requires inspections but NC requires them each year. It’s good to have an updated license, but also don’t worry about it too much.
I would start to worry about it in September so that you can make sure to register in your new state on time for the presidential elections.
posted by raccoon409 at 6:55 AM on July 15, 2020
I would start to worry about it in September so that you can make sure to register in your new state on time for the presidential elections.
posted by raccoon409 at 6:55 AM on July 15, 2020
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If the docs have not come back to you before the registration expires, my inclination would be to renew your registration in the old state. Use your parents' address. This is unlikely to trigger any alarms in the new state, unless you do something else that requires in-state license and registration. It is normal for students to keep their home-state licenses and registrations, even if they spend most of the year away from there.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:53 PM on July 14, 2020 [1 favorite]