I would like to work in the US, but I heard that I need to show a valid drivers license and Social Security Number to an employer, before I can be hired. But since I am out of status, I cannot get a drivers license from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
I also heard of companies that, for a fee, can help people get an international drivers license and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and that I would be able to legally work using the international drivers license and ITIN. In other words, the international drivers license and ITIN are "just like" a DMV issued drivers license and an SS#.
If I obtain an international drivers license and ITIN, will I be able to work legally?
Very truly yours,
AG
Dear AG:
A non-citizen can work in the US "legally" only if authorized to do so by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through a green card, non-immigrant visa (such as H-1B, L-1, E- 1\2, etc.), a validly obtained work authorization, and similar documents. Mere possession of a drivers license and SS# does not constitute "official" DHS authorization to work.
Many states and the Social Security Administration have made it tougher for illegal aliens to obtain drivers licenses and SS#s, to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining unauthorized employment, in violation of current immigration laws.
Desperate in their desire to work, non-immigrant aliens, who heard about international drivers licenses and ITINs, mistakenly believe that these documents can be used in place of DMV issued drivers licenses and SS numbers, and allow them to work legally. But that is not the case.
But an international drivers license is not an "official" government-issued form of identification, and does not, standing alone, allow a person to drive, and especially not to work.
As you can see, the AAA and IRS confirm that international drivers licenses and ITINs do not authorize work, and cannot be used as a substitute for a DMV issued drivers license or SS #.
If you are in illegal status, and want to be legal, my advice is to stop looking for short cuts or substitutes for valid legal status. You should consult with a reputable attorney, who could evaluate your situation, and advise you of your real choices and options, along with the risks, and benefits.
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