Driver Services Commissioner Announces New Online Service “Pre-Apply Online” Fill Out Application Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device

From Georgia Department of Driver Services, 09/23/2014

Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Commissioner Rob Mikell announced today a new online customer service tool designed to improve licensing efficiency and ultimately reduce customer wait times.  Pre-Apply Online enables customers to jump start their licensing service by submitting a completed application for a license, permit or identification card before visiting the DDS.

This additional online enhancement helps fulfill the DDS mission of embracing new technologies to serve a greater number of customers more efficiently.  “Customers who Pre-Apply Online will skip the sometimes awkward task of completing the required paperwork while listening for their number to be called,” Commissioner Mikell said.  “The submitted information populates directly to the mainframe, reducing data entry time and any potential typing errors at the time of service.”

Since launching this feature on September 16th, over 2,600 customers have accessed, completed and successfully transmitted the required application online. Out of the participants, 1,100 have visited DDS to complete their service.

About the Process

• Customers will click on the “Save Time! Pre Apply Online” tab https://online.dds.ga.gov/onlineservices/preapply/ on the Agency’s website homepage to review the requirements and begin the application.
• Pre-Apply Online is a free service for existing or new DDS customers and can be accessed from any device that has Internet capability including smart phones and tablets.
• All customers must have a social security number.
• Customers UNDER THE AGE OF 18 are required to print the application and bring it with them (along with their parent/guardian) when they visit the DDS.
• Pre-apply Online is easy to navigate and can be saved and accessed for 30 days before expiring. 
• Customers have the option of printing a confirmation page and/or the completed application.
• Within 30 days, customers should visit a DDS center with the required Secure ID documentation (review identity and residency requirements here http://www.dds.ga.gov/secureid/).
• If customers are unable to make it into a DDS center within thirty days, the application will expire, and they will need to Pre-Apply again.
• Customers that provide their email address will have a reminder sent to them prior to the application expiration date.

Please visit the DDS website, www.dds.ga.gov, for complete driver education, testing and issuance information including new Federal Homeland Security requirements to establish identity and residency.

Georgia Now Issues Driver's Licenses to Non-U.S. Citizens with Pending Extensions

Beginning January 1, 2014, Georgia will issue temporary driver’s licenses to non-U.S. citizen applicants who have filed a request for an extension of their immigration status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). 

Previously, Georgia required applicants to present an original I-797, Approval Notice evidencing an extension of status before it would issue a driver’s license renewal. 

Now, any applicant whose driver’s license will expire within 30 days or has already expired can provide the Georgia Department of Driver Services an original I-797, Receipt Notice, evidencing his or her extension of status request is pending with USCIS to obtain a temporary license valid for 120 days from the date of expiration of the applicant’s current license.

Documents Required for Temporary License: 

• Receipt notice issued by USCIS
• Copy of petition requesting extension of status
• 2 proofs of address
• Original passport
• Original Social Security card
• I-94 arrival record 

Cost: $50

Duration of License: 120 days

Georgia DDS Website: http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1741471757&ty=dl 

At this time of this posting, the Georgia Department of Driver Services has not yet updated its website with the acceptable documentation to evidence a pending extension. As such, applicants may want to carry a copy of the newly passed legislation when requesting a temporary driver’s license based on a pending extension.

Legislation: http://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/SB%20122.pdf 

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Georgia Now Issues Driver's Licenses to Non-U.S. Citizens with Pending Extensions

DDS Commissioner Launches Economic Development Initiative

From Georgia Department of Driver Services, 07/01/2013

Reciprocal Agreement for Driving Test Exemptions Signed with South Korea

Commissioner Rob Mikell, Department of Driver Services (DDS) and He Beom Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, signed an agreement today to exempt South Korean citizens who have a valid South Korean driver’s license from written and on-the-road testing when applying for a Georgia driver’s license.  Those Georgia residents living in South Korea will be afforded the same privilege from South Korea.

House Bill 475 was sponsored by Representative B.J. Pak (R-Lilburn) and passed by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2013 Legislative Session.  Governor Nathan Deal signed the legislation into law at the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia facility in West Point on May 1st.  This Bill allows the DDS Commissioner to enter into agreements with foreign countries that have made a substantial economic investment and that have led to the creation of jobs in this state for recognition of their driver’s licenses in Georgia.  South Korea has become the first foreign country to enter into such an agreement with DDS.

“It is fitting that this Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea be the first to inaugurate this new initiative,” said Mikell.  “The Georgia-South Korea business partnership has a strong foundation to build on.  This additional customer service enhancement should be a welcome benefit to many applicants including students, business partners and their families,” he added.

He Beom Kim, praised Governor Nathan Deal and other officials for their support of the legislation enabling the state to enter into reciprocal agreements with foreign countries to recognize valid driver's licenses.

Requirements for Georgia Testing Exemptions:

• Customer must be legally present in Georgia.
• Customer must have a valid license of the equivalent class from South Korea.
• The customer must be at least 18 years old. 
• The customer must be a citizen of South Korea. 
• The customer will only be exempt from testing for issuance of a Class C (standard vehicle) license.  There are no exemptions for Instructional, Class M (motorcycle) or Commercial Licenses.
• Customers must pass a vision screening.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.ga.gov for complete driver education and testing information.  Many online transactions are available including an enhanced online address change feature.

Department of Driver Services (DDS) Offers Tips for Better Service

From DDS, 04/16/2013

Don't Forget Two (2) proofs of Residency

Department of Driver Services (DDS) offers this important reminder about new documentation requirements when renewing or obtaining a new Georgia driver’s license or ID card. Customers can expect to present documentation to establish identity, a name change, citizenship or lawful presence in the United States, a Social Security number, and two documents to prove their residential address.

“The DDS is committed to issuing a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or State Identification Card to customers on their first visit to a customer service center (CSC),” said DDS Commissioner Rob Mikell. “We will continue to evaluate customer feedback and data analysis to make adjustments to our operating procedures to meet increasing demands and ultimately improve customer service,” he added. 

DDS is particularly focused on ensuring that each customer brings two proofs of their residential address along with their identity and social security number documentation.  Statistics reveal that the majority of return customer visits are to present a secondary proof of their residential address. 

The important tips below can ensure customers have the two necessary proofs of residential street address to complete their Driver Services transactions in a single visit.

Residency Requirements

• Be sure you bring all the necessary documents. All customers may create and print a Custom Document Checklist, listing the exact documents they should bring on their next visit to one of our customer service centers, by visiting the DDS’ website, www.dds.ga.gov, and clicking on the blue box titled “Secure Driver’s License and ID”.
• The most common proof of residency presented are utility bills for services installed at the customers’ residential address (water, sewer, gas, electricity, cable/satellite TV, internet, telephone/cell phone, or garbage collection).
• Two bank statements or two credit card statements are acceptable for proof of residency as long as they are from separate companies (MasterCard and Visa statements are acceptable. A Visa statement from two separate months is not acceptable.)
• Customers who exclusively use a post office box for their mail have many options for proving their residential address.  For example, they may present a voter registration card (printable directly from the Secretary of State’s website at http://mvp.sos.state.ga.us) or use a property tax, utility or cable bill or an insurance card when it includes the actual service address. 
• Students can use a letter from their school plus a parent’s license or ID which has the same address.  College students often retain official residency at home and in most instances will not need to verify the college address.
• DDS operates a Secure ID Help Desk comprised of specialized staff who is dedicated to helping resolve various issues.

Identification Requirements

The important tips below will assist customers when determining acceptable identification documents.  All identity documents must be the original or a certified copy from the issuing agency and will include a raised seal.

• For persons who have ever been married, if the last name appearing on the primary identification document (ex. birth certificate, passport, etc.) is different from the current name, then these customers must be prepared to present additional supporting documents.  This requirement applies even if the person has been married for many years. 
• Customers who currently hold a valid Georgia driver’s license or ID card may present original or certified copies of a document which supports the most recent name change (ex. marriage certificate, certified marriage application, certified marriage license and/or divorce decree).  Customers who are new to Georgia must provide the complete trail of original or certified copy documents which support all name changes.
• All customers, regardless if they are new to Georgia or already hold a valid Georgia driver’s license or ID card, who use an up-to-date passport to prove their married name as their legal name do not need to show additional documentation proving identity.  For example, these customers do not need to present a birth certificate or a marriage license.

An additional tip is to plan your visit to the DDS. A license can be renewed 150 days before the expiration date (typically a customer’s birth date).  Tuesday is the busiest day for service at any location.  DDS provides two week historical average wait time data for each customer service center at http://www.dds.ga.gov/cscwaittimes/.

Department of Driver Services (DDS) Posts Average Wait Times Online

From Georgia Department of Driver Services, 11/09/2012

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) announced today a new website enhancement aimed at saving customers valuable time before obtaining driver licensing services. Now customers can check average wait time data at www.dds.ga.gov  before visiting any of the 64 statewide customer service licensing centers (cscs). 

...

To access the Wait Times for each CSC customers should visit the DDS’ website at www.dds.ga.gov and enter a zip code or click the map in the “locations box” at the top right corner of the homepage.  Wait Times may be accessed under the street address of each CSC location or directly at www.dds.ga.gov/cscwaittimes .