Do I need to update driver license in California after becoming US citizen?

[qfbariza 26]

Hi,

 

I just became a US citizen. Do I need to update my driver license or anything with DMV in California? My driver license does not expire until 2021. 

 

I already got my US passport and I’m planning on going to social security office soon. 

 

Thanks!

[Life_love 45]

It isn't compulsory however, it is recommended you do. US citizen's DL doesn't have limited term on them which ours do...that's about the only difference I can think of right off the bat.

Edited April 5, 2019 by Life_love

[nikha 18]

On 4/5/2019 at 8:06 AM, Life_love said:

It isn't compulsory however, it is recommended you do. US citizen's DL doesn't have limited term on them which ours do...that's about the only difference I can think of right off the bat.

Can you please elaborate more on the term "limited term". Would it mean it does not expire after certain number of years ? Also is this true and applicable to all states or specific states ?

[payxibka 10,045]

On 4/4/2019 at 9:40 PM, qfbariza said:

Hi,

 

I just became a US citizen. Do I need to update my driver license or anything with DMV in California? My driver license does not expire until 2021. 

 

I already got my US passport and I’m planning on going to social security office soon. 

 

Thanks!

You don't need to do anything until it's time to renew 

[Just Paul 4,595]

20 minutes ago, nikha said:

Can you please elaborate more on the term "limited term".

In most cases the license will expire when the green card expires.

[qfbariza 26]

31 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

In most cases the license will expire when the green card expires.

I guess is different for different states. I’m California the driver license does not expire when green card expires which it is good

[nikha 18]

26 minutes ago, qfbariza said:

I guess is different for different states. I’m California the driver license does not expire when green card expires which it is good

Same for me. However there is a set time period of 5 years after which I do have to renew my drivers license. I am not sure if it changes once you are a citizen though

[zedkyuu 12]

My wife's CA DL has an expiration date and she was born here.

 

I also searched the DMV site a bunch for anything to do with citizenship and only came up with documents you need to get your initial license and stuff relating to the Real ID thing.

So I'm pretty firmly inclined to think I don't need to do anything. My license expires later this year anyhow!

[RWD 2]

I believe the limited term for CA DLs is before removal of conditions. My wife had a expiration on her CA DL that matched the expiration of the CR-1 green card before we did the removal of conditions. After we got the approval letter for removal of conditions, we brought it to the DMV and they issued a new DL with the normal 5 year expiration starting from the date the original limited validity DL was issued.

Edited April 30, 2019 by RWD

[netz75 13]

On 4/8/2019 at 2:22 PM, Paul & Mary said:

In most cases the license will expire when the green card expires.

not really if you already had a 10yrs green card, my driver license was expired 2 times and its was based on my CR-1 and the extension letter of my ROC, when I got my 10 years Green card my DL expiration date is within 4yrs and already base on my birth date

[CJKylie 161]

On 4/29/2019 at 10:17 PM, RWD said:

I believe the limited term for CA DLs is before removal of conditions. My wife had a expiration on her CA DL that matched the expiration of the CR-1 green card before we did the removal of conditions. After we got the approval letter for removal of conditions, we brought it to the DMV and they issued a new DL with the normal 5 year expiration starting from the date the original limited validity DL was issued.

That’s weird - my conditional green card expired 1.5 years ago and my CA license doesn’t expire till next year

[RWD 2]

On 7/5/2019 at 11:58 AM, CJKylie said:

That’s weird - my conditional green card expired 1.5 years ago and my CA license doesn’t expire till next year

Probably depends on how well versed the DMV employee is in department policy. Actually I think it was the NOA letter which granted an extension of permanent resident status that we brought in, not the approval letter. The letter said the extension was for one year while they were processing the ROC petition. I do remember that the DMV employee didn't know how to handle it so she asked her manager, and he said to give my wife the standard 5 year expiration.