To learn more about this Immigration Act #2011-535, click here.

The Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, and Alabama County Licensing Offices will undergo new business practices beginning October 1, 2011 in regard to the provisions of Act 2011-535 of the Alabama Legislature referred to as the Immigration Act. Section 30 of the new law prohibits an alien not lawfully present in the United States from entering into a business transaction with the State and it also prohibits any person from entering a business transaction on behalf of an alien not lawfully present in the United States. The term “business transaction” includes, but is not limited to, applying for or renewing a motor vehicle license plate, applying for or renewing a driver’s license or nondriver identification card, or applying for or replacing a certificate of title.

Documentation Proving U. S. Citizenship

Any person attempting to register a motor vehicle or apply for a certificate of title must prove his or her United States citizenship. If the person is an alien, he or she must demonstrate that he or she has lawful presence in the United States. Corporations, LLCs and LLPs are not required to submit this documentation. In order to process online renewals or regular mail renewals, individual and each joint owner will be required to provide a copy of any of the designated proof documents. The applicant must prove U. S. citizenship to the county licensing official by submitting one of the documents (or a legible photocopy of one of the documents) shown below:

1. Driver’s license or non-driver identification card issued by the Alabama Department of Public Safety. A driver’s license or non-driver identification card issued by another jurisdiction will only be acceptable if there is language printed on the license or identification card by the issuing jurisdiction that indicates that the person has provided satisfactory proof of U. S. citizenship. (The driver’s license or non-driver identification card must be valid-which means unexpired.)
2. U.S. birth certificate.
3. Valid or expired U.S. passport identifying the applicant and the applicant’s passport number.
4. Naturalization documents or the number of the certificate of naturalization (number must be verified with the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services by the county election officer or the Secretary of State).
5. Proof issued by the federal government pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
6. Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number or tribal enrollment number.
7. Consular report of birth abroad of a citizen of the U.S.
8. Certificate of citizenship issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
9. Certification of report of birth issued by the U.S. Department of State.
10. American Indian card, with KIC classification, issued by the U. S. Dept. of Homeland Security.
11. Final adoption decree showing the applicant’s name and U.S. birthplace.
12. Official U.S. military record of service showing the applicant’s place of birth in the U.S.
13. An extract from a U.S. hospital record of birth created at the time of the applicant’s birth indicating the applicant’s place of birth in the U.S.

Proof Documents For Aliens With Lawful Presence

If the applicant is lawfully present in the United States, one of the documents shown below must be presented for verification each year. In the event that an alien cannot present any of the documents listed below, an alien’s lawful presence in the United States shall be verified via the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) or by verification through the Department of Homeland Security pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 13 73(c).

1. A valid, unexpired Alabama driver’s license.
2. A valid, unexpired Alabama nondriver identification card.
3. A valid tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification bearing a photograph or other biometric identifier.
4. Any valid United States federal or state government issued identification document bearing a photograph or other biometric identifier, if issued by an entity that requires proof of lawful presence in the U. S. before issuance.
5. A foreign passport with an unexpired U. S. Visa and a corresponding stamp or notation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicating the bearer’s admission to the U.S.
6. A foreign passport issued by a visa waiver country with the corresponding entry stamp and unexpired duration of stay annotation or an 1-94 W form by the .U. S. Department of Homeland Security indicating the bearer’s admission to the U. S.