How to obtain social security number and driver's license after receiving deferred action

This week in my column in La OpiniónI explain what undocumented young people who were approved for deferred action must do to obtain important documents to work in this country.

More than 82,300 undocumented youth submitted requests for deferred action to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from August 15 to September 13, 2012, of which only 29 have been completed and another 1,660 are ready for review. These numbers give a guideline of the slowness that can be expected from USCIS in processing cases. In this first month they only completed the review of one application per day!

The advantage is that after the wait, young people whose applications are approved and demonstrate financial need may be eligible for employment authorization and obtain a social security number that will allow them to work legally and get a driver's license.

After the USCIS approves the deferred action status and sends the employment authorization card, the social security number can be applied for. This must be done in person. You will need to go to a Social Security Administration (SSA) office to complete and sign the application. You can find a local office here: www.socialsecurity.gov/locator. You will need to bring the employment authorization card issued by the USCIS along with proof of your identity and age. Documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency (notarized copies are not acceptable).

Among the documents accepted as proof of identity and age: foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, religious documents showing age or date of birth, and school records.

Once you obtain a social security number, you may apply for a driver's license in states that allow it. For example, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which issues driver's licenses, requires anyone applying for the document to present proof that he or she is legally in the United States.

To comply with the identity verification requirement, the California DMV requires you to appear:

- a document showing date of birth and lawful presence in the country. In this case, it would be the employment authorization card issued by the USCIS.

- a document showing your true and full name if the name on your legal presence document is different from the name on the driver's license application.

- your social security number, which will be verified with the SSA office.