The Feds didn’t like New Mexico giving official drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants. So the state is now offering two different versions, one that meets new federal security rules, the other a driving authorization card for people without paperwork proving they are in the country legally.
So when I renewed my license yesterday I had to bring two official pieces of paper proving I’m legal. My passport and Social Security card worked, even though my SS card specifically says it is not for identification purposes. (How times have changed!)
I also needed to bring two pieces of paper proving I live where I do. A copy of our lease and a copy of a recent phone bill worked.
So that, plus passing the eye test and paying a small fee, means I will get a new license valid for three more years. The three years was a huge surprise. Before we had to renew our licenses every year if we were over 75. Now the rule is over 79. It was more than worth the waiting and the paperwork to find that out. 🙂
Any delightful surprises where you are?
My driving licence expires on my 70th birthday next March, so I’ll be interested to see how easy or laborious it is to renew it.
My only delightful surprise recently was getting my work contract renewed for another two years. At my age, I guess that’s worth a bit of applause. It’s part-time and very stress-free so I didn’t even think about giving it up.
That’s good news about your work contract. 🙂 Please let us know how the license goes.
Our surprise was discovering that our driving licenses are now renewed for a period of eight years, regardless of age. I’ll be 72 the next time I have to go in.
Arkansas requires proof of citizenship or legal residency for driving licenses.
Before I turned 75 they renewed my license for 8 years. Now I’m happy mine is for three years rather than one.
my goodness! what a lot of red tape to go through just to get a drivers license!
so far our state just requires an id photo. I will soon find out if that’s the case next year when I have to renew mine.
they’re renewed here every 4 years.
the only surprise lately has been our temperature! it was in the 80’s for days on end recently… topping off at 86 finally last week.
a cold front moved in over night and dropped it down to 29 degrees!
I hope the animals managed to have their winter coats on. it’s hard on them I would think. it did that last year too! the times they are a changin’ !!!
I’m glad you’re getting some cooler temperatures! New Mexico and some other states were a bit too lax for the Feds, that’s why the new rules.
The mother of all surprises this morning. A dear friend, normally quite reticent wanted to come over and spend some time with me and I readily agreed. He then requested that I invite another mutual friend also to have a serious discussion on a matter of importance to both of them. The latter lives across the town whereas the former in my part and so as a compromise, all three met at my club which is half way for the latter. It was a grand lunch and the three of us being seniors were in for a big surprise when we finished as an admiring younger member of the club in appreciation of our lively lunch meeting, footed the bill!
How delightful! 🙂
Because I finally decided to let my drivers licence lapse – no car, and I had to jump through some hoops I didn’t need, I then found that when it finally expires (apparently in 2 years/the card not the driving) – I will need some kind of recognised photo ID.
So I heard I could get it added to my Super Goldcard – for no cost. The cost turned out to be similar to you Jean – my old drivers licence along with 2 pieces of self-addressed bills or tenancy agreement. (the agent had said I could use a passport, wherein I said “if I had a passport, I wouldn’t need “this””)
So I turned up with them and it all got done satisfactorily. All I had to do was request the new card via the Super Centre. That I did this morning…it will be 5-8days to receipt.
As some of you know there was a huge fiasco with the original gold card, so hope the computerised machinery doesn’t mess it up this time…
My other surprise today was at the doctors! He has decided I don’t need to return on regular basis – as my BP is just normal-as…I do have some new potions to help with something else, but he thinks that’s temporary. This means that in around 30 days I will be taking nothing for anything…all is well in issues he can deal with. All the other issues are self-managed…
That’s great about your medical issues! That’s so important.
I’m glad the red tape wasn’t too bad for you. We kept our passports up to date just for situations like this.