Northern Virginia Center

Department of Motor Vehicles

The best source of information is the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website. The following table provides additional details of the required documentation:

STUDENT TASKS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISOR TASKS
F-1 or J-1 STUDENTS
  • Passport
  • I-94
  • Social Security
  • Proof of VA residency
  • Copy I-20/DS-2019
  • Generates letter to take to DMV
  • Student picks-up letter and takes to DMV along with…
  • DMV Primary/Secondary required documents
F-2 DEPENDENTS
  • Passport/spouse's passport
  • I-94
  • letter from Social Security you are not eligible for a Social Security number
  • I-20/spouses' I-20
  • Proof of VA residency
  • The advisor will fax the documents to DMV in Richmond, the DMV in Richmond will mail the advisor an authorization letter
  • Student picks-up authorization letter and takes along with. DMV Primary/Secondary
J-2 DEPENDENTS
  • Passport/spouse's passport
  • I-94
  • Letter from Social Security you are not eligible for a Social Security number
  • DS-2019/spouse's DS-2019
  • Proof of VA residency
  • The advisor will fax the documents to DMV in Richmond, the DMV in will mail the advisor an authorization letter
  • Student picks-up authorization letter and takes along with DMV Primary/Secondary

 

DMV Required Documents

  • Primary
    • Virginia DMV issued learners/ instruction permit unexpired or expired for not more than one year. If presented by an individual 19 years old or over, the learner's / instruction permit must have been issued after September 21, 2001.
    • Virginia DMV issued photo identification card (excluding child ID cards) issued after September 21, 2001 unexpired or expired for not more than one year.
    • Unexpired foreign passport with an expired or unexpired visa, I-94 or I-94W or I-551 stamp. An I-94W MUST be from a country participating in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program.
    • Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (from I-668A, I-668B or I-766)
  • Secondary
    • Certified copy of school records / transcript issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory or by a state-accredited private school OR a Virginia Department of Education Certificate of Enrollment form (a report card is not acceptable). An academic transcript request form must be completed and faxed to the Registrar’s office in Blacksburg.
    • U.S. Department of State form DS-2019
    • INS form I-20 with SEVIS barcode and INS stamp accompanied by an original letter on school letterhead verifying the student's current enrollment (applicable only for individuals whose names appear on the form).

 

Locations:

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 12:00PM

  • 4150 South Four Mile Run Drive
    Arlington, VA 22206
  • 1968 Gallows Road
    Vienna, VA 22182
  • 2681 Mill Road
    Alexandria, VA 22314

 

Items to bring:

  • Passport
  • I-94
  • Letter from International Student Advisor
  • Stamped I-20/DS-2019
  • Virginia residency (utility bill, payroll stub, canceled check, monthly bank statement)
  • Social security card