The California DMV’s secondary review process is the fallback verification track used for AB 60 driver’s license applicants whose documents don’t clear the DMV’s standard electronic identity checks. Under Vehicle Code Section 12801.9, the DMV has to issue a license to anyone who proves identity and California residency, even without authorized federal immigration status, and this review is how the department makes that promise workable when your paperwork sits outside its primary verification channels.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code Section 12801.9
What Sends an Application Into Secondary Review
The AB 60 application uses a tiered document system. The DMV first tries to verify your identity electronically using a primary-list document: certain foreign passports, consular cards, or national ID cards from countries whose records the DMV can check digitally with the issuing government. A valid foreign passport paired with a verifiable Social Security number counts, and so does a California driver’s license or ID issued after October 2000.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. AB 60 Wizard
If you can’t produce a primary document, the DMV tries a second tier: two approved foreign documents that it can’t electronically verify. When neither path fits, 13 CCR Section 16.06 kicks in and the application moves to secondary review automatically.3Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 13 Section 16.06 – Secondary Review The counter technician makes that call; it isn’t something you request or opt out of.
Common reasons applicants land here: an expired foreign passport, a consular card version the DMV hasn’t approved for digital verification, or simply not having any of the specific documents on the primary list. The review is a safety net built into the regulations, not a penalty for a weak application.
Identity Documents That Work in Secondary Review
Secondary review accepts a much wider set of identity evidence than the standard tiers. The regulation covers:3Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 13 Section 16.06 – Secondary Review
- Foreign identity documents including a foreign passport (even expired), consular ID card, foreign national ID card, or foreign driver’s license. A foreign driver’s license not in English needs a certified translation or affidavit of translation.
- Original birth certificates or adoption records from any country.
- Marriage licenses, domestic partner registrations, or divorce decrees. Non-English versions need a certified translation.
- School records from public or private schools at any level, as long as they include your date of birth. Sealed foreign school records with a photo from the time of enrollment also qualify.
- U.S. government documents such as DHS asylum applications (Form I-589), student eligibility certificates (Forms I-20 and DS-2019), court documents naming you as a party, income tax returns, and driver’s licenses from other states.
- Any photo identification card issued by a U.S. government entity at any level.
You can use documents in a family member’s name if you also bring a birth certificate, adoption record, or marriage license that ties the two names together. If your own name has changed since a document was issued, bring a court-ordered name change decree or marriage certificate that links the old name to the new one.4California Courts. Update Your Identity Documents
The DMV can also decide, case by case, that other documents help verify who you are. Bring everything you have. The investigator has discretion to look beyond the standard list when the extras help build a credible paper trail.
Proving You Live in California
Identity is only half of it. You also have to show that you currently live in California. The statute lists utility bills, a lease or rental agreement, and property tax bills as core examples.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code Section 12801.9 The DMV also accepts:
- Pay stubs, W-2 forms, or other employer-issued records showing your California address.
- Enrollment records or transcripts for you or your children at a California school.
- Medical records or insurance policies with your full name and residential address.
- Bank statements or other financial institution records.
- Documents from a local, state, or federal agency showing your California address, including IRS or California Franchise Tax Board returns.
- Mortgage statements or property deeds.
Recent is better. The regulation doesn’t fix an exact age in days, but keeping residency documents within the last two to three months is the safe approach. Variety matters more than volume. A single utility bill is weaker than a utility bill plus a bank statement plus a school enrollment record. What the investigator wants to see is a consistent pattern: your name, at the same California address, across sources that have nothing to do with each other.
What Happens at the Interview
Secondary review includes an interview at the DMV.5California Department of Motor Vehicles. AB 60 Driver’s Licenses Staff examine your original documents and may ask about your background, how you got the records, and your ties to California. The depth of the questioning varies. Some applicants describe it as mostly a document review with little conversation; others get more detailed questions about their history and time in the state.
Bring originals or certified copies from the issuing agency, not photocopies. Any document in a language other than English needs a certified translation or affidavit of translation. Ordering your papers chronologically helps the reviewer trace a clean timeline of who you are and how long you’ve been here.
If you need language help, the DMV provides interpreters at no cost, including American Sign Language interpreters. Schedule a foreign language interpreter at 1-800-777-0133; for ASL, call 1-800-735-2929 through the California Relay Service from a TDD phone or 1-800-735-2922 from a voice phone.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Interpreter Services
Temporary License and How Long the Wait Runs
You won’t walk out of the interview with a decision. If the DMV sees no reason to refuse while it verifies your documents, it issues a temporary driver’s license valid for up to 60 days.7Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 13 Section 16.14 – Temporary License The temporary license lets you drive legally in California while the review continues. It carries no restrictions beyond what applies to any standard California license.
Once the application is approved, the permanent card is mailed. Standard DMV card production runs about two to four weeks.8California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License and ID Card Online Renewal The verification itself can take days or weeks before that mailing clock even begins, so total time from interview to card in hand can run well past a month. If your temporary is about to expire and the permanent hasn’t arrived, check the DMV’s online status tools or contact the DMV directly.
If the DMV Denies You
Section 12801.9 requires the DMV to provide a hearing process for anyone denied a license or temporary license.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code Section 12801.9 A denial notice explains the reasons and lays out your options, which can include submitting more evidence or asking for an administrative hearing.
Many denials come from a thin paper trail rather than a real eligibility problem. If you’re denied, look closely at the gap the investigator flagged and gather different records that speak to the same period or the same fact. A second application with a wider set of documents often clears the bar.
Limits on an AB 60 License
Every AB 60 license carries “Federal Limits Apply” on the front and “Not Acceptable for Official Federal Purposes” on the back. It is not a REAL ID, and since REAL ID enforcement started on May 7, 2025, that difference matters day to day.9Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions You can’t use an AB 60 license to board a domestic flight at a TSA checkpoint, enter federal buildings that require ID, or access military installations. Domestic flights need a different accepted ID such as a U.S. passport or passport card.
California law also bars anyone from using an AB 60 license as evidence of your citizenship or immigration status. Employers, landlords, and law enforcement cannot demand it to determine immigration status.10Office of the Attorney General, State of California. Consumer Alert Regarding the Use of Federal Limits Apply Driver Licenses For driving in California, buying auto insurance, and any non-federal purpose that calls for a state driver’s license, the card is fully valid.