Driver's License Secondary Review at CA DMV: Explained

You don’t know how to get a California driver's license? Getting behind the wheel represents freedom and opportunity. Still, the path to obtaining your CA DMV driver's license may encounter a stumbling block — a Secondary Review Referral Notice or DL 209A.

This notice is crucial in the CA DMV driver's license application process because it allows the DMV to verify your identity and residency documents. Understanding its significance is crucial to ensuring a smooth journey toward obtaining a coveted California driver's license.

In this article, we’ll help you understand how to deal with California’s DMV Secondary Review Referral Notices. We’ll also share some of the most important resources you have access to during the process, so you can get all the information and help you need. Let’s get right into it!

Understanding the DL 209A Notice from CA DMV

The DL 209A notice from the California DMV is an important step in the process of obtaining a California driver's license. It is a way for the DMV to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the identity and residency documents submitted during your application process.

This notice is sent to applicants when the DMV determines that a more thorough review of the provided documentation is necessary. Its primary goal is to ensure the legitimacy of the information presented, following the stringent standards established by the CA DMV for issuing <a href='https://www.motaword.com/blog/the-essential-guide-to-driver-s-licenses’ target='_blank'>driver's licenses.

The DL 209A notice is a critical stage in the CA DMV driver's license application process, and individuals must act promptly. Upon receiving this notice, applicants must contact the DMV using the information provided. You must comply with this requirement as soon as possible, because further progress in the application process will depend on the resolution of discrepancies or the need for additional verification.

Applicants play an active role in expediting the verification process by understanding the role of the DL 209A notice and promptly following through with the DMV's instructions, ultimately propelling them closer to obtaining their California driver's license.

Process Details and Tips for CA DMV Applicants:

Here are some useful tips to help you with the process.

1. Waiting Period:

After receiving the DL 209A notice, it's best to wait 5 business days before contacting the CA DMV. This brief pause allows the department to process and potentially resolve any issues identified during the initial application.

2. Be Prepared:

Before contacting the CA DMV, make sure you have your DL application receipt handy. This receipt is useful during discussions with DMV representatives.

Also, if you’re not proficient enough in communicating in English, you can ask for assistance. California’s DMV provides language assistance, ensuring applicants can effectively communicate their concerns or queries.

By adhering to this waiting period and properly preparing with necessary documentation and language preferences in mind, CA DMV applicants set the stage for a more productive and streamlined interaction with the department, thereby expediting their 'CA DMV driver's license' application process.

Required Documents for a DL 209A

There are several documents you might need to provide to solve the issues pointed out in your DL 209A. Keep in mind that, although these are very common, there are other documents you can submit during this process. Here’s the complete list on the official website.

School Documents:

Records containing your date of birth from any level of education—primary, secondary, post-secondary, including college or university. Foreign documents must be sealed and include a photograph of you taken at the time the record was issued. You might also have to include a certified translation if they are not in English.

Documents Issued by or Filed with U.S. Government:

Forms filed with the United States government or a U.S. government-related entity, such as asylum applications, student status certificates (F-1, M-1), exchange visitor certificates (J-1), court documents naming you as a party, income tax returns, and driver's licenses, both valid and expired.

Marital Status Documents:

Marriage licenses, domestic partnership registrations, and divorce decrees are all examples of legal documents. If any of these documents are not in English, a certified translation into English must be provided.

Foreign Documents:

Passports, national identification cards, consular ID cards, and foreign driver's licenses. If these documents are not in English, a certified translation or affidavit of translation is required.

ID Cards:

Any ID cards bearing a photograph issued by the United States government or a U.S. government-related entity.

Birth Documents:

Birth certificates or adoption records are required to demonstrate your birth or adoption status. Furthermore, any documents from the list above that mention your spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, or legal guardian will require proof of relationship in the form of a birth certificate, adoption record, marriage license, or domestic partnership registration.

Having as many of these documents as possible with you at your scheduled interview ensures a smoother verification process because they serve to establish your identity, residency, and relationships, as required by the CA DMV. Following the interview, you will receive a copy of all documents you provided.

In the interview, you should provide your documents in English. If your documents are in a language other than English, make sure to provide certified translations of them

Outcome of the Review Process

The outcome of the review process initiated by the CA DMV following receipt of the Secondary Review Referral Notice (DL 209A) can result in one of several scenarios:

• Successful Verification:

If the documents presented during the interview prove your identity, residency, and relationships, the CA DMV will proceed with the 'CA DMV driver's license' application process. You will be given more information about the next steps needed to complete the process successfully.

• Consequences of Presenting Fraudulent Documents:

It is critical to emphasize the serious consequences of presenting fraudulent or misleading documents to the CA DMV. This not only ends the referral process, but it may also result in legal ramifications. The CA DMV takes deception seriously and may take additional actions if necessary.

FAQs about California’s DMV

Is CA DMV Open On Saturday?

Around 70 offices have extended their operating hours, beginning at 7 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. While all offices are closed on Sundays, over 60 DMV field offices are open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This expanded schedule aims to accommodate people who work during the week by providing service access on weekends.

Can You Walk Into CA DMV Without an Appointment?

The majority of DMV services are available on a walk-in basis, with no appointment required. If you need to visit a DMV office, please select your desired service here.

How Many Questions Are On The CA DMV Test?

There are 46 questions, and you'll be required to answer 38 correctly to pass.

Can I Get a California Driver’s License if I'm Undocumented?

Yes! California is one of the few states that offers driver’s licenses to people who can’t prove they’re inside U.S. territory legally. They are called AB 60 Driver’s Licenses.

What Should I Do if the DMV Is Not Reviewing My DL 209A?

Although DMV’s services are usually quick and provide resolutions in less than a month, some people have used forums like Reddit to complain about delays in the process. In these cases, it seems like persevering is the best way to achieve any kind of resolution. You must continually reach out to the numbers they provide. It’s also worth mentioning that you can reach out through the chat function on their website.

How Long Do California DMV Secondary Reviews Take?

It depends on several factors, like the office you used to submit your application, the documents you sent for the review, and how busy the DMV is in general at the particular time you submitted your application. In any case, according to some sources, it should take one to three months or longer in some cases, so you must be patient whenever a DL 209A is issued.

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