SSN and Texas Driver License
When you arrive in the U.S., you will find many businesses require a U.S. document that proves your identity. You may be able to use your passport for some needs, but others will require one of the following:
Applying for a Social Security Card
- After you receive a job offer, go to the Human Resources office (2nd floor) with your documents and complete your new-hire paperwork (I-9).
- Complete the International Student On-Campus employment forms on the OISVS website here. This will serve as your request for the SSN letter also.
- Once Lucy has issued your letter, you will receive an email from the OISVS office letting you know that it is ready for you to pick up.
NOTE: Chartwells and Bookstore employees will need a letter from the employer verifying the employer’s name, contact information, and EIN number, along with the student’s name, the start date, the position title, and the number of hours a week. - Students working for ACU will need to get their supervisor's signature on the social security letter (page 2).
- Once you have gotten your supervisor's signature, you will need to bring the following documents with you to the social security office:
● Passport w/ Visa (unexpired)
● I-20 (original)
● I-94 (most recent)
● Social security letter signed by Lucy and your supervisor or letter of employment
● Completed Social Security Application
Social Security Office:
● 1202 ES 11th Street Abilene, TX
● Mon., Tues., Thur., Fri.: 9am – 4pm
● Wed: 9am – 12pm
If you need a ride to the Social Security office, please fill out our online transportation request form. Please be reminded that transportation requests must be submitted 48 hours in advance.
Applying for a Texas Driver License or ID card Be prepared to show the following to prove your identity and immigration status in the U.S.: Proof of Residency
If you live on-campus, in order to prove Texas residency, you will need the following documents:
● a notarized residential lease agreement from the reslife housing coordinator (reslife@acu.edu).
● a copy of your ACU transcript from the registrar’s office (2nd floor of the Hardin Administration Building) with the same physical address listed on your residential lease agreement. Be sure to inform the registrar that you are needing your transcript for your Driver’s License application.
If you live off-campus, in order to prove Texas residency, be prepared to show any two of the following documents, where the address on both documents is exactly the same:
● Checking, savings, investment account, or credit card statements dated within 90 days of the application date
● Mail from a federal, state, county, or city government agency dated within 90 days of the application date
● W-2 or 1099 tax form from the current year
● Pre-printed paycheck or pay stub within 90 days of the application date
● Electric, water, natural gas, satellite television, cable television, or non-cellular telephone statement dates within 90 days of the application date
● Current renter’s insurance policy or statement
● Current automobile insurance policy or statement
For questions, please contact veronica.summers@acu.edu
Other requirements:
A. Driver’s Education Courses
Texas law requires everyone over 18 and under 25 years of age who wish to obtain a Texas drivers license to complete a 6-hour driver’s education course for adults.
If you're between 15 and 18 years old and seeking to earn your Texas learners permit (instruction permit), you'll need to complete a driver's education course for teens.
> Online Courses: https://driversed.com/texas/drivers-ed.aspx
B. Impact Texas Driver
In addition, you will be required to provide evidence of completion of the Impact Texas Driver course which can be found here:
> https://impacttexasdrivers.dps.texas.gov/
● Please be informed that your completion certificates are valid for 90 days from the date of completion.
NOTE: If you’re over 25 years old, you don’t need a certificate from an adult drivers ed course. Just make an appointment for a drivers license test at the DPS. There, you will take your written licensing exam, and vision and hearing tests, before getting behind the wheel for your road test.
An easy way to bypass the licensing exam, however, is to take an adult drivers ed course anyway. Your final exam for the course replaces your written exam at the DPS, making it much easier to pass.
For more information see, www.txdps.state.tx.us/
Scheduling an appointment:
Due to COVID, the DPS has resumed all in-office driver license (DL) and identification (ID) card services by appointment only. First time driver’s license applicants can schedule an appointment online at this website: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-services-appointments
NOTE: When scheduling your appointment online, if it asks for your SSN but you do not currently have one, just type in all 1’s (111-11-111).
If you need a ride to the Abilene Department of Public Safety, you may fill out our transportation request form. Please be informed that transportation requests must be submitted 48 hours in advance.