Acceptable documents for proof of citizenship or legal status in the United States (U.S.)

• Valid U.S. passport or passport card
  
• U.S. State or local government issued Certificate of Birth. (Wisconsin will not accept Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, in line with Puerto Rico’s law as of October 30, 2010. More information available at pr.gov)
• If you obtained U.S citizenship through the adoption process (Child Citizenship Act of 2000), and you do not possess a valid U.S. passport, you may provide evidence of U.S. citizenship with the following documents (please note that a Certification of Birth Facts is not an acceptable document):
• Proof of finalized adoption and,
• Foreign passport from your country of birth (valid or expired), which may include the temporary I-551 stamp or,
• I-551 permanent resident card from the time that you entered the U.S.
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Valid I-551, permanent resident card (issued by the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. citizenship and immigration services). Non-expiring I-551 (issued 1977-1989) cards are acceptable
• U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (federal form N-550)
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (federal form N-560)
• Unexpired foreign passport with a valid unexpired U.S. visa affixed accompanied by the approved I-94 form documenting the applicants most recent admittance into the U.S. (Note: If you recently entered the U.S. and were not issued a paper I-94 form, visit cbp.gov/I94 to print your electronic I-94 before applying for immigration or public benefits, such as a driver license, identification card or a Social Security number.)
• Unexpired Employment Authorization Document (federal form I-688B or I-766) which is successfully verified through the DHS/USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE)

Everything from the REAL ID list above or:

• Valid foreign passport with appropriate immigration documents, which shall include or be accompanied by federal form I-94, arrival and departure record. NOTE: The appropriate immigration documents determine legal presence, not the passport itself
• Valid Temporary Resident ID card (federal form I-688)
• Valid refugee travel document (federal form I-571)
• Notice of Action (federal form I-797). Document must provide conclusive proof of legal presence and be accompanied by other supporting documentation
• TWIC Card – Transportation Worker Identification Credential (issued by the Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration)
• Reception and placement program assurance form (refugee version) with an I-94 arrival and departure record
• Documentary proof specified in s.343.14(2)(es), Wis. Stats, that is approved by the federal authority:

1. Valid foreign passport containing a valid non-immigrant visa & I-94, arrival and departure record
2. Valid foreign passport containing an expired non-immigrant visa & I-94, arrival and departure record
3. Pending or approved application for asylum in the United States
4. Valid re-entry into the United States in refugee status I-327 or I-571
5. Pending or approved application for temporary protected status in the United States
6. Approved deferred action status (including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program) or a pending application for adjustment of status to legal permanent resident status or conditional resident status

Persons with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) are required to provide proof of legal status upon original (first time) issuance, renewal, transferring an out of state license or when adding or removing a class, endorsement or restriction. Acceptable documents are:

• ​ Valid U.S. passport or passport card
  
• U.S. State or local government issued Certificate of Birth. (Wisconsin will not accept Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, in line with Puerto Rico’s law as of October 30, 2010. More information available at pr.gov)
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Valid I-551, permanent resident card (issued by the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. citizenship and immigration services). Non-expiring I-551 (issued 1977-1989) cards are acceptable
• U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (federal form N-550)
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (federal form N-560)

• Unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired Form I-94/I-94A documenting the applicants most recent admittance into the U.S. also indicating one the following employment-based non-immigrant categories:

  • H2-A,
  • H2-B, and
  • E-2 visa ​
    

Note: If you recently entered the U.S. and were not issued a paper I-94 form, visit cbp.gov/I94 to print your electronic I-94 before applying for immigration or public benefits, such as a driver license, identification card or a Social Security number.

Under federal law, temporary visitors from Canada and Mexico are not allowed to renew or change classes or endorsements on their Wisconsin Commercial Driver License (CDL) or Commercial Learner Permit (CLP).

If you are a temporary visitor from Canada or Mexico and wish to continue driving a commercial vehicle in the U.S., you need to obtain a qualifying commercial license from Canada or Mexico before your current Wisconsin CDL or CLP expires.​​​