This is a card with your picture, name, birthday, address and Texas identification number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. You can prove that you are living in Texas with this card. Many stores, nightclubs, and other places ask for some kind of identification. They usually ask for driver's license. If you don't have a driver's license you may show your Texas I.D. For example, you use this card to:

• To prove your age and get into a nightclub.
• To prove that you are living in Texas.

Since your passport is such an important document it is better to leave it in a safe place at home. When you get your Texas I.D. you will not need to carry your passport with you, at least while you are in San Antonio.

Where can I get a Texas I.D?

Texas Department of Public Safety
1258 Babcock
San Antonio, TX 78201
Phone: (210) 737-1911, (210) 737-2272

What do I need to bring?

1. Your passport
2. Your I-20
3. Your I-94 (small white card you received upon arrival in US)
4. Enrollment verification from the Registrar’s Office
5. $15.00 (as of July 2009)
6. Black pen (applications will only be accepted if they are written with black ink)

Check with International Student Services Office for an application. If the forms are available we will help you out filling them out before you go to DPS. If there are not applications available at ISS you are able to get them at DPS.

If you want to drive in Texas you must get a Texas driver license (you may drive with an international license only for a few months). The license is issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

In Texas most people use their driver's license as identification cards. If you get a driver's license, you do not need a Texas I.D.

In order to get a driver's license you must take a written and a driving test.

Written Test: This test is about the rules and signs for driving in the United States. Most of the information is in the Texas Driving Handbook. The Texas Department of Public Safety will provide you with this handbook, but you must wait in line. Once you have learned everything in the book you may take the test.

Driving Test: You should take this test once you have read and understand the information in the handbook. If you have never driven before you may want to take driving lessons first. You can check the phone book for places that give driving lessons.

You do not need an appointment to take a driving test, but DPS only gives the test at certain times during the day. Call DPS to find out when you can take this test. You will need someone to drive you to DPS because you will need to use their car for the driving test. DPS does not provide a car for the test.

Where do I get a driver license? 

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
1258 Babcock
San Antonio, TX 78201

What do I need to bring?

1. Your passport
2. Your I-20
3. Your I-94 (small white card you received upon arrival in US)
4. Social Security card (if you are not eligible for a Social Security number, you will complete a form at the DPS office called a Social Security Affidavit DL-13)
5. Enrollment verification from the Registrar’s Office
6. $24.00 (as of July 2009; see DPS website for current fee)
7. Black pen (only applications with black ink will be accepted)
8. Car (for the driving test)