Originally Posted by
catocony
STB, it may be too late at this point, but let me see if I follow.
One, you had a valid drivers license from some state - CT or otherwise - but started the expat gig 6 years ago or so. At some point between 6 years ago and today, what happened?
Did your license come up for renewal and you didn't renew it since you were living outside the US and didn't think you needed it? Or more of a logistics issue - no place to mail the renewal to, that sort of thing?
You mention that you apparently had to trade in your state drivers license to get a Cypriot one. That seems odd, but if they wanted your license for whatever reason, that doesn't mean a thing to the state that issue it. You could have done a simple change of address or reported it as lost/stolen and a new one would have been issued.
That's all water under the bridge at this point, but it's not like you had a state license decades ago and are now coming out of the woodwork to get a new one. It's fairly recent, if I have your timeline right.
So, question one - are you certain that your last state license has expired? Just trading it in to Cyprus doesn't mean a thing, if your license is still technically valid in whatever state, just go online or whatever method it is to get a duplicate license. If it has expired time-wise - which is only in the last year or two, I assume - there may be a provision to reinstate it.
As to our resident expert on licenses, you're apparently not an expert on every state's procedures. I renewed my license in VA last year. I had to go to the DMV - the first time in 10 years, since my last renewal was done on-line for five years. But, VA changed licenses a few years ago, so I needed a new grayscale photo instead of the color photo that was good on two 5-year renewals - plus a change of address replacement - for a total of 3 licenses using the same photo and being renewed and address changed on-line with no need to go to the DMV.
But, when I had my licensed renewed, other than the photo and a quick vision test, that was it. I didn't bring a passport, nor any other form of ID other than my existing drivers license.
So each state can be different. So, while you may be an expert in whatever state you live in, both for drivers licenses and apparently food stamp eligibility, you are not an expert about other states.
Let me explain the whole story in one single post.
I used to be a resident of FL. I had a home there and as such, an address. I had a FL driver's license. I actually still have one - it has my old address on it. It will expire in 2 years. When I knew that I was going to have to get a Cypriot driver's license, I went to the FL DMV (or whatever it is called) and reported a lost driver's license because I knew that I was going to have to turn in my driver's license to the Cyprus DOT. I could have gotten a Cypriot driver's license by taking the necessary tests, but exchanging my "lost" FL driver's license was easier (even though I still had to provide the Cyprus DOT with a ton of documentation). So now I have a Cypriot Driver's license, which is valid until 2028 (amazing? I know!) and a FL driver's license which expires in 2 years. When I replaced my "lost" FL license, they did not extend the expiration date. And I had to provide all the RealID-required documentation to the FL DMV to get the replacement license. I assume that if I were to renew my FL Driver's license, I would have to provide the same documentation and I cannot because I have no documents that show that I live in FL (because I don't live in FL).
So planning ahead, I wanted to get a CT driver's license because my sisters and mother live in CT and that is where I normally go to when visiting the US. CT DMV requires that I provide documentation that proves that I live in CT (I don't and as such, I have none - I have no documentation that proves that I live in any state). What I have not done, and what I will do on my next visit to CT, is go to the CT DMV and personally ask them what my options are saying that I live with my sister and have no utility bills in my name. I have a joint bank account with my sister (for convenience) and see if they will accept a bank statement with my name and sister's address on it.
The main problem, as you seem to be well aware of, is that there are many things that are administered by the individual state and if you have no presence in a state, you are SOL. Another example would be unemployment. At some point in time, my employment overseas will be terminated. Even though I have been paid by a US company (and that company pays into a state unemployment fund), I imagine that it will be impossible for me to collect unemployment while living outside of the US (I have planned for this financially). I also know for a fact that I will not be eligible for medicare while living outside the US (I have planned for this financially too).
So it is clear that as an expat, I am required to pay US taxes, but get very little in return. My British friends are always amazed when I explain this to them.
I do know that my Cypriot driver's license is valid in the US. Having had to deal with bureaucracies in many countries over my lifetime, I have a good understanding of what makes things easier. Having a US driver's license to use while in the US is just easier. I do know that I can use the passport card for travel within the US. I do not have one. I will get one when I renew my passport next year.
All of these identification requirements make life very dificult for some people. It has gotten out of hand, as far as I am concerned.