Florida includes an important exception in the procedure that its offices use to verify the immigration documents of those applying for a driver's license or identification card.
According to an operational document from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), updated on September 17, 2026, and accessed by CiberCuba, certain documents, including specific I-797 receipts, may be accepted in copies when they are used solely to verify legal presence, and the information can be verified through the official systems available to the agency.
Precision may be relevant for immigrants who have a pending application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and possess a copy of the notice, but not the original document at the time of processing.
However, the exception has important limits: Florida is not generally allowing the use of photocopies to obtain a license, nor does it mean that any I-797 form is sufficient on its own to complete the application.
When can a copy of the I-797 be accepted?
The operational guide consulted by CiberCuba states that some documents, such as certain I-797 receipts, may be presented in copy when used solely to demonstrate legal presence and the information can be verified through the appropriate verification mechanisms.
This constitutes an exception to the general rule outlined in the public information of Florida. The FLHSMV details in its guide of required documents that applicants must demonstrate identity, Social Security number or secondary identification, and residency in Florida, in addition to presenting the relevant immigration documentation when applicable.
The Florida public licensing manual also states, as a general rule, that documents must be original or certified copies and that ordinary photocopies are not accepted.
For this reason, the ability to use a copy of the I-797 should not be interpreted as a general authorization to visit an office with photocopies of all documents.
The I-797 does not automatically replace the identity verification
Another fundamental point is that the exception described in the document is linked to the proof of legal presence.
This does not necessarily mean that the same copy can also be used as sufficient documentation to prove identity.
A person can present a document that allows Florida to verify their immigration status and, at the same time, may need additional documentation to prove their identity, their Social Security number when applicable, and their residency in the state.
For this reason, arriving at an office with only a copy of the I-797 does not guarantee that the process for the license or identification can be completed.
Not all I-797 forms mean the same thing
USCIS uses family I-797 forms, known as Notice of Action, to communicate various actions related to immigration applications and petitions.
A notice can inform about the receipt of a request, an approval, an extension, or another administrative action. That’s why what’s important is not just that the document says I-797, but what type of procedure is indicated in the notification and what information is contained in the person's immigration file.
A receipt showing that USCIS has received an application should not be automatically interpreted as granting immigration status.
Florida may require additional documentation depending on the type of case and the information obtained during the verification process.
How to check the status of a USCIS case
Immigrants who have a receipt number can use the official USCIS Case Status Online tool to check the status of an application, petition, or immigration process.
The receipt number is a 13-character identifier that USCIS assigns to cases and appears on the notifications sent by the agency.
This query can be useful for checking the status of the file, although the information displayed to the applicant does not replace the verification process that must be conducted by the state agency when processing a license or identification.
Florida can verify the information with SAVE
Government agencies can use SAVE, the verification system managed by USCIS to check information related to citizenship or immigration status.
USCIS explains that among the entities that use SAVE are state agencies responsible for issuing driver's licenses and identification cards.
The system provides immigration information to the agency making the inquiry, but SAVE does not decide whether a person is entitled to obtain a license. The final determination is made by the state agency responsible for granting the credential.
When a verification cannot be resolved immediately, the SAVE procedure includes additional checks. Applicants can also track certain verification cases through SAVE CaseCheck.
What is best to bring to the appointment?
Although a specific copy of an I-797 may be used under this exception, if the applicant has the original document, it is advisable to bring it, along with the rest of the immigration documentation related to their case.
It can also be helpful to have the USCIS receipt number available and to bring any other applicable documents, such as the I-94, passport, work permit, permanent resident card, or other documentation issued by immigration authorities.
In addition, the other requirements of the FLHSMV regarding identification, Social Security, or secondary identification and proof of residency in Florida must also be met.
The specific requirements depend on each applicant's situation, so an I-797 should not be considered on its own as a guarantee that Florida will issue the license.
A change different from the new design of Florida licenses
This clarification regarding immigration documentation should not be confused with the new design of driver's licenses and identification cards that Florida has begun issuing.
In this case, the change is related to the instructions used to verify the documentation submitted by certain applicants and, specifically, to the limited possibility of using copies of certain immigration documents to prove legal presence when their information can be verified.
For Cuban immigrants and other foreign residents in Florida, the difference can be significant when the original I-797 is not available, but there is a copy linked to a file that authorities can verify.
In the case of a complex immigration scenario or questions about which documents pertain to a specific situation, the applicant may consult the official requirements of the FLHSMV directly before visiting the office.
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