GA PE License Renewals - All Threatened by Missing Documents, Misplaced ID's

[racookpe1978]

A warning to all Georgia (USA) PE's ...

All GA PE licenses are up for renewal on 31 December 2012.

normally, this is no problem, and for example, I sent my renewal fee in on September 19 with my on-line registration renewal form. Payment was accepted, and was charged off against my credit card.

At that time, the GA Sec of State required a copy of an "official" government ID be provided, and I sent a copy in also on-line.

it was apparently lost in the office. A second copy faxed down there was also misplaced, or was un-readable - but I was never warned. Regardless, all I knew was the website reported I was not renewed - but I was given no warning or notice about why, or what else was needed.

Now, I DID receive "Standard" or generic emails from the Secretary of State about the deadline approaching, but they had no specific information about whether I was renewed or not, and every routine email also carried a routine disclaimer following the warning: "If you have already renewed, disregard this notice."

Obviously, since I HAD renewed, I could ignore that warning, right? WRONG.

To verify your renewal, you MUST both get a specific response by email from the GA Sec of State confirming your renewal - and they will NOT mail you a license this year! - AND you must READ IT on the bottom of your "license status screen" on the Sec of State's web site.

In my case, I had the time to drive down to Macon GA (about 2 hours south of here) and got the govenment ID requirement solved in person in about ten minutes. Most readers will not have that luxury of four hours off of work. Then again, if you do not verify your renewal status, you will be illegal to practicve engineering until the license is replaced.

Fees, money, time, lost certification result.

This situation has already affected nurses license, surveyors, and other business as well. There are 22,000 licenses at risk.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Call a lawyer..... otjust keep filling out forms!!

 

[DRWeig]

I had a similar experience renewing our facility license in May. I knew I had to submit the ID copy, but I missed seeing the upload feature in the online renewal process. Two faxes and e-mail didn't work. I finally called the office in Macon. I put it on speakerphone and did other work until I got a person, 90 minutes later. She gave me her name and a different fax number. Problem solved, same day.

For my personal PE, I uploaded the copy of my ID during the online application process. Bang! Approval e-mail two days later.

On the online renewal web page that explains the need to fax or upload the ID document, there is a field in which you can upload. It's not obvious, and it's at the bottom of the page -- so you might have to scroll down to see it.

I advise making sure to upload the ID during the online process. Faxing later is very iffy, as racookpe1978 found out. I think the published fax number goes to a fax machine in the dumpster behind the building. That drive to Macon would be a real pain.

By the way, the entire Georgia SOS web site is down right now. Probably all the engineers, artichokes, nurses, surveyors, pharmacists, massage therapists, and every other professional person is hitting the site to renew.

Best to you,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

 

[Ron]

Renewed my GA license...no prob.

 

[beej67]

I had no problems either.

But I'm just one data point, and I wouldn't put it past the GA state board to stumble on this whole "citizenship verification process" via "secure and verifiable documents." I presume this is all spillover from some new GA anti-immigrant legislation.

FWIW, I also recently got an email from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Service that said they were doing the same sorts of shenanigans for your erosion control certification. Here's the email in full:

Effective January 1, 2013, applicants seeking to obtain or renew Erosion & Sediment Control Certification for land disturbing activities must provide the GSWCC with the following items:

1. A signed and sworn affidavit verifying the applicant’s lawful presence in the United States
2. One of 16 secure and verifiable documents as required by Georgia law.
3. A Checklist for Verification of Lawful Presence within the United States.

Amendments to O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1, requires the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (Commission) to obtain a signed and sworn affidavit verifying the applicant’s lawful presence in the United States.

The law requires that any individual receiving a state and local public benefit must be able to verify their citizenship or legal immigration status to receive that benefit. The State of Georgia has defined Erosion and Sediment Control Certification as a public benefit. Thus the need for this additional step in the certification process.

Documentation Required

The Commission requires all individuals to submit a Checklist for Verification of Lawful Presence within the United States (checklist), along with one of three different affidavits from which the applicant must choose. This will provide the basis for his or her lawful presence in the United States and a legible photocopy of one of the 16 secure and verifiable documents listed as defined by O.C.G.A. § 50-36-2.

This documentation must be completed and submitted each time an individual takes a certification and/or re-certification course.

All documentation, including the list of secure and verifiable documents, can be found on the Commission's website at

http://www.gaswcc.georgia.gov.

Submitting the Documentation

Documentation may be submitted to the Commission via mail, prior to attending a course or at the certification/re-certification course. All Commission Approved Trainers will be Public Notaries. Individuals who elect to take an online re-certification course must complete and submit documentation to the Commission via mail.

An individual may attend a certification or re-certification course prior to having their citizenship verified. However, in the event that citizenship cannot be verified, the individual must understand that certification/re-certification will not be granted and the course fee will not be refunded.

Please contact the Commission’s Education and Certification Program at 706-552-4474 or email certification@gaswcc.org with questions.

Lauren Zdunczyk
Urban Program Manager
Phone: 706-552-4474 (New Number)
Fax: 706-552-4486 (New Number)
www.gaswcc.georgia.gov

I guess they're scared that an illegal immigrant might try to put up some silt fence. Heaven Forbid.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com