Texas Driver's License issued for 2 weeks!

[Misha'sgirl 44]

We entered the U.S. January 25th 2014

We went to get his SSN at the local office two days after entry and received it in the mail seven days after appointment.

We married February 19th 2014

We filed AOS March 24th 2014

We received notice that his biometrics for I-485 is on the 25th of this month

We went to get his Driver's License just a couple of days ago, and they issued it to him within a week.

They gave him a temporary license but we didn't notice it's valid only for two weeks (the date in which his visa expires)

We went to the DL office to ask why they gave him a license for two weeks? Texas licenses are for six years.

Even his electrician's license we got him, is valid for one year...

So we're kind of confused because the lady explained that the reason why his license expires in 2 weeks is because that is the date his visa expires.

As you know, we already filed AOS and he has already received his biometrics appointment for the 25th of this month. Can anyone explain nicely and clearly what is going on, what we're not understanding?

[Angel012110 19]

Even if You FILE AOS it is never for sure that it will be Approved. All States Require Valid Status ( and some are more strict than others)
to Issue A DL and right now It is I am guessing K1? When his Visa Expires he Will Be Out of Status until His EAD is approved if you guys filed for that if not you guys will have to wait until the green card is approved. Sorry.

[HK12 273]

First, his visa expired the day he entered the US. His driver's license will expire the day his I-94 expires (90 days from entering the States). Most likely he will have to wait until his EAD gets approved in order to get another driver's license or Learner Permit. This is normal procedure. In fact, he was lucky that he got a license just on the I-94 - I tried to get one on my unexpired I-94 last year here in Oklahoma, and they basically threw me out of their office, telling me that I needed to come back when I had my EAD approved.

Edited April 18, 2014 by HK12

[Hypnos 6,576]

In Texas you will need an EAD or green card to extend a driver's licence or ID card beyond the I-94 expiration.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

Thank you guys!

[Laiza 2]

hi!!!

i have a question about the driver's license tests... did your husband had to take the written and practice tests??? did he had to drive on the highway?? i'm about to go and get mine, but i'm in panic cause i've never driven on the highway and it totally freaks me out

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from Working and Traveling During US Immigration to Moving Here and Your New Life in America Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

[Owen_London 65]

hi!!!

i have a question about the driver's license tests... did your husband had to take the written and practice tests??? did he had to drive on the highway?? i'm about to go and get mine, but i'm in panic cause i've never driven on the highway and it totally freaks me out

Driving tests in Texas are very easy, except for showing you can parallel park.

Yes you have to take a written test, unless you have done it in a classroom or online beforehand. It's probably easier to do this online.

My driving test, at Jones Road in Houston, consisted of:

- Examiner gets in car tells you to drive over and wait for one of the spaces for parallel parking to be free.

- Parallel park between two poles

- Prove brakes work by stopping car at approach to exit of parking lot.

- Exit into residential neighbourhood and drive around it as directed, taking care to show lane discipline, obey stop signs, stop when exiting private property and use indicators (blinkers) as necessary.

- Exit neighbourhood onto local road. Drive back on the local roads, obeying school zone speed limit and stop lights as necessary.

The end.

Honestly, if you're worried about it, get some lessons from a local driving instructor first. It sounds like you could do with some lessons even if you don't need them to pass the test. If you just have one lesson, they can take you round the test route a few times and get you to practice parallel parking. If you have more than that, they can help you get used to highway driving and other aspects of driving in Texas.

[teanet 20]

Also depends on age, for people 16-24 they have to do 6hours course ( You can do it online, its about 50 dollars and than after you finish it and pass all tests they will send you certificate), than you take the certificate with you to DMV and all what Is needed is set up driving test. Like already stated by London - parallel parking, backing up, residence area, school zone.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

hi!!!

i have a question about the driver's license tests... did your husband had to take the written and practice tests??? did he had to drive on the highway?? i'm about to go and get mine, but i'm in panic cause i've never driven on the highway and it totally freaks me out

I'm the petitioner, born here in the U.S. and highways did used to scare me, too. I always dreaded getting on highways even though I wasn't driving. When I went to take the test, I thought it would be a long drawn out driving test and I would have to go onto the highway. But I didn't. The location I went to is in Spring, Texas which is a mega center. I reccommend going to a mega center by the way, because they seem to go quicker. My point is, don't be afraid to take the test. It can't be as bad as mine. I didn't even have A/C in my car, so the windows were rolled down in the humid heat of Texas summer and we drove past a stinky pig farm. But it's a memory I'll never forget. That's what life is about... interesting, exciting, experiences.

Basically, we came into the center with all the paperwork neccisary for the written and driving test. They told us since he did his written test online (he's 27 and didn't have to do it, but we found out after the fact) since he had already done his test, then he wouldn't have to...but he would still have to do the online test. BE AN HOUR EARLY or they will refuse to test you. After you arrive an hour early, they will tell you to go drive your car to the "testing start area" and in the mega center we went to, its a two lane testing area. When you finally get to the spot where they "inspect" your car, you better make sure ahead of time that your car is not falling about. Yeah, try to drive something a little better than the hunk of junk the Blues Brothers destroyed. Once they've inspected your car and you pass, you will be assigned an instructor. If they don't have any instructors available due to high volume of testers, then you will pull off and wait. The first thing they will make you do is parallel parking. Once you've successfully completed that ONE TIME, you will drive where they instruct you to. The mega center we went to was an easy drive test. We went around the block and back in about five minutes. They usually won't discount you for anything unless you majorly screw up, which you won't. Have confidence in yourself!

If you already took the test, I hope you passed!

[MattNickless 2]

I have to add that the driving test here in San Antonio TX was ridiculously easy! I don't know why I was nervous for a second, other than a parallel park, I had to drive around a quiet neighborhood for 10 minutes and got the thumbs up