Driver's License Troubles

[Dillman2112 0]

Hello,

I am a Canadian K-1 Visa holder in Florida who moved here November 28th and got married at the end of December. I haven’t sent in my Adjustment of Status application yet as the joint sponsor hasn't gotten the required information together (but that’s another story). The I-94 in my passport expires on February 26th.

I drove down to Florida with my car and made sure to import it properly at the border when crossing in November, so I have all the documentation to register it when the time comes. Currently the registration, plates, insurance and my driver’s license are still all from Ontario. I called my current insurance provider and they said I only have until the end of February for coverage since I permanently moved to the US.

This week I made an appointment at the local DMV office so I could get my Florida driver’s license and then obtain insurance and transfer the registration over. I went in with my current Canadian passport and I-94, SSN Card, Ontario driver’s license and two pieces of mail with my name on it. After reviewing the documents the lady at the counter told me, since my I-94 expires on Feb. 26, I would only be able to get a license valid until that date and she was unable to issue me a license. She said I would need to come back when I have obtained my green card or EAD to apply then. Not knowing any better I accepted that and left.

When I got home I did some reading online and saw there is a specific section for Canadian citizens when obtaining a driver’s license in FL. With the above documentation I should have been able to exchange the Canadian license for a 1 year FL license. I am planning on going back to the office but I just wanted to make sure that I am in the right here. Does the I-94 expiry or immigration status not matter at all if I am a Canadian citizen with a valid SSN? The list of documents states I can bring my birth certificate instead of passport. Should I just bring that in to avoid confusion and they don't see the I-94?

Edited January 30, 2015 by Dillman2112

[nigel78 1]

Do not take no for an answer! I had the same thing happen, I took marriage certificate, canadian passport, SSN....I explained multiple times that I'm permanent in usa and applied for a green card. The I-94 confuses them don't even show it. I would suggest trying another DMV and asking for a manager that is familiar with Canadians. I live in Florida myself so I went through the exact dog and pony show. Just go back minus the I-94 you are legally entitled to have a florida license.

Edited January 30, 2015 by nigel78

[Dillman2112 0]

Thanks for the reply! I wish I had known all this beforehand but I really wasn't thinking there would be an issue.

Since that DMV office is a 5 min walk from home I'll give them another try before going to another. This time I will hand them my birth certificate instead of passport and let them know I am a Canadian Citizen looking to exchange my license.

[Ms Hogan 295]

The explanation you read about Canadians getting Florida licenses is for snow birds I believe BUT if it helps you to get what you need then take it and run with it! It isn't really for those of us who are immigrating. But if it works, great!!

I know when I went to get my license they had different information depending on who I asked. I even wound up having to take a driving test!!

[Dillman2112 0]

To update, I went back and mentioned right away that I am a Canadian citizen, both the secretary AND the clerk this time were familiar with the process and let me know there are two options as a Canadian citizen:

1. Take a driving test and keep my current Canadian license as well as be issued a 1-year FL license.

2. Surrender my Canadian license and no driving test is needed for the 1-year FL license to be issued.

I decided to surrender my license and not take the test. I asked if I could have the Ontario license back, but invalidated, and that was no issue as well. They only clipped off the corner, so now I can send that back to ServiceOntario for a refund.

It took about an hour of questions and waiting at the kiosk but the license was finally issued. At first I only presented my birth certificate though the clerk eventually did ask to see my passport, which then caused him to have to go ask another employee for help. He came back saying "I was trying to make this too complicated, it's actually really simple". I'm assuming after taking note of the I-94 inside .

Anyway, now I was able to get insurance (I had to order a copy of my Canadian abstract to lower the premium) and I am in the process of registering my car here. That process is going to be more expensive than what I thought unfortunately but I will be glad to have all this stuff over with!

[CowBoE 429]

Hello,

I am a Canadian K-1 Visa holder in Florida who moved here November 28th and got married at the end of December. I haven’t sent in my Adjustment of Status application yet as the joint sponsor hasn't gotten the required information together (but that’s another story). The I-94 in my passport expires on February 26th.

I drove down to Florida with my car and made sure to import it properly at the border when crossing in November, so I have all the documentation to register it when the time comes. Currently the registration, plates, insurance and my driver’s license are still all from Ontario. I called my current insurance provider and they said I only have until the end of February for coverage since I permanently moved to the US.

This week I made an appointment at the local DMV office so I could get my Florida driver’s license and then obtain insurance and transfer the registration over. I went in with my current Canadian passport and I-94, SSN Card, Ontario driver’s license and two pieces of mail with my name on it. After reviewing the documents the lady at the counter told me, since my I-94 expires on Feb. 26, I would only be able to get a license valid until that date and she was unable to issue me a license. She said I would need to come back when I have obtained my green card or EAD to apply then. Not knowing any better I accepted that and left.

When I got home I did some reading online and saw there is a specific section for Canadian citizens when obtaining a driver’s license in FL. With the above documentation I should have been able to exchange the Canadian license for a 1 year FL license. I am planning on going back to the office but I just wanted to make sure that I am in the right here. Does the I-94 expiry or immigration status not matter at all if I am a Canadian citizen with a valid SSN? The list of documents states I can bring my birth certificate instead of passport. Should I just bring that in to avoid confusion and they don't see the I-94?

Yeah...if you happened to go back...try another location.

Whether its DMV or SSA office, it seems people have different experience

in differently states (certainly), but with different local location or personnel in the same location.

There must be grey understanding and we are at the mercy of their interpretation.

[Ms Hogan 295]

To update, I went back and mentioned right away that I am a Canadian citizen, both the secretary AND the clerk this time were familiar with the process and let me know there are two options as a Canadian citizen:

1. Take a driving test and keep my current Canadian license as well as be issued a 1-year FL license.

2. Surrender my Canadian license and no driving test is needed for the 1-year FL license to be issued.

I decided to surrender my license and not take the test. I asked if I could have the Ontario license back, but invalidated, and that was no issue as well. They only clipped off the corner, so now I can send that back to ServiceOntario for a refund.

It took about an hour of questions and waiting at the kiosk but the license was finally issued. At first I only presented my birth certificate though the clerk eventually did ask to see my passport, which then caused him to have to go ask another employee for help. He came back saying "I was trying to make this too complicated, it's actually really simple". I'm assuming after taking note of the I-94 inside .

Anyway, now I was able to get insurance (I had to order a copy of my Canadian abstract to lower the premium) and I am in the process of registering my car here. That process is going to be more expensive than what I thought unfortunately but I will be glad to have all this stuff over with!

That's great news!!

[moemac59 192]

Hello,

I am a Canadian K-1 Visa holder in Florida who moved here November 28th and got married at the end of December. I haven’t sent in my Adjustment of Status application yet as the joint sponsor hasn't gotten the required information together (but that’s another story). The I-94 in my passport expires on February 26th.

I drove down to Florida with my car and made sure to import it properly at the border when crossing in November, so I have all the documentation to register it when the time comes. Currently the registration, plates, insurance and my driver’s license are still all from Ontario. I called my current insurance provider and they said I only have until the end of February for coverage since I permanently moved to the US.

This week I made an appointment at the local DMV office so I could get my Florida driver’s license and then obtain insurance and transfer the registration over. I went in with my current Canadian passport and I-94, SSN Card, Ontario driver’s license and two pieces of mail with my name on it. After reviewing the documents the lady at the counter told me, since my I-94 expires on Feb. 26, I would only be able to get a license valid until that date and she was unable to issue me a license. She said I would need to come back when I have obtained my green card or EAD to apply then. Not knowing any better I accepted that and left.

When I got home I did some reading online and saw there is a specific section for Canadian citizens when obtaining a driver’s license in FL. With the above documentation I should have been able to exchange the Canadian license for a 1 year FL license. I am planning on going back to the office but I just wanted to make sure that I am in the right here. Does the I-94 expiry or immigration status not matter at all if I am a Canadian citizen with a valid SSN? The list of documents states I can bring my birth certificate instead of passport. Should I just bring that in to avoid confusion and they don't see the I-94?

The exact same thing happened to me when I went into the DMV..I live in a small town outside of Buffalo. I ended up going to a different DMV office and they finally took my license and issued a temporary new one. The photo on it was only valid for the time of my K1 visa but the actual license was good until 2017. Once I received my conditional green card I took it to the DMV and they changed the wording on the license and issued a permanent license. They had to call someone in NYC because they had so little experience on how to do this.