NYS New York State Driver's License Nightmare

[LuvMyPortuGAL 1]

Long story ..

Social Security a year ago would not give my wife a SS card in her married name (we were civilly married in January ‘10).

They said regardless of marriage license, we should wait (not sure if it was a legal issue or not) until she got her green card with married last name on it. Thus, her SS card has her maiden name on it.

The NYS DMV web site says that an international driver can drive in NYS legally and obtaining an international permit is NOT required, but if the driver becomes a legal resident then they must get her NYS learners permit and then driver’s license within 30 days of getting her green card. MY wife got her green card in December ’10.

So today (though a little past 30 days of getting green card) we go to the big local DMV office to get her a learner's permit, but they say that her SS card must have married name!!! We go to SS Admin to change it and they say that USCIS has not yet updated her immigration record (after 2 months now) so they cannot honor her new last name even if she has her green card and official marriage certificate in hand!!!! They had to submit an inquiry and it can take up to three months before she gets her card. ARGH!!

Sooooo … I called a smaller County DMV office (an hour down the road) to see if it was TRUE that SS card must have her new last name and they said that as long as she has a marriage certificate she should be able to get her learner’s permit. I am like #######??? Made we wonder what the hell is up with larger local DMV office.

So I called yet a THRID DMV office saying that the previous two offices were conflicting and also that SS Admin is in conflict with DMV because there is no way after permanent resident to get a license changed in 30 days because SS Admin takes so long to get the name change authorized. Then the small office said (after calling the big office for advice) that she needs an international driver’s license issued to her from her home country even though the NYS DMV web site says it is NOT NECESSARY to have an international permit in NYS!!!! HOLY #######!!! They said she could possibly be driving illegally now, but if she had the international permit she can drive for as long as she wants…. They say this even though that is in DIRECT conflict with the web site which says it is NOT required, but she must have NYS license within 30 days of obtaining permanent residence.

So you can see nobody knows ####### (expletive removed), the whole thing is MESSED up (another expletive removed), and the best thing in my opinion is if we just somehow got her learners permit and then NYS license ASAP to avoid any driving without a legal license issue. I may have to take a ride to first small county office I called and try and get the learners permit, but who knows if that would fail or not in the long run even though they said on the phone it would be okay.

After all we went through with USCIS and RFEs and everything else .. DO WE REALLY NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS? It is amazing a friends wife from UK who never ever drove got her learners permit with no problem. She had NEVER driven previously.

Any help or comments appreciated.

[milimelo 1,732]

Long story ..

Social Security a year ago would not give my wife a SS card in her married name (we were civilly married in January '10).

They said regardless of marriage license, we should wait (not sure if it was a legal issue or not) until she got her green card with married last name on it. Thus, her SS card has her maiden name on it.

The NYS DMV web site says that an international driver can drive in NYS legally and obtaining an international permit is NOT required, but if the driver becomes a legal resident then they must get her NYS learners permit and then driver's license within 30 days of getting her green card. MY wife got her green card in December '10.

So today (though a little past 30 days of getting green card) we go to the big local DMV office to get her a learner's permit, but they say that her SS card must have married name!!! We go to SS Admin to change it and they say that USCIS has not yet updated her immigration record (after 2 months now) so they cannot honor her new last name even if she has her green card and official marriage certificate in hand!!!! They had to submit an inquiry and it can take up to three months before she gets her card. ARGH!!

Sooooo … I called a smaller County DMV office (an hour down the road) to see if it was TRUE that SS card must have her new last name and they said that as long as she has a marriage certificate she should be able to get her learner's permit. I am like #######??? Made we wonder what the hell is up with larger local DMV office.

So I called yet a THRID DMV office saying that the previous two offices were conflicting and also that SS Admin is in conflict with DMV because there is no way after permanent resident to get a license changed in 30 days because SS Admin takes so long to get the name change authorized. Then the small office said (after calling the big office for advice) that she needs an international driver's license issued to her from her home country even though the NYS DMV web site says it is NOT NECESSARY to have an international permit in NYS!!!! HOLY #######!!! They said she could possibly be driving illegally now, but if she had the international permit she can drive for as long as she wants…. They say this even though that is in DIRECT conflict with the web site which says it is NOT required, but she must have NYS license within 30 days of obtaining permanent residence.

So you can see nobody knows ####### (expletive removed), the whole thing is MESSED up (another expletive removed), and the best thing in my opinion is if we just somehow got her learners permit and then NYS license ASAP to avoid any driving without a legal license issue. I may have to take a ride to first small county office I called and try and get the learners permit, but who knows if that would fail or not in the long run even though they said on the phone it would be okay.

After all we went through with USCIS and RFEs and everything else .. DO WE REALLY NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS? It is amazing a friends wife from UK who never ever drove got her learners permit with no problem. She had NEVER driven previously.

Any help or comments appreciated.

Go to the smaller DMV office and get the Learner's Permit there. Don't mention you called about it, just provide documents they want and get the LP. SS office also should be able to issue her new SS card with the married name if she has the GC (or EAD) with that name on it. You just need to be a bit insistent.

[LuvMyPortuGAL 1]

Went to SS and they said that her records were not updated yet by USCIS and thus they had to send in a written request for validation. They took her old SS card and shredded it. Handed her a letter that states that once the USCIS confirms the validity of her documents (green card etc) then she will receive card withing 4 weeks.

So now we don't even have a card to give to the DMV. Not sure if they will accept the letter as they are firm in wanting to see a SS card. The letter does not have her SS number on it.