Virginaia DMV not interested that I became a citizen

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I went into the VA DMV this morning and was told that it is not important to them what my citizenship status is so I did not need to do anything. She said they would not just change anything unless my card was up for renewal. I reiterated that I had been told I needed to come in to update it and she said she has no idea what they would have been referring to. She said the only difference is the length of time they put on the expiry date is shorter for non-citizens when they issue a license or id.

Thoughts on whether I should go back another day and retry? I only have a state id (don't drive)so I am perfectly happy to leave it as is. Next time I renew I'll have my US passport with me as id.

Edited August 26, 2011 by Udella&Wiz

[OKflyboy 35]

I don't think they're supposed to be interested. The DMV lady is right, the validity of your ID or DL depends on whether you're on visa (you ID or DL expires with the expiration of your I-94) or LPR (USC), but between LPR and USC for them there's no difference.

[v333k 59]

I was under the impression that when you get a DL, you also have the option to register to vote... I might be wrong.

I would call the office and ask about it to be sure. I also heard that we need to go to the local DMV when naturalized.

[milimelo 4,226]

DMV is not interested - you need to go to the board of elections to register as a voter.

[OKflyboy 35]

I was under the impression that when you get a DL, you also have the option to register to vote... I might be wrong.

I would call the office and ask about it to be sure. I also heard that we need to go to the local DMV when naturalized.

You can register to vote any other time, not just when getting or renewing your DL, and not necessarily at a DMV. You can go to the election board, for example.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

This has nothing to do with registerig to vote, I've already done that...they were actually at our Oath ceremony.

I could swear it has been recently recommended here in this forum that you visit the DMV after gaining citizenship because they track your residence status as well and since is your main form of id most times, you wouldn't want someone scanning your state id/license and thinking falsely that you are NOT a citizen .

[nab-400 16]

It's recommended to changes you status with DMV, reason why, is there is an restriction in your driver license unless Virginia does not put restriction. in my case it was restriction and cope will ask for your Green Card when they the restriction, the only way for the cops to know if actually check in DMV system. What you can do is request a duplicate then they will ask you for status show your Certificate and you done.

This has nothing to do with registerig to vote, I've already done that...they were actually at our Oath ceremony.

I could swear it has been recently recommended here in this forum that you visit the DMV after gaining citizenship because they track your residence status as well and since is your main form of id most times, you wouldn't want someone scanning your state id/license and thinking falsely that you are NOT a citizen .

[Arlington 5]

Our experience leads me believe the VA DMV person is correct. My wife's first license, when she was still conditional, had a number "9" in the "Restrictions" field. The expiration date of the DL was the same as her first GC, ie, two years after her entry. As it was expiring, we went back to DMV with the NOA for her ROC (which extended her conditional residency for a year) and they extended her another year. The same "9" showed up in the new licence. As the expiration on this second license approached, we went again (recently) to the DMV and she showed them her new 10-year GC and got an 8-year extension on the license. But, this third license doesn't have a "9" in the license's "restrictions" field. To me, this means that as long as they can extend you for the normal 8 years, it doesn't matter at all to them.

This has nothing to do with registerig to vote, I've already done that...they were actually at our Oath ceremony.

I could swear it has been recently recommended here in this forum that you visit the DMV after gaining citizenship because they track your residence status as well and since is your main form of id most times, you wouldn't want someone scanning your state id/license and thinking falsely that you are NOT a citizen .

[Udella&Wiz 325]

It's recommended to changes you status with DMV, reason why, is there is an restriction in your driver license unless Virginia does not put restriction. in my case it was restriction and cope will ask for your Green Card when they the restriction, the only way for the cops to know if actually check in DMV system. What you can do is request a duplicate then they will ask you for status show your Certificate and you done.

Hmm, well perhaps VA doesn't have this restriction as you mention. I just don;t want to find out 5 yrs from now I should have changed something. I won't get pulled over though - I can;t drive - this is only a state id.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Driver's license law is state, not federal law. Some states don't give out different licenses for non-citizens, some do. Next time your license is up for renewal show up in person with your passport card. You do have a passport card, don't you?

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

updating the dmv wont change much or anything and isnt among the list of offices noted in the packet you would have received at the ceremony.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Driver's license law is state, not federal law. Some states don't give out different licenses for non-citizens, some do. Next time your license is up for renewal show up in person with your passport card. You do have a passport card, don't you?

Passport - didn't see the point of having the card, but yes - will do

[bigdog 376]

I went into the VA DMV this morning and was told that it is not important to them what my citizenship status is so I did not need to do anything. She said they would not just change anything unless my card was up for renewal. I reiterated that I had been told I needed to come in to update it and she said she has no idea what they would have been referring to. She said the only difference is the length of time they put on the expiry date is shorter for non-citizens when they issue a license or id.

Thoughts on whether I should go back another day and retry? I only have a state id (don't drive)so I am perfectly happy to leave it as is. Next time I renew I'll have my US passport with me as id.

[bigdog 376]

In AZ MVD scanned in my wife's I797, and made her license expire on the same date. When her DL comes up for renewal they will scan in green card maybe and change the date to the expiration of the GC. Other VJ members have indicated problems with this on the East coast. Maybe easier in the West where illegal immigration is a major problem for them to sort it out.

[newlyweds2010 208]

In CA I got a regular 5-year DL by showing my EAD valid for a year.