Paperwork and Drivers License

[msd 3]

This might have already been discussed once but. I just realized how many times I already got a new drivers license and how many more times I will have to.

1. Got DL and it was valid for 3 months (because that's when the visa in my passport expired) - should have been valid for a year since the stamp on the visa makes it a temp. green card from the day of entry. I guess since it's Georgia and people in general are not smart, they overlooked this fine print in my passport.

Doesn't matter, because after the GC got here I had to:

2. get DL number 2, which was valid until the 2yr GC expires.

3. once I lift conditions, I need a new one that's valid for a year from when they send me the NOA which states that they recieved my paperwork and which I will have to carry around with my expired GC.

4. number 4 I have to get when I get the 10yr GC.

5. number 5 eventually when I naturalize.

Is there any way around having to apply for so many licenses?

I just posted this here because you all must have been through half of this as well and was wondering about your course of action.

Edited January 23, 2012 by msd

[Saylin 1,605]

This might have already been discussed once but. I just realized how many times I already got a new drivers license and how many more times I will have to.

1. Got DL and it was valid for 3 months (because that's when the visa in my passport expired) - should have been valid for a year since the stamp on the visa makes it a temp. green card from the day of entry. I guess since it's Georgia and people in general are not smart, they overlooked this fine print in my passport.

Doesn't matter, because after the GC got here I had to:

2. get DL number 2, which was valid until the 2yr GC expires.

3. once I lift conditions, I need a new one that's valid for a year from when they send me the NOA which states that they recieved my paperwork and which I will have to carry around with my expired GC.

4. number 4 I have to get when I get the 10yr GC.

5. number 5 eventually when I naturalize.

Is there any way around having to apply for so many licenses?

I just posted this here because you all must have been through half of this as well and was wondering about your course of action.

It must vary by state. I entered on a CR-1 visa. When I went to the DMV here in South Dakota with my 2 year green card, they either didn't notice it was only good for 2 years or they disregard it, because my first driver's license is good for 5 years, expiring in 2016.

Glad I'm not in your shoes as that is a lot of driver's licenses within a few short years.

Edited January 23, 2012 by Saylin

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

You mean you're not happy about having so many opportunities to visit the friendly, efficient folks at the DMV?

All kidding aside, it is a lot. Virginia's almost as bad. My wife will have to "renew" her DL once we get the ROC NOA1, and will then have to "renew" again after she gets the 10-year GC. Fortunately that one should be the last for a while. But "renew" is in quotations because Virginia doesn't actually allow limited-validity DLs to be renewed; they're processed as new original applications.

For now, I'm just hoping they'll accept her NOA1 and do the 1-year renewal so we don't have to make an InfoPass appointment to get an I-551 stamp in her passport. Based on VA DMV's track record so far, I'm worried it could go either way.

[N M 96]

It must vary by state. I entered on a CR-1 visa. When I went to the DMV here in South Dakota with my 2 year green card, they either didn't notice it was only good for 2 years or they disregard it, because my first driver's license is good for 5 years, expiring in 2016.

Glad I'm not in your shoes as that is a lot of driver's licenses within a few short years.

Similar down here in Colorado. Needed an EAD for the first license (so it was only valid for the duration of the EAD), but when that expired I was given a license for the full five years (despite only having a conditional GC).

[H&V 5]

You mean you're not happy about having so many opportunities to visit the friendly, efficient folks at the DMV?

All kidding aside, it is a lot. Virginia's almost as bad. My wife will have to "renew" her DL once we get the ROC NOA1, and will then have to "renew" again after she gets the 10-year GC. Fortunately that one should be the last for a while. But "renew" is in quotations because Virginia doesn't actually allow limited-validity DLs to be renewed; they're processed as new original applications.

For now, I'm just hoping they'll accept her NOA1 and do the 1-year renewal so we don't have to make an InfoPass appointment to get an I-551 stamp in her passport. Based on VA DMV's track record so far, I'm worried it could go either way.

I'm on VA license #3, and expecting to have to get 2 more in the future too! Stephen+Elisha, I got a VA DL last October with my ROC NOA1, no problem. I took the original NOA, you shouldn't need the stamp. If you get a issue make sure to escalate! I took along a copy of this memo - yes it's USCIS only and DMV don't HAVE to recognize it, but it might help if you get a problem.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Once you get your 10 year greencard, that should really be it. Most licences are then good for like 5-8 years depending on the state.

NY State gave me a licence good for 5 years with my 2 year greencard.

It was pretty ridiculous at first though, I had one that was good for 1 year based on my EAD. I didn't get one based on my I-94, since I knew that would've been a waste.

[Marina-Del 10]

It must vary by state. I entered on a CR-1 visa. When I went to the DMV here in South Dakota with my 2 year green card, they either didn't notice it was only good for 2 years or they disregard it, because my first driver's license is good for 5 years, expiring in 2016.

Glad I'm not in your shoes as that is a lot of driver's licenses within a few short years.

Be careful with that expiry date.

My husbands two year conditional GC ends in June and his original license in GA had an expiry date for 2015. However, the lady at the desk said that even though the expiry date was for 2015, in reality it expires in June 2012 because that's when his GC expires. She said it is illegal to have a drivers license without GC, and since as of yet, we have no extension on his GC, his license will expire in June.

I don't know if it's the same in SD, but once you hit the expired GC date, I'd be careful!!

[Saylin 1,605]

Be careful with that expiry date.

My husbands two year conditional GC ends in June and his original license in GA had an expiry date for 2015. However, the lady at the desk said that even though the expiry date was for 2015, in reality it expires in June 2012 because that's when his GC expires. She said it is illegal to have a drivers license without GC, and since as of yet, we have no extension on his GC, his license will expire in June.

I don't know if it's the same in SD, but once you hit the expired GC date, I'd be careful!!

Thanks for your story! I'll definitely call up the DMV and ask about this.

[lovelyalex 99]

wow I am grateful that mine is good until 2015, providing I don't move states again!

[N M 96]

Be careful with that expiry date.

My husbands two year conditional GC ends in June and his original license in GA had an expiry date for 2015. However, the lady at the desk said that even though the expiry date was for 2015, in reality it expires in June 2012 because that's when his GC expires. She said it is illegal to have a drivers license without GC, and since as of yet, we have no extension on his GC, his license will expire in June.

I don't know if it's the same in SD, but once you hit the expired GC date, I'd be careful!!

Classic example of the lady at the DMV not understanding immigration procedures, and frankly.... talking out of her backside.

As long as an LPR applies for removal of conditions in the 3 month window, their conditional residence status does not expire. The NOA1 that they receive, affords a one year extension to their conditional resident status to allow USCIS to process the removal of conditions application.

In short - as long as you file before the "expiration" date on his GC, his license WILL NOT expire in June 2012.

Edited January 30, 2012 by N M