k1 visa driver license only 3 months

[pingpong32256 1]

Hi, All:

My wife( she got K1 and we got married last month) got her driver license in FL, but only for three months.( the tax collect office clerk issued). no matter how we explained, clerk insisted when my wife get green card to renew. the problem is : it takes more than 4 months to get green card. there is gap between that. anybody has experience to share?

Thank!

[Darnell 8,478]

sorry, that's just the way it rolls.

otoh - what are the licensing requirements in yer state, for driving a 49.5 CC (or lower) scooter/moped?

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Hi, All:

My wife( she got K1 and we got married last month) got her driver license in FL, but only for three months.( the tax collect office clerk issued). no matter how we explained, clerk insisted when my wife get green card to renew. the problem is : it takes more than 4 months to get green card. there is gap between that. anybody has experience to share?

Thank!

They just changed our law here and it sounds very similar to yours. Here, they can no longer issue a valid government ID or license valid longer than your status. Since you enter the US on a 90 day K-1 that is all the license can be valid for. Once you get your green card you then renew the license which should be updated with an expiration fitting that time frame.

[a+j 77]

Have you tried asking them if they would accept her EAD as proof that she's legally present in the US, although her i-94 is expired? She could probably have it renewed until the expiration of the EAD, if that was the case.

Edited July 16, 2013 by a+j

[L and T 9]

Same here in California, they do not issue DL with a validity beyond the authorized stay, i.e. the validity of the I-94, or the validity of EAD or green card. I only went to the DMV after I got my EAD, drove with my German license until then.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Try getting it renewed with the EAD to bridge the gap between the I-94 expiring and receiving the green card. A lot of states will accept the EAD for a license/state ID.

~Moving from K-1 Process to Moving Here and Your New Life in America- topic not really about any specific immigration procedure ~

[bigdog 376]

In AZ we renewed on the I797, till the green card arrived, then renewed again. All states are moving to enhanced requirements, you are lucky to moved fast on the Social and DL issues. Good luck on the renewal.

[Caryh 5,206]

Try getting it renewed with the EAD to bridge the gap between the I-94 expiring and receiving the green card. A lot of states will accept the EAD for a license/state ID.

~Moving from K-1 Process to Moving Here and Your New Life in America- topic not really about any specific immigration procedure ~

Florida DMV site http://www.gathergoget.com/

Doesn't appear that they accept the EAD, it must be a green card, green card stamp, or applicant must be approved for asylum.

They're really tough, or just don't care.

[Harsh_77 716]

Hi, All:

My wife( she got K1 and we got married last month) got her driver license in FL, but only for three months.( the tax collect office clerk issued). no matter how we explained, clerk insisted when my wife get green card to renew. the problem is : it takes more than 4 months to get green card. there is gap between that. anybody has experience to share?

Thank!

Just an FYI... even after she gets her GC she will only get a 2 year DL.

Most states have changed the law now where they only issue lic until the validity date of the legal status in the country.

Florida DMV site http://www.gathergoget.com/

Doesn't appear that they accept the EAD, it must be a green card, green card stamp, or applicant must be approved for asylum.

They're really tough, or just don't care.

Its not that they don't care its the law... they are just following the laws passed by the state.

[Caryh 5,206]

Its not that they don't care its the law... they are just following the laws passed by the state.

I was referring to the law makers. Many states allow the EAD, or even the NOA 1 for the green card application.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Florida DMV site http://www.gathergoget.com/

Doesn't appear that they accept the EAD, it must be a green card, green card stamp, or applicant must be approved for asylum.

They're really tough, or just don't care.

Yes they do. That is how my husband got his FL state ID before he received is green card. The green card or stamp is for an immigrant, not a non-immigrant. It is listed there on the checklist from the link you posted.

Primary Identification

Gather one original or certified copy of the following documents:

• Valid employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security (Form I688B or I-766);

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Just an FYI... even after she gets her GC she will only get a 2 year DL.

Most states have changed the law now where they only issue lic until the validity date of the legal status in the country.

Not so. My husband was given the full 8 year ID with his 2 year green card. I have seen others from FL say they did too. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/428855-renew-my-florida-drivers-license-with-my-2-years-gc-and-i-recieved-an-8-years-drivers-license/

[CaroSL 68]

Florida DMV site http://www.gathergoget.com/

Doesn't appear that they accept the EAD, it must be a green card, green card stamp, or applicant must be approved for asylum.

They're really tough, or just don't care.

K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, the work authorization is listed as ok documents to bring in the non immigrant section. Hopefully she will have EAD before her DL expires and there will be no gap.

Hi, All:

My wife( she got K1 and we got married last month) got her driver license in FL, but only for three months.( the tax collect office clerk issued). no matter how we explained, clerk insisted when my wife get green card to renew. the problem is : it takes more than 4 months to get green card. there is gap between that. anybody has experience to share?

Thank!

So, her EAD should work. If the first person you talk to when you go to the DMV tells you that it doesn't, ask to talk to a supervisor. If if doesn't work, ask to talk to a supervisor of a supervisor. Don't give up until you get it. I took me to talk to 3 different persons to get mine. Here is the link to my DMV adventure: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/432318-driving-licence-in-washington-dc/?p=6250749

If you come close to the expiration and there is no EAD in sight, try going back and bringing the NOA1 for the GC. You never know. But you should expect to be told "no" several times, and to have to talk to a supervisor too.

[Caryh 5,206]

Yes they do. That is how my husband got his FL state ID before he received is green card. The green card or stamp is for an immigrant, not a non-immigrant. It is listed there on the checklist from the link you posted.

Primary Identification

Gather one original or certified copy of the following documents:

• Valid employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security (Form I688B or I-766);

K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, the work authorization is listed as ok documents to bring in the non immigrant section. Hopefully she will have EAD before her DL expires and there will be no gap.

So, her EAD should work. If the first person you talk to when you go to the DMV tells you that it doesn't, ask to talk to a supervisor. If if doesn't work, ask to talk to a supervisor of a supervisor. Don't give up until you get it. I took me to talk to 3 different persons to get mine. Here is the link to my DMV adventure: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/432318-driving-licence-in-washington-dc/?p=6250749

If you come close to the expiration and there is no EAD in sight, try going back and bringing the NOA1 for the GC. You never know. But you should expect to be told "no" several times, and to have to talk to a supervisor too.

I should have thought to select non-immigrant for the K-1 on the link

I thought is was a little harsh to make K-1's wait for the greencard. A PDF document on the requirements would be nice to help when some DMV worker doesn't know the law though. I suppose you could always print the Gather Go get page though. I was happy the workers at our local DMV were well aware of the laws of our state and everything went smoothly. In Minnesota they add an immigration check date to the license, before which we needed to show up with her green card or have the license go invalid. It was based on the EAD expiration. When she got her green card we ran down and updated them, and they issued a new license card at no cost.

[CaroSL 68]

I should have thought to select non-immigrant for the K-1 on the link

I thought is was a little harsh to make K-1's wait for the greencard. A PDF document on the requirements would be nice to help when some DMV worker doesn't know the law though. I suppose you could always print the Gather Go get page though. I was happy the workers at our local DMV were well aware of the laws of our state and everything went smoothly. In Minnesota they add an immigration check date to the license, before which we needed to show up with her green card or have the license go invalid. It was based on the EAD expiration. When she got her green card we ran down and updated them, and they issued a new license card at no cost.

It would be nice. But they would probably still make you wait an hour to talk to a supervisor. After telling you "I don't care what you bring madam, you could have made that up, I am telling you this is the only solution"... wanna bet?