i751 NOA not accepted at DMV

[intergalactic 1]

My driver's license expired in January, so I visited the DMV twice (once before my license expired and then about after 3 months) already and showed them my i-751NOA letter but they are not ready to read it but instead the supervisor there says that the letter can be tossed and told me come back after I receive the new green card. I thought they mistook the my i-751 NOA letter with the regular green renewal receipt so I tried to explain to them of the situation but couldn't because they just didn't let me talk. After the second attempt I just got frustrated and thought I would wait for the decision on i-751 application, but it's been 6 months already and the status is still initial review (with no update at all). This is getting too much frustrating, can't drive, don't know what's going with the i-751application...

For right now, I really need to renew my driver's license. I need suggestion on how to approach this issue from the experts.

Edited June 17, 2014 by intergalactic

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

1. Find your state laws, go back, ask for a supervisor, show them their own laws and get renewal.

2. Make INFOPASS appointment at your local USCIS, get I-551 stamp in your passport, get renewal.

[Fifth Echelon 6]

In Texas, the DPS website clearly states what documents are allowed or not, and the NOA is one of them. If your state's DMV website has a similar list, print it off and take it in to do a renewal. Alternatively, get the I-551 passport stamp, which will definitely work, but will likely result in your expired GC being retained by USCIS and not given back to you.

[intergalactic 1]

thanks guys ... i will try ur suggestions and let you know what happens.

[intergalactic 1]

1. Find your state laws, go back, ask for a supervisor, show them their own laws and get renewal.

2. Make INFOPASS appointment at your local USCIS, get I-551 stamp in your passport, get renewal.

Hey,

I tried to find the state laws as you suggested, but couldn't find it with online searches.

So, instead I just visited the USICS and got the i-551 stamp on my passport. But the DMV is saying that they don't accept the I-551 and I will have to bring the I-94, which I don't have.

Do you have any suggestion what else I can do to get driver's license in the current situation here in Mississippi.

Thanks.

[didopage 337]

Did you ask to talk to a supervisor? The person you talked to obviously did not understand the I-551 is your proof of permanent residency.

[Mac An Lighiche 1]

disregard

Edited June 23, 2014 by Mac An Lighiche

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The I-551 stamp IS the EXACT same thing as a Green Card. The official name for the Green Card is Form I-551. The person you spoke to at the DMV doesn't know what they are talking about. Definitely ask to see a supervisor. You may wish to print off this document from the SSA showing what an I-551 form is and what it means in a passport. https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211025

and bring it with you. Item 3. clearly defines the I-551 stamp in a passport as being the same thing as the I-551 card.

You could also let the DMV know that generally someone has either an I-94 meaning they are a non-immigrant or an I-551 meaning they are an immigrant. They don't have both. An expired I-94 may have the I-551 stamped on it, but it is the I-551 that is valid, not the I-94. One cannot be a non-immigrant and an immigrant at the same time.

Good luck!

Edited June 24, 2014 by Kathryn41

[intergalactic 1]

Thanks everyone for the suggestion. As you all said I will try to talk to the supervisor and see if the he/she knows the actual law.

@Kathryn41

Thanks for the SSA link. It sure does mention temporary I-551 as an acceptable proof of LPR. Knowing how they treated me last time, I doubt that they will even consider reading the document in the first place. But at the moment, really don't see what else I can do other then giving it a try.

[intergalactic 1]

I visited a different DMV today. This one is almost twice as further than the the that I visited 2 times earlier. But, it's good that I got a drivers license today, even though it's good only till December 9.

Another problem is that they didn't recognize the I-551 stamp on my passport. But I had taken the NOA letter which I showed to them when they told me that stamp was not going to work. Luckily, there was a lady who was good enough to read that letter and told every else that it's actually an extension on PR and run the number on the letter on their computer. Two other people ran it turn by turn, but finally came to the conclusion that it was ok for them give me the drivers license.

Now, the problem how am I going to get the license after December 9, since they think that I-551 stamp is good enough. Do USICS give another NOA letter or will it be just the stamps on the passport after that?

Edited July 3, 2014 by intergalactic

[didopage 337]

Great!!

I think your ROC case should be approved by December...

[intergalactic 1]

Great!!

I think your ROC case should be approved by December...

I really hope that at least they touch that application by then because it will be exactly a year on that day (Dec 9). A year is time long enough that simple application. But anything is possible specially with VSC. I have even seen people waiting years for application to be adjudicated. That's why I am more worried about the license than the application itself right now. Really really sad situation.

One thing that's strange about the DMVs here is that they don't know what an I-551 stamp is. From what everybody here has to say I thought the DMVs were going to easily accept the stamp, but instead they were asking me for the I-94.

Hey but the way CSC is going, yours should be done in no time.

[escurel 0]

I was just reading this topic. Some DMVs/Social Security offices are so difficult for both non-immigrants and immigrants alike. My husband needed a drivers license, which required an SSN. At that time he was on a Student Visa and did not have an SSN. So the DMV said "go to the SS office and get a letter from them saying he is not eligible for an SSN" We went, and the SS office said they would not produce that letter and insisted that we wouldn't need it anyway because he should be going to HOMELAND SECURITY to get a drivers license.

.....Yeah

So luckily we found someone else at the same SS office that could help us. I empathize with your situation totally. Good luck on your I751 application. I hope they adjudicated by December for you. We are Nov 2013 files with NO update except "Initial review"

Edited July 21, 2014 by escurel

[ofhl 0]

I am in the same exact situation as you were, my licnese exipired about 3 months ago, I applied for the removal of condition about 4 months, had biometric within 2 weeks but been waiting since. Can't drive. I visited the MVA (same as DMV) in Maryland, they can't verify my status and told me to contact homeland dept. What is the prcoess to get a stamp I-551 stamp? Can the Social security office help?

will i be able to travel with I-551 stamp?

[Junior11 14]

In Texas, the DPS website clearly states what documents are allowed or not, and the NOA is one of them. If your state's DMV website has a similar list, print it off and take it in to do a renewal. Alternatively, get the I-551 passport stamp, which will definitely work, but will likely result in your expired GC being retained by USCIS and not given back to you.

Would you please help me get to the website page (Texas) where it says NOA is an acceptable document? I've looked and looked. A link would be awesome. Thank you very much.