California State Drivers License - not issued with EAD/AP?

[Lights 56]

What do I do…?

So I received my EAD and AP. I went to the DMV and went through my written and road test. I passed and was told my license would be in the mail within 2-4 weeks.

I get a notice today saying that California DMV cannot process my drivers license. The notice services as an extended temporary license (up to 120 days). It notes: Under California law prohibits issuance of license until your legal presence has been verified. This information has not been received by immigration and naturalization services.

Am I not allowed to get my drivers license with my EAD and AP? Our interview is still pending and we sent our AOS in and received our NOA 1 in early July.

[Sal and Jay 2]

I could not get mine in Alabama until I had my 2 year green card and then i had to renew it every year.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

EAD is listed as legal presence proof for CA DMV. It also says, "All original and pending driver license or identification cards will expire on the expiration date of his/her birth date and legal presence document (BD/LP) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)." That means you should have been given a license that expires when your EAD does.

Not sure why they gave you only 120 days. Is the ID you used going to expire sooner than your EAD? You could print out the info from their website and show them to see if they can get it fixed for you, or just use the notice as your temporary license until you get your green card.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/dl/dl_info/!ut/p/a1/lZBNa8MwDIZ_yw49GvljSduj2UqypmWHQRf7Ejw7bj0Sxy0mlP362d25lAkkEHp5pUcgoQXp1eyOKrrJqyH3suyat9cNqSvcVMWOY97U9fthc6DVmsEnSJDaxxBPIMw4d3rysfex6_0Cpz6VIWfnvJ2yNmhnQDBaElVYjfolseiZaYzW_ZdBxBLKDKbWsBUIEHJ5d3lRwsc_DbePaFoQ9LJ_2R-TrYondDu6NUPOP4KkcN_ns-SJOpNeY5o9wr49KW3Gd4JjCOO4YkWYf3b1MAf-9AsQLhUC/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?urile=wcm%3Apath%3A%2Fdmv_content_en%2Fdmv%2Fdl%2Fdl_info#ltlp

[Lights 56]

EAD is listed as legal presence proof for CA DMV. It also says, "All original and pending driver license or identification cards will expire on the expiration date of his/her birth date and legal presence document (BD/LP) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)." That means you should have been given a license that expires when your EAD does.

Not sure why they gave you only 120 days. Is the ID you used going to expire sooner than your EAD? You could print out the info from their website and show them to see if they can get it fixed for you, or just use the notice as your temporary license until you get your green card.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/dl/dl_info/!ut/p/a1/lZBNa8MwDIZ_yw49GvljSduj2UqypmWHQRf7Ejw7bj0Sxy0mlP362d25lAkkEHp5pUcgoQXp1eyOKrrJqyH3suyat9cNqSvcVMWOY97U9fthc6DVmsEnSJDaxxBPIMw4d3rysfex6_0Cpz6VIWfnvJ2yNmhnQDBaElVYjfolseiZaYzW_ZdBxBLKDKbWsBUIEHJ5d3lRwsc_DbePaFoQ9LJ_2R-TrYondDu6NUPOP4KkcN_ns-SJOpNeY5o9wr49KW3Gd4JjCOO4YkWYf3b1MAf-9AsQLhUC/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?urile=wcm%3Apath%3A%2Fdmv_content_en%2Fdmv%2Fdl%2Fdl_info#ltlp

Yes - I literally did my test a week after getting my EAD in hand. So it's good until end of 2015.

That's so odd... the DMV processed it properly (or so I think) when I was there in person/after my test. But it's the letter after that's weird.

[Lights 56]

Do you think this could be the issue? Though I haven't had any issues thus far with employment or travel outside of the country...

On my Canadian ID's, my middle name has always been written out. Mary Jo Anne Smith (for example). But for my US EAD... I just noticed that it says Mary J Smith. I also notice that visa did the same thing (Mary J Smith) when issuing my credit card. Does the US not recognize 2 middle names? or always just shortens it to the first initial? Just trying to figure out what went wrong and of course the DMV call centre line is down at the moment.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Lights

[Lights 56]

Just got off the phone with the DMV and they said it because immigration hasn't verified my information... so that's why they sent me a extension paper license for another 120 days. This is just odd... I called USCIS and they said if they did give information off my EAD that it's definitely in the system.

What do I do from here? lol! DMV has been, for the most part, the most difficult part of immigration thus far.

[vkrishn 97]

I had the same issue when i was on H-1. DMV sends the info for verification and USCIS take their own sweet time to respond to DMV. I was given the paper based license extension valid for 90 days but this was few years back.

So all you can do is wait. You should get the license once USCIS responds to DMV's request should happen in about 30-45 days.

[zuluweta 250]

Ah, so now it appears to me that the delay in the issuance of my CA state ID might be due to USCIS taking time to verify the information to DMV.

Has anyone obtained a CA driver's license using an expired out-of-state DL? I don't want to retake the driving test, which is not needed if an applicant has an out-of-state DL.

[jxn 86]

Do you think this could be the issue? Though I haven't had any issues thus far with employment or travel outside of the country...

On my Canadian ID's, my middle name has always been written out. Mary Jo Anne Smith (for example). But for my US EAD... I just noticed that it says Mary J Smith. I also notice that visa did the same thing (Mary J Smith) when issuing my credit card. Does the US not recognize 2 middle names? or always just shortens it to the first initial? Just trying to figure out what went wrong and of course the DMV call centre line is down at the moment.

I believe the EAD naming format on the card is just that: first name, middle initial, last name. Sounds like yours is just how it should be.