K-1 Spouse getting driving permit before EAD

[mikgeo 0]

Hi everyone,

 

Not sure if this is the right location but if it isn't I would appreciate the mods moving it.

 

My wife entered the US on a K-1 visa 2 months ago and we were married 1 month ago. We just got her SSN from the ssa office and are in the process of submitting the AOS along with the application for her EAD.

 

My wife never learned how to drive in her home country and since we live in a city with pretty scarce public transport I am trying to get her ready to take the driver's test for her license asap. 

 

I know that we need to wait for the EAD before applying for a driver's license but how about applying for a learner's permit? I can't find any relevant info on my state's DMV (Missouri) regarding immigrant's getting leaner's permits. 

 

Has anyone here gotten a learner's permit before receiving the EAD? If so, what info do I need to provide them?

 

Thanks for your help. 

Edited June 4, 2018 by mikgeo

[chiefucchi 0]

For me, it took 192days (PD Nov. 21, 2017)

Married with USC.

Filed in NBC.

No Ref, No Expedite request, No Congressman

 

I was just waiting for last 6 months.

Edited June 4, 2018 by chiefucchi
Wrong topic

[Roel 7,192]

10 minutes ago, mikgeo said:

Hi everyone,

 

Not sure if this is the right location but if it isn't I would appreciate the mods moving it.

 

My wife entered the US on a K-1 visa 2 months ago and we were married 1 month ago. We just got her SSN from the ssa office and are in the process of submitting the AOS along with the application for her EAD.

 

My wife never learned how to drive in her home country and since we live in a city with pretty scarce public transport I am trying to get her ready to take the driver's test for her license asap. 

 

I know that we need to wait for the EAD before applying for a driver's license but how about applying for a learner's permit? I can't find any relevant info on my state's DMV (Missouri) regarding immigrant's getting leaner's permits. 

 

Has anyone here gotten a learner's permit before receiving the EAD? If so, what info do I need to provide them?

 

Thanks for your help. 

Call the dmv and ask. 

But I believe she will not receive any documents without valid EAD or green card. Maybe they can accept her i94 if it's still valid. 

 

Just call them... pretty sure contact informations are on their website. 

[Giovanna Samaha 6]

I renewed my driver's license with my NOA1.

If she has a ssn, proof of residence, NOA1 and passport, she should be able to get it.

Good luck! 

[Roel 7,192]

30 minutes ago, Giovanna Samaha said:

I renewed my driver's license with my NOA1.

If she has a ssn, proof of residence, NOA1 and passport, she should be able to get it.

Good luck! 

Depends on the state. Personally I never heard of anyone accepting noa1 which it's just a document showing the USCIS got your case... 

[Giovanna Samaha 6]

I got mine in Utah... I have a NOA for my I-485, I-130 and I-765... I just took one of them and they accepted it. Maybe it's different for other states...

[Ksenia_O 696]

As Roel mentioned NOA-1 is just a document showing the USCIS got your case and most DMV don't accept it. 

 

But sometimes, not really often, it's possible...

 

My friend got her DL.. well, DL#1, with her Passport and I-94. It was valid till I-94 expiration date.

Once she received her NOA-1, they gave her DL#2, valid for 4 months. And once she got her EAD - her DL was renewed for a year, and then for two years - with a green card. She lives in GA.

At the same time I know that a lot of people  were having troubles to get their DLs until EAD or green card was in hands in the same State, GA.

 

I was able to get my Missouri DL with I-94 and passport once I got my SS card after arrival on a K-1 visa. And could renew my DL only with EAD (NOA-1 was not accepted). Then I was given a 'regular" MO Driver License, valid for 7 years, with my conditional 2 years green card. My other friend, who also lives in MO, but in different town, got DL only for 2 years, according to her green card expiration date... 

 

So, seems like it all depends not only on State, but on DMV (county?) as well.... Which is beyond me WHY, since everything should go through  State you live in, so should be the same rules for every DMV.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

Calling some DMV offices are impossible. Mine never answers their phone - it will just continue to ring with no voicemail option.

 

Unfortunately, you guys may just have to take a trip down in person to verify with your specific office, since it seems some places will take other info prior to EAD but others do not.

 

My husband and I are planning on visiting the DMV hopefully this week, both to change my last name on my ID and see if we can get him a state ID card in the meantime so he'll at least have some SC identification, and plan on verifying the process for his driver's license as well.

[AshMarty 360]

On 6/4/2018 at 4:37 PM, Roel said:

Depends on the state. Personally I never heard of anyone accepting noa1 which it's just a document showing the USCIS got your case... 

My husband was able to get his Drivers license in Maryland with a NOA1  and no EAD (10 month temp license) which held him until his GC was approved. They don't  actually use the NOA1 but  it triggered them to look him up in the S.A.V.E. computer data base that showed he applied for AOS and when.  

 

I realize this is not super common but it happens. I talked to other ppl in Maryland that were told it wasn't possible but my husband was lucky enough to find someone that is aware of immigration and knew the DMV laws here in Maryland. 

Edited June 7, 2018 by AshMarty

[Giovanna Samaha 6]

9 hours ago, AshMarty said:

My husband was able to get his Drivers license in Maryland with a NOA1  and no EAD (10 month temp license) which held him until his GC was approved. They don't  actually use the NOA1 but  it triggered them to look him up in the S.A.V.E. computer data base that showed he applied for AOS and when.  

 

I realize this is not super common but it happens. I talked to other ppl in Maryland that were told it wasn't possible but my husband was lucky enough to find someone that is aware of immigration and knew the DMV laws here in Maryland. 

That's awesome! They also took a week to renew mine because they were looking in the system if I had applied for AOS. I am glad your husband was able to get a DL! Mine is valid for a year  

 

I would suggest everyone to go to the DMV and take all your docs. If two people got a DL, you can get it too. It doesn't cost anything to try.

[AshMarty 360]

 

This post is from 2008 but it would be worth look into for South Carolina. I remember a couple of South Carolina DMV strings going on when we were adjusting last year. You can likely search for them to get more information about getting a DL in South Carolina.