renewing drivers license with i551

[Kasoveli 9]

So I just left the dmv. They refused to renew my drivers license with my i551 stamp bc my passport that the stamp is in has my maiden name. My current drivers license, SSN, and everything else I have is in my married name. They told me I need the physical green card in my married name. Which is it already was. But I just haven't go my new one in the mail yet and when I went to get my stamp they took my old one. I left in tears. Anyone else run into this problem? 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

no need to cry over it. just wait for the new one.

[Kasoveli 9]

I know, but it's extremely frustrating. However I do heed to drive to work which is an hour each way from my home. My license expires in a week and I'd rather not drive on an expired license 

[Villanelle 4,122]

every state dmv has different policies.

 

You can try going to another office. Ask for a supervisor. Sometimes the workers arent well informed and tell you no when it is possible to get it issued. A supervisor can clear up any confusion.

 

Also are they able to give you a DL with your maiden name? Its better then no DL

[Kasoveli 9]

I did ask for them for give it to me I my maiden nam and they told me no. I kept trying to explain to them that the greencard is in my married name. The number on my stamp is the same number ony greencard. My license already had my married name. I had all my paperwork and noa from uscis with my married name. Had a marriage certificate which they said won't help. They just kept saying they need the physical greencard. They also didn't even know what the stamp was. They kept saying visa and requested an i94 print out as well. 

[cd37 229]

Just try going to another dmv office or go to the same one and ask for supervisor.

[Kasoveli 9]

I had spoke with a supervisor and she also was like nooooooo we can't do that... I'll try another office and hopefully they have more experience with this. 

[cd37 229]

http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/bmv_proof-name-change.pdf

 

here is the link to ohio dmv. On their own site they say marriage cert is acceptable if you have change your name. Print this and take it with you next time. 

[Kasoveli 9]

thank you I will! Everytime I go to my local dmv there are problems. Last time I went with my extension letter they tried to make my license expire the date my letter was issued and not one yr  from my greencard expiry. Which would have shorted me two months. They wanted a letter with an actual expiration on it and didn't understand what the letter was saying.  I think they were mind blown. 

[Diane and Chris 651]

5 hours ago, Damara said:

every state dmv has different policies.

 

You can try going to another office. Ask for a supervisor. Sometimes the workers arent well informed and tell you no when it is possible to get it issued. A supervisor can clear up any confusion.

 

Also are they able to give you a DL with your maiden name? Its better then no DL

Exactly.  We had to go to a couple of different ones until we found a person that actually knew the correct laws and procedures. She was very helpful. Keep trying OP!

Edited August 18, 2018 by Diane and Chris

[Kasoveli 9]

thank you! I'll be trying a different office Monday. Fingers crossed they know what to do. 

[Ketsuban 1,034]

OP I don't know where you live in OH but the BMV on Snow Rd in Parma seem to at least know what the extension letter was. They were telling some guy with one he needed the actual copy, not a photocopy. This was in 2015 though so I'm not sure if they've had a lot of turnover since.

[Kasoveli 9]

I'm in Sandusky and work in Toledo. So I was going to try the Toledo office after work tomorrow. But I can drive to parma if that doesn't work out. Thank you! 

[NovaSprings 89]

You may try contacting your State Representative.  That's what I had to do here in Mississippi.  After educating the state rep on the i551 stamp aka sent him the URLs from uscis, he got in touch with the head of DMV.  I spoke with the head of DMV, explained my situation...and tada I had my license within 2 hours.

[Zcomuto 16]

On 8/18/2018 at 11:40 AM, Kasoveli said:

So I just left the dmv. They refused to renew my drivers license with my i551 stamp bc my passport that the stamp is in has my maiden name. My current drivers license, SSN, and everything else I have is in my married name. They told me I need the physical green card in my married name. Which is it already was. But I just haven't go my new one in the mail yet and when I went to get my stamp they took my old one. I left in tears. Anyone else run into this problem? 

 

As your local office is in Cleveland, I assume that you have an Ohio licence. I went through this with my local small-town BMV who were less than helpful when all I have was the (expired) K-1 visa in my passport and no green card. Unfortunately Ohio has no clear provision for using an expired I-551 and an I-797. There is only generic language that provides for it.

 

You are going to want to point the person there toward a combination of Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-1-21 and Ohio Revised Code 4507.09.

 

4501:1-1-21 section E(8) states that "appropriate United States citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) documents that are original and valid" are good for providing valid proof of residency - in the eyes of USCIS, That includes the expired I-551&I-797 combo. They may give you a nonrenewable licence, which will actually be renewable with an unexpired green card, and  4507.09 Section E states that "A nonrenewable license expires on the same date listed on the legal presence documentation". That would pin your new Driver's licence expiry date at Green card expiry +18 months.

 

As for USCIS policy on 'valid documents', their detailing of what is valid for an I-9 would be the most useful: You can find details on automatic residency/EAD renewable documentation here. Specifically, look for the language "Note that a USCIS-issued Notice on Form I-797C acknowledging receipt of an EAD renewal application presented in combination with an expired EAD is considered an unexpired EAD under List A." and/or "Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation."

 

Hope this helps.

Edited August 22, 2018 by Zcomuto