Experiences of a K-1 visa holder getting California state Real ID

[Mike E 11,722]

After we successfully got the SS card before we got married, and after we got the marriage certificate, at 61 days before the K-1 expired, we went to California DMV office in San Jose at Senter RD. My understanding is that at 59 days or less, it would be too late unless we had filed for AOS and had the USCIS acknowledgment letter. For various reasons, we had not and to date have not done the AOS.  

 

We tried to get an appointment but due to the stampede to get Real ID before the 2020 deadline, ststewidenthe earliest appointment we could get an appointment was mid March.  It being late January, that wasn’t going to work. So instead we filled out an application online and printed the application number. 

 

An hour before the DMV opened we arrived and there were already 100 people ahead of us. 

 

After the DMV opened, 15 minutes later our turn in the first. line came. We presented my wife’s application number, SS card, passport, I-94, my utility bill, and our marriage certificate.  The clerk asked us for a second proof of address and we said we didn’t have one (because the DMV check list said we didn’t need one. The clerk said ok and gave us ticket number for the next window. B-07

 

20 minutes later B-07 was called.  The second clerk was knowledgeable and accepted all our docs.  I paid the fee, about $20, with my ATM card.  She said we would get the state ID in two weeks. After we had the photo taken we left.  10 days later a Real ID California state ID arrived in the mail.  

 

It is good for 5 years from her next birthday instead of the normal 6 years.  Still this far exceeded my expectations because all my reading said that the state ID would expire when the K-1 expired. 

 

Now my wife has a Real ID good for domestic air travel for the next 5 years. 

 

We will also now look into enrolling her into some adult education classes such as ESL, paying state resident rates.  

 

So these are the steps that work:

 

* Apply for SS cars two days after POE

* Get married. 

* Take SS card, marriage certificate, passport, I-94 and petitioner’s  utility bill to DMV and apply for Real ID

 

Next is AOS. 

[TBoneTX 43,020]

Thread is moved from the "AOS from K Visas" forum to the "Moving to the US" forum, to be among similar-themed threads.

[HRQX 4,145]

On 2/15/2019 at 10:37 PM, Mike E said:

It is good for 5 years from her next birthday instead of the normal 6 years.  Still this far exceeded my expectations because all my reading said that the state ID would expire when the K-1 expired.

DMV mistake? That is what the following article implies: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article230671784.html The issuing department in HQ is tasked with legal presence compliance: (916) 657-7790