Virginia Driver's Licence with AOS NOA1 letters, expired i94

[NicoleS 189]

I am going to the DMV today! Any word of advice? I feel like I probably won't be successful but I have all my paperwork and I hope they will accept it. I did call the DMV and the lady on the phone said to just bring everything I have (her concern was the NOA1 letters say pending and not approved). Even a temp driver's licence to get me through the winter would be amazing.

 

I printed a pdf on the VA DMV website and highlighted relevant sections to support my application.

 

Has anyone been successful getting a Virginia licence after their i94 expired with the AOS NOA1 letters?

 

I've also printed out credit card bill, rental agreement, our most recent rent bill (that is in my name only, not my husband's).

 

I have my short and long form birth certificate, our marriage certificate (because of my name change on the NOA1 letters), my SSN, my passport with K1 visa and my now expired i94, and my Quebec driver's licence.

 

My Quebec driver's licence is still valid and I plan to present that as my valid form of government issued ID. If I use that as my proof of identity maybe I can distract from the fact that my i94 is expired lol

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by NicoleM

[Thunderbolt 172]

Do you have Social Security card in your maiden name or in the new name?

If in your maiden name then you will just waste of time.

We had exactly the same thing. Woman at DMV said that my wife's name in the system is the one with old name on the SS card and they can't issue her ID.

And of course my wife's passport is with her old name.

She said "come back with green card"...

Another 3 hours wasted at DMV. Convoluted cluster F.

[NicoleS 189]

Yes my SSN is in my maiden name and I wouldn't expect them to issue a licence in my married name anyways until my SSN is in my married name (which isn't going to happen until the greencard approval if I understand correctly).

 

So they said until greencard approval?! What about EAD approval?

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

Why can't you guys just get the driver license/ID in your maiden name. Use it until you have your green card, then use the green card to change everything. 

 

This whole name change thing is very convoluted. 

[NicoleS 189]

5 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

Why can't you guys just get the driver license/ID in your maiden name. Use it until you have your green card, then use the green card to change everything. 

 

This whole name change thing is very convoluted. 

Agreed and was planning on it being in my maiden name

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

Just now, NicoleM said:

Agreed and was planning on it being in my maiden name

Yeah, that's the way to go. It's still you, and you have a bunch of other IDs (Canadian ID/driver license and passport) to back that up. 

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

3 hours ago, NicoleM said:

Agreed and was planning on it being in my maiden name

Did you get it? Or you're still at the DMV?

[Pitaya 2,577]

Similar questions about DOLs for the various states are often discussed in the Welcome to the US and Your New Life in America forum: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/15-moving-to-the-us-and-your-new-life-in-america/

[NicoleS 189]

I was there for 2 hours but went too late in the day that they couldn't review my documents for legal presence (they scanned everything and sent to someone for review). They said I'll get an email with their decision within 10 business days. Hopefully much sooner. The lady at the counter was great though and I did the eye test. Will update once I know their decision.

[Thunderbolt 172]

11 hours ago, NicoleM said:

I was there for 2 hours but went too late in the day that they couldn't review my documents for legal presence (they scanned everything and sent to someone for review). They said I'll get an email with their decision within 10 business days. Hopefully much sooner. The lady at the counter was great though and I did the eye test. Will update once I know their decision.

They've sent it to the main office in Richmond. Did the same thing to us. But the lady said that we should have answer within 1 hour.

Went for lunch and 45 minutes later got text message that it was approved. We went back to DMV (in Sterling) and the same lady started proceeding my wife's paperwork. Then she said, "Oh, we can't do it. Now she has new name and her SSN is in the old name". So I've told her to do it in her old name, but she said that the system has her with her new name now. I was pissed to no end. Wasted 3 hours for nothing.

Now my wife has EAD and new SS card, but we wont go back until she get's her GC. I don't want to deal with those incompetent workers again.

[K1visaHopeful 2,838]

55 minutes ago, Thunderbolt said:

They've sent it to the main office in Richmond. Did the same thing to us. But the lady said that we should have answer within 1 hour.

Went for lunch and 45 minutes later got text message that it was approved. We went back to DMV (in Sterling) and the same lady started proceeding my wife's paperwork. Then she said, "Oh, we can't do it. Now she has new name and her SSN is in the old name". So I've told her to do it in her old name, but she said that the system has her with her new name now. I was pissed to no end. Wasted 3 hours for nothing.

Now my wife has EAD and new SS card, but we wont go back until she get's her GC. I don't want to deal with those incompetent workers again.

Not for you but for others reading, keeping mum that she married and had changed her name is key.

Apply in your maiden name without mentioning anything. Provide passport, I94 and other identifying documents required by your particular state in maiden name. Dont breathe the married name.

Then when you get the approved immigration document in the new married name (EAD), you go to SSA to change the SSN name to the married one (if you havent already requested a name change replacement SSN on the I765) and then go back to the DMV and change your name.

 

The problem is most are too excited about having a new name and expect to be able to change it everywhere like the "American way" because we are told by our US counterparts "that's how it's done here". That's not how it goes for immigrants and name changes. Our immigration name must be changed first and then everything else follows suit.

 

[NicoleS 189]

I had to mention my married name because the AOS NOA1 letters have my married name on them. I also provided my marriage certificate to support that name difference. It's the only way I can show legal presence (if they even accept that). But yes, I put my maiden name on the application so it matches my SSN.

[K1visaHopeful 2,838]

9 minutes ago, NicoleM said:

I had to mention my married name because the AOS NOA1 letters have my married name on them. I also provided my marriage certificate to support that name difference. It's the only way I can show legal presence (if they even accept that). But yes, I put my maiden name on the application so it matches my SSN.

To apply for the original 90 day temporary license you would have provided your passport and I94 showing lawful presence and in your maiden name. Then once received it and that temporary licence was expiring you could have attempted to apply for a name change DL using your I485 Noa1 in the married name and MC however the Noa1 does not show lawful presence and only authorized stay pending I485 approval.

Likely, you will be denied for the temporary license even if you applied in your maiden name because your names conflict. Unless you are helped by an agent who either knows no better or is willing to make an exception.

Edited November 20, 2019 by K1visaHopeful

[NicoleS 189]

I didn't apply for a driver's licence within the 90 days. However, I did 6 years ago when I was a student on an F1 visa. I had a Virginia licence back then for 2 full years (the entire time I lived in Virginia as a student). So maybe having a Virginia licence in the past will help me. *fingers crossed*. I can still log onto my account and they knew I had a VA licence previously (obvisouly in my maiden name).

 

We shall see

[Ontarkie 14,265]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from AOS Family K1/K3 - as the topic is about DL and is often discussed here~~