Driving license prior to greencard?

[Raluca&Will 6]

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I had my appointment at dmv for my driving exam but I left from there so sad.i couldn't take the test because I didnt had the green card.

I thought that if I have just ead it will be fine,but guess I was wrong.

I'm still waiting for my interview to be scheduled.

 

Now my question is:you could obtain your dl without having the permanent residence? I want to go to work but how can I go when I cant apply for dl.Its so depressing.

Thanks in advance 

[Ayrton 965]

2 minutes ago, Raluca&Will said:

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I had my appointment at dmv for my driving exam but I left from there so sad.i couldn't take the test because I didnt had the green card.

I thought that if I have just ead it will be fine,but guess I was wrong.

I'm still waiting for my interview to be scheduled.

 

Now my question is:you could obtain your dl without having the permanent residence? I want to go to work but how can I go when I cant apply for dl.Its so depressing.

Thanks in advance 

It all depends on where you live, but I believe all states accept EAD. Check the DMV website and print out the page that says they accept it. It's possible that your SAVE database wasn't updated yet, and that's why they denied it.

Edited November 13, 2020 by Ayrton

[JeanneAdil 6,541]

yes in Virginia the EAD works check the site for proving you hold residence there as i believe you will have to take (like in most states) 2 documents showing proof of your address 

• If you are age 18 or older and you have never held a license issued by any state, U.S. territory or foreign country, you must hold a learner's permit for a minimum of 60 days or show completion of a state approved driver training course while holding the permit.

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#legal_pres_ead.asp

[MrHanky 1,377]

Check if your State offers a State ID card.

In New York it looks the same as a drivers license but doesn't allow driving, however after you have that it should make it easer to get drivers license.

[Raluca&Will 6]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

yes in Virginia the EAD works check the site for proving you hold residence there as i believe you will have to take (like in most states) 2 documents showing proof of your address 

• If you are age 18 or older and you have never held a license issued by any state, U.S. territory or foreign country, you must hold a learner's permit for a minimum of 60 days or show completion of a state approved driver training course while holding the permit.

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#legal_pres_ead.asp

On my ead is with C9 so that means I need the approval letter for I-485

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, Raluca&Will said:

On my ead is with C9 so that means I need the approval letter for I-485

Receipt notice is the NOA1, not approval letter.

[Raluca&Will 6]

19 minutes ago, Ayrton said:

Receipt notice is the NOA1, not approval letter.

But Noa1 is not I-797C?

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, Raluca&Will said:

But Noa1 is not I-797C?

Yes, so the text on the website you screenshotted doesn't make sense. 

 

I-797 is an approval notice, not a receipt notice.

 

Actually, the table just means that a C9 EAD is approved based on a pending AOS. 

Edited November 13, 2020 by Ayrton

[Raluca&Will 6]

47 minutes ago, Ayrton said:

 

 

47 minutes ago, Ayrton said:

Yes, so the text on the website you screenshotted doesn't make sense. 

 

I-797 is an approval notice, not a receipt notice.

 

Actually, the table just means that a C9 EAD is approved based on a pending AOS. 

What should I do in this case?

Edited November 13, 2020 by Raluca&Will

[Demise 1,295]

59 minutes ago, Ayrton said:

Yes, so the text on the website you screenshotted doesn't make sense. 

 

I-797 is an approval notice, not a receipt notice.

 

Actually, the table just means that a C9 EAD is approved based on a pending AOS. 

I think in this case it says I-797 when it really should say I-797C. If you look at REAL ID Act of 2005, section 202(c)(2)(B)(ix) it reads:

(B) EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL STATUS- A State shall require, before issuing a driver's license or identification card to a person, valid documentary evidence that the person--

(ix) has a pending application for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident status in the United States.

 

I honestly think @Raluca&Will should go back there with EAD and I-485 receipt in hand if they give them issues again demand a manager and whip out the relevant law. I know of DACAers who had similar issues and had to show a C33 EAD and I-821D approval notice.

Edited November 13, 2020 by Demise

[Raluca&Will 6]

6 minutes ago, Demise said:

I think in this case it says I-797 when it really should say I-797C. If you look at REAL ID Act of 2005, section 202(c)(2)(B)(ix) it reads:

(B) EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL STATUS- A State shall require, before issuing a driver's license or identification card to a person, valid documentary evidence that the person--

(ix) has a pending application for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident status in the United States.

 

I honestly think @Raluca&Will should go back there with EAD and I-485 receipt in hand if they give them issues again demand a manager and whip out the relevant law. I know of DACAers who had similar issues and had to show a C33 EAD and I-821D approval notice.

Thank you !I will go back monday.

If I need my aos approval I will be dammed just because I have to wait 16months for my interview (Washington dc).

And it really sucks not being able to drive. 

Thank you once again

[TreyH 14]

I just went through this with my wife in VA and finally after talking to so many DMV workers (over the span of 3 appointments) we decided to skip the real id and just go for the standard license/Learners. 

They will send all your paperwork to Richmond to verify (takes anywhere from 15 minutes to a week I am told ours took 5 minutes the first time and an hour the second). I think they used her receipt of filling the i485, Social Security card, Passport and a medical bill. 

My wife would travel anywhere inside the USA with a passport anyway so no point in dealing with jumping through the Real ID stuff which was causing the staff huge problems giving her the real id but no issue with a standard one. 

That said it does have a one year expiration but hopefully she will have her GC by then anyway. 

[Sean2444 13]

11 hours ago, Raluca&Will said:

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I had my appointment at dmv for my driving exam but I left from there so sad.i couldn't take the test because I didnt had the green card.

I thought that if I have just ead it will be fine,but guess I was wrong.

I'm still waiting for my interview to be scheduled.

 

Now my question is:you could obtain your dl without having the permanent residence? I want to go to work but how can I go when I cant apply for dl.Its so depressing.

Thanks in advance 

From my experience here in Fla I had to wait a month after getting my EDA  to be able to apply for dl. SSN plus EDA and 2 bills in your name with one same address.

 

[Raluca&Will 6]

12 minutes ago, Sean2444 said:

From my experience here in Fla I had to wait a month after getting my EDA  to be able to apply for dl. SSN plus EDA and 2 bills in your name with one same address.

 

It pass almost 2 months since I received my ead.plus is crazy how long you have to wait for an app at dmv

[Sean2444 13]

2 minutes ago, Raluca&Will said:

It pass almost 2 months since I received my ead.plus is crazy how long you have to wait for an app at dmv

Covid! sorry. Just have to wait.