I AM SO MAD!! This is total BS...

[elgringo 0]

So today we went to the DMV to get my wife's driver's license. She has had her CFD permit for a few months now. (She got it right after she got her EAD.)

She has her green card now, but its the 2 year conditional one, which, silly me, I thought was the same as the 10 year one so she would be able to get a real driver's license. Thats not the case anymore here in TN. They would only let her get a CFD for driving, not a real license. She cant even get a state ID with a GREEN CARD.... Isnt that crazy? The only thing you can get with the 2 year conditional resident card is a freaking CFD.

I was so mad. Is TN the only state dumb enough to do this? I am almost certain that in other states you can easily get a real license or state ID with a 2 year green card, but not in TN.... I'm really mad too because according to the guy at my bank I need a state ID to get my wife's name changed on the account to her married name. Now if she goes to pay with her card and they ask for her ID, she's gonna show them her green card which has a different name on it than her credit card. What a load of #######....

Anyone else know of any state thats as stupid as Tennessee?

[Dr_LHA 3]

Not sure what a "CFD" is, but that's wrong and you should go back to the DMV to talk to someone else about it, or perhaps go to a different DMV. With a Green Card your wife is entitled to a Drivers License, whether it is conditional or not. My guess is the person at the DMV was either misinformed or ignorant.

[Miranda&James 8]

Well, I certainly agree that the DMV on the whole, no matter what state, tends to be a stupid organization. Have you tried calling a higher up DMV office because sometimes the more "lowly" workers don't know the real laws. If you really can't get the driver's license can't you get a non-driver state ID?

[*JG* 2]

So today we went to the DMV to get my wife's driver's license. She has had her CFD permit for a few months now. (She got it right after she got her EAD.)

She has her green card now, but its the 2 year conditional one, which, silly me, I thought was the same as the 10 year one so she would be able to get a real driver's license. Thats not the case anymore here in TN. They would only let her get a CFD for driving, not a real license. She cant even get a state ID with a GREEN CARD.... Isnt that crazy? The only thing you can get with the 2 year conditional resident card is a freaking CFD.

I was so mad. Is TN the only state dumb enough to do this? I am almost certain that in other states you can easily get a real license or state ID with a 2 year green card, but not in TN.... I'm really mad too because according to the guy at my bank I need a state ID to get my wife's name changed on the account to her married name. Now if she goes to pay with her card and they ask for her ID, she's gonna show them her green card which has a different name on it than her credit card. What a load of #######....

Anyone else know of any state thats as stupid as Tennessee?

They gave Andre a Missouri State ID card as soon as he got his green card and social security card. I kind of insisted on it cause I was worried carrying that passport all around. After he jumped through all the hoops to get his license, they issued him a license that expires the exact same day as the 2 year green card. While I was a little peeved, I see why they would do that.

[Dr_LHA 3]

I looked at the TN requirements, and all they require is an EAD or I-551 Green Card (on top of stuff to prove TN residency). There is no wording about the Green Card needing to be a 10 year one. You're dealing with a moron at the DMV here, time to speak to their boss.

Edited August 9, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[YuAndDan 153]

Go to a different DMV office you stumbled across a typical clueless moron. You may have to visit an office in a larger city.

An LPR is an LPR Conditional or not.

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlcitizen.htm

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/classd.htm#skip2

[MaryandMian 1]

Go to http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlproof.htm, http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlcitizen.htm, http://www.dmv.org/tn-tennessee/apply-license.php and print it off if you have too. I had a real hard time getting my husband's driver's license and complained after we had his DL in hand.

As the others stated she should be able to get a DL with the expiration date the same as the conditional greencard. Good luck.

Mary

YuAndDan,

Some states only accept immigrants at one or two sites for the whole state. Alabama is one of them and they will not talk to you but tell you what city you must apply from.

Go to a different DMV office you stumbled across a typical clueless moron. You may have to visit an office in a larger city.

An LPR is an LPR Conditional or not.

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlcitizen.htm

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/classd.htm#skip2

[misa 2]

Sounds like the person was misinformed or an idiot. Try again and ask to speak to a supervisor. Print this out too and bring it with you: http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/driverlicense/dlcitizen.htm

[Miranda&James 8]

Go to http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlproof.htm, http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlcitizen.htm, http://www.dmv.org/tn-tennessee/apply-license.php and print it off if you have too. I had a real hard time getting my husband's driver's license and complained after we had his DL in hand.

As the others stated she should be able to get a DL with the expiration date the same as the conditional greencard. Good luck.

Mary

YuAndDan,

Some states only accept immigrants at one or two sites for the whole state. Alabama is one of them and they will not talk to you but tell you what city you must apply from.

Go to a different DMV office you stumbled across a typical clueless moron. You may have to visit an office in a larger city.

An LPR is an LPR Conditional or not.

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlcitizen.htm

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/classd.htm#skip2

Yup, I was told we had to go to another city to get a DL for James with his EAD. Although, they did say he can apply in our city with his greencard, do you know that that might be different since you seem to know about Alabama?

[elgringo 0]

Sadly to say, I dont think they were mistaken.

I did ask to speak with a supervisor, and she gave me a list of acceptable documents. It says "Proof of Legal Presence - Example: Conditional Resident Alien Card (I-551), Employment Authorization Document (I-765), Valid Foreign Passport with Visa & Valid I-94" All items in this category make you eligible to get a CFD only. (A CFD is a Certificate for Driving. You can drive with it but right on the front it says "Not Valid for ID Purposes." So if you go to buy beer and they want to see ID you cant show them your CFD. It only lets you drive.)

Thats totally crazy to me. In Tennessee, a conditional 2 year card PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD is classified the same as just having a foreign passport and an I-94. What a load of #######.

I would print out whats on their website and take it down there, but I'm sure they'd just show me the page they showed me today and say its the updated version. I need to call my state rep and try and get the law changed I guess.

Edited August 9, 2007 by elgringo

[Dr_LHA 3]

Sadly to say, I dont think they were mistaken.

I did ask to speak with a supervisor, and she gave me a list of acceptable documents. It says "Proof of Legal Presence - Example: Conditional Resident Alien Card (I-551), Employment Authorization Document (I-765), Valid Foreign Passport with Visa & Valid I-94"

Wait I don't understand, if A Conditional Green Card is considered "Proof of Legal Presence" by TN, then why didn't they give your wife a Drivers License?

Thats totally crazy to me. In Tennessee, a conditional 2 year card PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD is classified the same as just having a foreign passport and an I-94. What a load of #######.

I don't get this comment. If someone has a passport with valid visa and I-94, then they can get a Drivers License. So why is that "a load of #######"?

I would print out whats on their website and take it down there, but I'm sure they'd just show me the page they showed me today and say its the updated version. I need to call my state rep and try and get the law changed I guess.

Sorry but I still think you're dealing with people who don't understand the rules. Your post has just confused me though!

[MaryandMian 1]

Here in the state of Alabama they do not accept the greencard but at the State Troopers Post on Bankhead Highway in Birmingham and and one city in North Alabama and then Mobile I think for south Alabama (I did not keep the names of the other places since they were too far away).

His CR1 card was not valid at another other post in the state other than the three they use for intake and keeping track of aliens. This is per the Head of DMV in Montgomery Alabama.

Mary

Yup, I was told we had to go to another city to get a DL for James with his EAD. Although, they did say he can apply in our city with his greencard, do you know that that might be different since you seem to know about Alabama?

[Mononoke28 134]

They gave Andre a Missouri State ID card as soon as he got his green card and social security card. I kind of insisted on it cause I was worried carrying that passport all around. After he jumped through all the hoops to get his license, they issued him a license that expires the exact same day as the 2 year green card. While I was a little peeved, I see why they would do that.

So what happens if his 10 year green card takes longer to arrive than usual? He won't be able to drive until he gets it so he can get a new DL?

[elgringo 0]

Take a look at this. This is the sheet that they gave me.

Notice how it says that a conditional card is only "Proof of Legal Presence" and not "Proof of US Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident" (Which is total BS)

See how beside "Proof of Legal Presence" it has a check that says you can only get a CFD with it.....

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Edited August 9, 2007 by elgringo

[igomo 0]

Sorry to hear about it. I live in another stupid state where they also have very stupid rules.

Here you can only get a permit, drive with another licensed adult in the car for 3 months and then get a provisional license that's valid for 1 year. After that you can get a basic driver's license. This applies to everybody, not just non-citizens.

This is horrible since I live in the suburbs where there's no public transportation so I won't be able to get a job for another 3 months after the EAD.