Help! I got my 2-year GC, but I can't get a drivers license!

[Roosterwife 0]

Here's hoping someone here can help me...

On Aug 24, I took my 2-year green card (which expires in 2009) and went to renew my FL driving license. (The license I had at the time would have expired this December, but I figured I'd get it renewed then, on my day off, rather wait and have to do it during the Xmas rush.)

As has happened the other times I've renewed (I came here on an H1-B in 2003), they photocopied my docs, took my old license and gave me a temporary (paper) license and sent my info to Immigration to be verified. Usually, my "real" license arrives in the mail before the paper one has expired.

On Sep 13, I got a letter from the DMV to say that they hadn't heard back from Immigration but would extend the validity of my paper licence until Oct 13. However, if they didn't hear back, my licence would be cancelled on Oct 13 and cannot be renewed at a local DMV office. (The letter came from the DHSMV in Tallahassee, it says I can write to them by snail mail - hah!)

Well, Oct 13 is Saturday and I STILL haven't received my license in the mail! Has anyone else been in this position? Any ideas who I can call to get this fixed before Saturday?

thanks

[Jasman0717 8]

That is pretty weird. Even California will accept the GC and the DMV is stiff.

[James 2]

That is pretty weird. Even California will accept the GC and the DMV is stiff.

Something sounds amiss here. They shouldn't have had to send anything off to be verified -- your GC is enough for a simple renewal here in Florida. Unless they've put new rules into place or something. Then you are truly in a special kind of hell -- the Florida DHSMV and USCIS combined.

[Hamster Mom 0]

That is really pretty weird. I live in Florida too. When I update my drivers liscense in miaimi on June this year with 2 years green card which will expire in 2007 too, they just took my picture and a copy of green card and $25, 2 weeks later, the new drivers liscense which has 6 years expiration until 2013 was mailed to me.

[Roosterwife 0]

thanks, guys. I'm going to try and get the DMV on the phone tomorrow and get this sorted. I agree that the GC alone should have been proof enough. Perhaps that's why the USCIS hasn't even bothered to reply to the DMV. I guess I just got the one person in the office who had no clue what she was doing.

[suesue 0]

You mean you actually turned up with your green card in your hand and they refused??????

Never heard that before!!!!!

[Roosterwife 0]

I called the DMV's customer service this morning, explained my situation and was told someone would investigate and call me back.

A couple of hours later, someone called back from Tallahassee. She explained that the first time you present your GC its validity is supposed to be verified by USCIS before a license can be issued. (For subsequent renewals, this is not necessary and you can renew online or by mail). The computer allows a certain number of days for a response from USCIS, after which it automatically generates the letter I received.

The USCIS had since verified my status, but because it had been so long since my original application in August, the order for the license had been cancelled. So she instructed me to go to any DMV to get a "no-fee duplicate" issued. I went this morning, took a new photo and 20 mins later left with my new license in hand, valid until 2013. What a relief!

So to all of you in Florida who got your license immediately upon presenting your green card, count yourselves lucky!