Q2018

Got mail for biometrics today, 09/20.
 
Package sent: 08/29
Package delivered: 09/03
I-765 received :09/03
I-131 received: 09/03
I-485 received: 09/10
Text notification: 09/11
Check cashed: 09/12
NOA1 date for all 3 forms: 09/10
Biometrics: 10/03

I think it is best to wait until you got the temporary credential to know for sure  I’m only speaking based on my experience so hopefully the expiration date on your state ID isn’t the same as the expiration of your I-94! So you can use that ID to get a driver’s license. They didn’t ask for my I-94 again when I got my driver’s license, the state ID was sufficient for them. I don’t think there will be a problem if you go for a road test, but I guess the main problem is, it defeats the purpose of obtaining a driver’s license if it’s going to expire at the same time your I-94 expires which will be in a few months. But then again, if your EAD arrives, you can just renew the expired driver’s license and just show them your EAD! 

If you have $$, then driving school is definitely the way to go as they do this for a living. However, if the student does not learn within normal time frame, cost can rack up quickly. I had a family friend who paid quite a bit to learn basic driving skills (he was a slow learner, as I found out later) but wasn't making much progress. So, being the nice person I am, I offered him some lessons twice a weekend for maybe 2 months? He did much better and was able to enter, stay, and exit the freeway easily. I also taught 3-4 other friends how to drive.... not sure where I am going with this but I do recommend some lessons on the side (you and her) so she practices what she learns. High school and business building lots, residential areas during weekdays, state highways further north, etc are best places to drive without much interference. Get her a fairly inexpensive beater car (3-4K toyotas, hondas) that she can drive for at least 1-2 years then upgrade later.

No problems at the SSA - we were able to get her name changed on her SS card. We asked for a receipt showing she had applied for the new card and we were able to take that to the DPS to get her driver's permit. She got a perfect score on the written test! Pretty excited. And now she learns to drive - yikes. She has never had a license or driven so all new. We are looking at a driving school since I make her too nervous. (Probably a good idea, right?) She has to wait 90 days to take the road test and she will need it.

My humble 2 cents - Just get the Driver's permit in her maiden name. Bring all the documents and let them do the talking. Try to go to a location where they see a immigrants often. Do not go to a location where they've never seen an I-797. I am positive that your wife should be able to get a driver's permit in her maiden name. You can take care of the name change later. Focus on getting her an ID for now. 
 
All the best,
 
USC4SPOUSE

Well, we struck out at the SSA office trying to change my wife's name. And it seems like it is a timing issue. Had we come in at least 14 days before her I-94 expired, we could have changed it. We thought this only applied to the initial application for a SS card but apparently not. So her SS card is still in her maiden name and the MN Driver's License website seems pretty clear that if you have had a name change, you must change it on your SS card before applying for a permit or license. So frustrating!
 
Do you think we should still try at the DMV? Just go in there with what we have including all of her NOA1s which have her married name of course. I think they ask on the application which you can do ahead online if you have a SSN so it's kind of hard to hide the fact. Ugh. Any advice?

A recent read of the MN DMV requirements show that the I797 (NOA1) is now a usable document.   Its is kinda hidden in the document list.  That is what we plan to use

go with the all the NOA1s and the other documents. it will be accepted.

Hi Everybody,
My wife came to the US on a k1 visa, i94 valid until November 13th.
We applied for SSN pretty quickly and received the card under her maiden name. We were married on September 24th and received certified marriage certificate that includes her new married name.
Today she went in to the social security office to request name change. She brought i94, passport w/ k1 visa, social security card (maiden name), and the certified marriage certificate (original).
After waiting in line for a few hours, the employee denied her the name change, stating that she needs to wait for the green card. I was not there (she went with a family member).
Is this true? Or was this employee misinformed?
Related, should I return to try again with her? Is it worth trying again? I'd love to get her a state ID, open a bank account for her, let her start studying for the drivers exam. But I don't know how that all works if the card is under her maiden name.
I appreciate your advice..

My wife and I were really specific to the lady and just told her we just wanted to change her last name and to not remove the "valid for work only"
 
Interesting...I guess it depends on the worker?
 
Gotcha. So basically when we fill out the AOS application, I'll have my wife use her name last name on the applications correct? We will probably go with the same route and what you did and start to fill out the applications. 
 
Did you also do what the above poster did? Apply for AOS and then once you received your EAD you went to SSA to change your name?

Got 3 NOA1 in mail today, 09/16!
 
Package sent: 08/29
Package delivered: 09/03
I-765 received :09/03
I-131 received: 09/03
I-485 received: 09/10
Text notification: 09/11
Check cashed: 09/12
NOA1 date for all 3 forms: 09/10

Biometrics done. St. Paul ASC is so fast. Everything done within 5 minutes. Now we wait. Good luck to everyone.

We are going through this in Minnesota now, Maya first had her drivers license approved but could not get the actual license until we sent in NOA1 from the AOS process, her license was good for six months and then we went to the license center and showed them her EAD/AP card. Her new license was extended until her EAD/AP card expires next March 2017
The gentleman behind the counter told her once she gets her Green card stamp, she can come in and she will get a normal license with no conditions,
Minnesota at least does not charge a fee for a new license, just bring in paperwork.
Good Luck
Craig

I went through the same thing in Minnesota. My wife got a drivers permit after passing the written exam. The permit was good until the I-94 expired. When we got the NOA AOS letter we took it to the County not the DMV and they renewed her driver's permit. Maybe you should try the local county office?
Good luck

I-551 extends temporary status.  I am pretty sure no field offices take walk-ins

I see you're from Minnesota. My wife had the same problem. They need proof that you will be a permanent resident for at least 6 months and the I94 is only good for three. My wife was applying for a state ID card from the DMV and the rules are the same as for a drivers license. The local office approved it, but the state wrote back and told her they could not approve without proof of permanent residence or proof that she would be in the country at least 6 months. I called and they told me I could go to their Saint Paul office and appeal. We went downtown and they told me they would not approve without an EAD or Green card. I showed them my wife's Advance Parole, which was good for one year, and they approved.

but you are at the mercy of the licensing station.... who may or may not understand immigration documents and they may simply go by the "list".... the station in Arden Hills might, but I would not expect a remote station even such as in Stillwater or Hastings to... good luck though

I should have thought to select non-immigrant for the K-1 on the link
I thought is was a little harsh to make K-1's wait for the greencard. A PDF document on the requirements would be nice to help when some DMV worker doesn't know the law though. I suppose you could always print the Gather Go get page though. I was happy the workers at our local DMV were well aware of the laws of our state and everything went smoothly. In Minnesota they add an immigration check date to the license, before which we needed to show up with her green card or have the license go invalid. It was based on the EAD expiration. When she got her green card we ran down and updated them, and they issued a new license card at no cost.

This was why we went for a state ID first before a drivers license. She now has a state ID good for several years.  Struggling somewhat with the written part of the DL test.

You are experiencing the same as most everyone.   Its the law.

Did they put a date below the expiration date on your permit card? Or do you just have the paper receipt yet? Going the ID, permit, License route my wife was given an immigration check good for 1 year when she got the ID.

Hope we'll get the mail by the end of this week!

I think they are looking for evidence that you have a financial hardship and "need" the additional income. It's a bit tricky with K-1s since the USC is supposed to be able to financially support both parties. In our case, my hours have been reduced 40 percent due to a company slowdown resulting in a 40 percent reduction in salary. We used my pay stubs and a newspaper article about the company which supported our claim. Our request was granted.

That’s really tough. You are the first rejection I have read about based on a job offer. I would definitely try expediting again and I would send:
 
the offer letter
a personal covering letter expressing your need to take the job for financial reasons
bank statements if helpful
statements of any debts: credit cards, student loans, medical expenses etc
 
I would absolutely try again. Good luck. 

USCIS won't contact the employer
 
All USCIS will ask for (after you have initiated the expedite process) is for you to fax the letter of offer (on company letterhead, and signed by the company).
 
So all you need to do, is call USCIS and give them your case number, ask to expedite the process based on financial hardship and mention you have an active job offer. They will say it takes 5 days to action and you'll get an email. (My email never arrived, so if you don't get it, call back in 5 days and get the reference numbers you'll need, lol) 

Then you fax back a copy of their correspondence and the job offer. No contact with employer. 
They usually update case within a week at that point and issue the EAD.