My wife was denied for a Colorado Identification Card. Need Help

[mimimimimi 0]

Is it REQUIRED to take a state ID to AOS interview?

Didn't know that. I thought a foreign passport was good as identification.

If it is not required, why the concern of the person who posted? His state requires it?

We did not bother trying to get a state ID until my wife got her green-card or EAD.

NY requires EAD, Green-card, or I-94 card that is valid for more than a year (K-3 I-94 card).

Most states require solid evidence of legal presence.

Edited January 5, 2009 by mimigrant

[Goldfee111 3]

u can get ur texas ID with the EAD and SSN...i had also alot of issues because the DMV had a problem to count days lol

they said first from the 16.oktober 2008 to the 15 oktober 2009 would not be a year....after i explained them and give the advise to use a calculator they saw its 365 days wich is a year lol..

under texas law u can apply for the ID when ur EAD is good for one year and must be on the day u apply have more then 6 month left...u get then an id wich the expire date who is the same wich is on ur EAD but u can renew it when u got ur greencard

hope i could help:-)

[Lucille 0]

It took me 3 trips to get my ID card in MD. The 3rd trip was with my husband,luckily he has to change his address and it helps. Still,we went through back and forth for some proof with my signature.

[M.O 6]

they gave the ID card right away and i brought same docs you did.. everything was k...

[DI&JR 1]

Well, different states have different requirements. The Colorado Identification requirements seem to be pretty straightforward, keeping in mind that the stand-alone documents must be valid, so the expired visa and I-94 are not going to be usable. The Social Security card is only good in conjunction with one of the other documents below.

Here is a page that has links for requirements for all the states, and some useful information for foreign visitors and new residents.

[mimimimimi 0]

but, is it required to bring a state ID to AOS interview???

[Goldfee111 3]

no passport is enough

[katiemanny 64]

Hello everyone,

Ran into a bit of a snag today at the local DMV when trying to get my wife a government issued identification card in preparation for her green Card AOS interview taking place on the January 16th.

Im really upset because I didnt think this would be an issue due to the fact that to me, she had everything she needed according to the Identification Requirements Elements Sheet.

Am I in the wrong on this, or was the lady justified in telling us we were crazy to think we should be able to get my wife an identification card?

Its getting closer to the interview date and we are just so nervous and scared something is going to be wrong, or missing. Im so worried they will freak out at the interview if we dont have an Id card for her.

These are the things I brought with us to the DMV.....

-Copy of My wife's I797C(Form 1-485 Application to Resister Permanent resident or Adjust Status Notice that shows her interview date to be on the 16th)

-My wife's SSN

-Certified Marriage License

-My wife's Thai Passport.

-My wife's expired K-1 page from her passport

-My wife's 1-94. Also expired.

According to the elements sheet that say that we need XXXXXX in order to get an identification card, she had everything she needed.

The lady argued several points with me...

1) She doesnt have a green card and thus cant have an id card.

2) her I-94 and K1 visa are expired (this is to be expected, we have been married since the 19th of may 2008. )

3) Her SSN doesnt mean anything

4) She doesnt have an Employment Auth Card or 1-551 (my wife doesnt need to work. So we haven't filed for a work permit and figured we would just wait for the green card so that if she wanted to work later she could.

It says on their form that they can get Identity, Age, Name and Lawfull presence evidence off of the Poreign passport, us visa and I-94

They also said they could get lawfull presence off of a SSN card.

So am I crazy in thinking this should have went smoothly? Or was the lady correct?

And if she was correct.... how are you expected to get all of this done while waiting for your AOS meeting?

My wife's Visa would have expired on 04Sept2008. Her I94 was valid through June 14th. Im just lucky we got the interview as soon as we did. i would have done this earlier, but I didnt have the interview notice(I-797C) until just recently. Way after both of those were expired. How do they expect us to get these things when we have no real way of showing we are in pending status waiting for an interview WHILE doing what we were told which was getting married in the correct time frame?

Any help, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Im really freaking out right now on top of being nervous. so close...yet still, so many issues that shouldnt happen.

I had the same issue when applied for DL/State ID they gave me a sheet that say SAVE with a case number hopefully I get cleared before Jan 23 to not have to take the written test again.

You need to go to Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles Located at 1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO

They will give you a sheet stating the following:

SAVE customer

in 2005, the Federal government enacted the REAL ID Act. As part of this Federal law, states must verify lawful residency in that state before any state identification card or driver's license can be issued. Colorado law also requires any person issued a driver's license or ID card to show proof of lawful presence.

On August 1, 2006, Colorado began using the System Alien Verification for Entitlements process to verify all immigration documents presented by applicants.

The process is as follows:

Every person asking for a Colorado ID or driver's license must show lawful presence in the U.S. This is done by showing documents from the list found on our website at: http://www.revenue.state.co.us/mv_dir/wrap...aqdrli/faqdrli1

At the Driver's License office, the official will examine any documents presented to them and enter either the I-94 or Alien Identification Number on those documents into the SAVE system for verification approximately 80% of those initially entered into the system clear immediately and we proceed with the process in the standard way.

Approximately 20% of those people who are entered into the system do not immediately clear. Those people must then go to the Pierce Street office of the Division of Motor Vehicles located in Lakewood, so that the Investigations Unit can complete a more in-depth review of the documents and correspond directly with the Bureau of Customs and Immigration Service (BCIS) regarding the validity of the person's status. There are plans for the opening of satellite SAVE stations throughout the state, but no specific date has been determined for these offices.

This process can take from 3 days to 9 weeks, depending on what research is necessary on the part of the BCIS. The State completes our part of the review in approximately 30 minutes and the remaining time of the projected processing period is that time necessary for BCIS to review databases, examine documents, enter the thousands of I-94 documents are generated everyday at all the airports and other ports of entry to the United States.

The average time to process an individual's review is 3 weeks.

To reduce the likelihood of being without a valid license, renewing early, well before the expiration date on the card, is recommended.

We regret any inconvenience this law or process cause, but this process is the only current means of assuring that documents are only issued to lawful present residents of the U.S.

Hopefully that helps you

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth got a Calif. I.D. after she got her GC but it was only valid for as long as the GC (2-year)

[mendeleev 68]

The individual at the Colorado DMV was probably incorrect. Your wife is here in the USA legally, given the details you've provided. Therefore, she meets the requirements of the law and your official may not adequately understand the relevant implementing regulations.

We had to go to DMV twice to get a drivers learners permit for my wife in Boulder. The DMV officials helping us told us that the implementation of the Colorado SAVE act is very confusing to them.

You might want to visit a different DMV if you are in the Front Range area.

But, a State ID, to my knowledge, isn't necessary for AOS.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello everyone,

Ran into a bit of a snag today at the local DMV when trying to get my wife a government issued identification card in preparation for her green Card AOS interview taking place on the January 16th.

Im really upset because I didnt think this would be an issue due to the fact that to me, she had everything she needed according to the Identification Requirements Elements Sheet.

Am I in the wrong on this, or was the lady justified in telling us we were crazy to think we should be able to get my wife an identification card?

Its getting closer to the interview date and we are just so nervous and scared something is going to be wrong, or missing. Im so worried they will freak out at the interview if we dont have an Id card for her.

These are the things I brought with us to the DMV.....

-Copy of My wife's I797C(Form 1-485 Application to Resister Permanent resident or Adjust Status Notice that shows her interview date to be on the 16th)

-My wife's SSN

-Certified Marriage License

-My wife's Thai Passport.

-My wife's expired K-1 page from her passport

-My wife's 1-94. Also expired.

According to the elements sheet that say that we need XXXXXX in order to get an identification card, she had everything she needed.

The lady argued several points with me...

1) She doesnt have a green card and thus cant have an id card.

2) her I-94 and K1 visa are expired (this is to be expected, we have been married since the 19th of may 2008. )

3) Her SSN doesnt mean anything

4) She doesnt have an Employment Auth Card or 1-551 (my wife doesnt need to work. So we haven't filed for a work permit and figured we would just wait for the green card so that if she wanted to work later she could.

It says on their form that they can get Identity, Age, Name and Lawfull presence evidence off of the Poreign passport, us visa and I-94

They also said they could get lawfull presence off of a SSN card.

So am I crazy in thinking this should have went smoothly? Or was the lady correct?

And if she was correct.... how are you expected to get all of this done while waiting for your AOS meeting?

My wife's Visa would have expired on 04Sept2008. Her I94 was valid through June 14th. Im just lucky we got the interview as soon as we did. i would have done this earlier, but I didnt have the interview notice(I-797C) until just recently. Way after both of those were expired. How do they expect us to get these things when we have no real way of showing we are in pending status waiting for an interview WHILE doing what we were told which was getting married in the correct time frame?

Any help, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Im really freaking out right now on top of being nervous. so close...yet still, so many issues that shouldnt happen.

We didn't need that much to get my wife a driver's license in Vermont. She showed her K-1 visa, marriage license and I-797C and that is it. There are two possibilities...

the government clerk is likely uninformed (d'ya think?) and has a bone against immigrants (possible?) In which case, go to a supervisor.

I am not sure why you are concerned about the AOS meeting. There is no obligation for your wife to have a ID card from the state. At the AOS (we just had ours yesterday!) you only have to demonstrate to their satisfaction you are married and living as husband and wife. For us, they glanced at our joint bank statement, and that is about it. My wife DID give copies of her driver's license (she had more than a month before the interview) and her SS card but they NEVER asked for them. She offered them up and they made copies. So, don't sweat the AOS interview aspect of it.

Call the DMV, ask for a supervisor and clear this up. Then get that person's name and number and the next time have it ready when the paid-by-the-pound employee gives you gruff. Or, better yet, ask the supervisor to call ahead and educate his employees of the rules and that you will be there to see them.

[bassagitator 1]

You probably would have been able to get a state id, or drivers licsense IF you had applied for a EAD. I am in Pa, and thats what my wife did, was apply for AOS with a EAD, and once she recieved the EAD then she was able to obtain a state drivers License.