Getting a NJ License after K1 visa

[Lauren&Roel 0]

Hi Everyone. I just wanted to post about the experience at the DMV my husband and I had yesterday (May 16) and offer some advice I wish I had beforehand.

Our timeline of events from when he entered the country (April 3 - on K1 visa) were that we were married on April 9th, received our marriage license end of April (this took us a loooong time for various reasons), applied for AOS adjustment on May 3rd, applied for Social Security on May 4th, which he received last week.

We waited until we had the marriage license before applying for his SSN mainly so that I could change my name at the same time and kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Then we waited for the SSN so that he could use it as a form of ID at the DMV.

In retrospect, we should have applied for the drivers license as soon as we possibly could, as it turns out that NJ will not issue you a license unless you have 60 days left on your visa -- in other words, it must be within 30 days of him entering the country. At this point, now that the 30 days have passed, the DMV will not issue him a license until we bring in the I-797 (AOS approval letter) - which I assume will not be for quite awhile.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the DMV will only issue a license valid until the expiration of the visa -- meaning 90 days after you entered the country. But since you will likely apply early for your EAD, and possibly that can be used at the DMV (not sure about that actually, but we will try when we get it), you would get it soon after your visa expires (which is in July for us), so there'd be a relatively short amount of time that you'd be without a valid license.

I'm pretty bummed I didn't know how soon I had to get his license, because now that I have to wait for the EAD or I-797, I cant put him on my drivers insurance, and reading other's posts, I'm nervous about what would happen if he was pulled over driving on his International & Belgian drivers license.

So if I could go back -- I'd make sure to apply for a drivers license within 30 days of entering the country. Hopefully someone else can learn from this and not suffer disappointment after waiting on line at everyone's favorite place in the world, the friendly DMV.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Lauren&Roel

[theecon 0]

Unfortunately i have learned that the hard way too. It looks like they are only accepting a green card though.

Cheers,

julia

[stevedk 0]

The same thing happened to us, which it does not make any sense because how can you get the other points within the first 30 days? is almost impossible!!

The onlu thing you can do is wait for the EAD which are 3 points and come up with the other 3 points. You don't have to show your passport because the EAD is your primary ID.

AH!! and make sure the ss card name spells exactly the same as your EAD.

[theecon 0]

The same thing happened to us, which it does not make any sense because how can you get the other points within the first 30 days? is almost impossible!!

The onlu thing you can do is wait for the EAD which are 3 points and come up with the other 3 points. You don't have to show your passport because the EAD is your primary ID.

AH!! and make sure the ss card name spells exactly the same as your EAD.

But the SS are asking for your GC to change the name on your SSN.