More name issues

[SapphireDreams 71]

I mean escalating it to a supervisor. And then the supervisor's supervisor if you have no success.

I think that's a brilliant idea if the name is the problem.

Yeah I mean, I might be wrong, but they said they can give it to you in your maiden name right? So I would just do that... and then go back in a month, don't even mention anything immigration related and hand them your marriage certificate and say you would like to do a name change. Unless there is a deeper issue, this might work.

In NYS you can even do a name change just by calling them.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I tried that angle too Sapphire. They won't give me a license in my maiden name because all of my immigration documents are in my married name, and my SSN is in my married name. But then, they won't give me a license in my married name because when they run me through their immigration clearance system I come up in my maiden name but all of my immigration documents have my married name... I know right, I don't get it either. It's a mess. According to the DMV Colorado has a strict rule that all of the names on your documents must match, which includes their immigrant database. So my greencard, SSN, and info in their database need to match exactly or they won't touch me. Unfortunately I know that is a subjective policy and the woman who processed me the first time I went to the DMV flagged me in the computer and has now caused me tons of aggravation. What bothers me is that I have a marriage license and photo ID in my maiden name as well, so I can prove who I am.

The last DMV I went to I talked to a supervisor and she said they couldn't do anything without a S.A.V.E clearance letter since DMV woman #1 flagged me and my information in their computer system. I haven't tried to go back to the DMV since I got the letter, but since it specifically tells the DMV not to issue me a license, and I don't see being able to argue my way out of it. But maybe I could, I don't know. I'm really confused. I just don't want to sit in the DMV for 45 minutes again just for them to give me the same line. I try to argue but it gets me nowhere. All they say is, "I have to go by what my computer says and my computer says I can't issue you a license." So I scheduled an infopass appointment for Friday. I figure they will either tell me what's wrong in the system and how to fix it if they can't do it on the spot, or they will tell me there is nothing wrong and then I can at least go to the DMV and tell them I spoke with a qualified immigration officer at USCIS and was told there is nothing wrong and there is no reason why you can't issue me a license. Does that seem logical to you guys?

[Dan and Ali 3]

I tried that angle too Sapphire. They won't give me a license in my maiden name because all of my immigration documents are in my married name, and my SSN is in my married name. But then, they won't give me a license in my married name because when they run me through their immigration clearance system I come up in my maiden name but all of my immigration documents have my married name... I know right, I don't get it either. It's a mess. According to the DMV Colorado has a strict rule that all of the names on your documents must match, which includes their immigrant database. So my greencard, SSN, and info in their database need to match exactly or they won't touch me. Unfortunately I know that is a subjective policy and the woman who processed me the first time I went to the DMV flagged me in the computer and has now caused me tons of aggravation. What bothers me is that I have a marriage license and photo ID in my maiden name as well, so I can prove who I am.

The last DMV I went to I talked to a supervisor and she said they couldn't do anything without a S.A.V.E clearance letter since DMV woman #1 flagged me and my information in their computer system. I haven't tried to go back to the DMV since I got the letter, but since it specifically tells the DMV not to issue me a license, and I don't see being able to argue my way out of it. But maybe I could, I don't know. I'm really confused. I just don't want to sit in the DMV for 45 minutes again just for them to give me the same line. I try to argue but it gets me nowhere. All they say is, "I have to go by what my computer says and my computer says I can't issue you a license." So I scheduled an infopass appointment for Friday. I figure they will either tell me what's wrong in the system and how to fix it if they can't do it on the spot, or they will tell me there is nothing wrong and then I can at least go to the DMV and tell them I spoke with a qualified immigration officer at USCIS and was told there is nothing wrong and there is no reason why you can't issue me a license. Does that seem logical to you guys?

I think it does -- if possible, I would try getting a letter from the person you speak to at the infopass appointment stating that everything is fine.

[ashenflowers 5]

omg Huggle.... they don't make any of this process easy do they. Even the straightforward things get messed up!! *hugs* Hope they figure this out for you soon.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Just a little update if anyone is interested...

I booked an infopass appointment 2 weeks ago at the Denver USCIS office. They pulled up my file and confirmed everything was in my maiden name still. Apprently the issue was that when you tried to look me up in my married name I didn't exist. He had to search me using my A# to even get a result. He said he fixed the name and gave me an "aka" with my maiden name just to clear up any possible discrepency. I asked him for a letter or document showing he changed my information but he said he can't do that.

So, I went to the DMV today and told them the problem has been fixed. Well now the problem is that the SAVE system in Colorado has put a freeze on my file. The woman at the DMV couldn't access or change my information. I guess a big flag comes up that I have not been verified through the SAVE system. So now I have to go back and get cleared through SAVE again, which took 10 weeks last time. The best part is that there is 1 office serving the entire Denver metro and it is only open on Wednesdays for 3 hours.

At least I know whats going on now, sorta.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Good heavens! What a rigamarole! Hopefully the SAVE system will kick out the 'all clear' this time and you will get your license.

[lgg 2]

Hey Huggles... sorry for your trouggles... (k, sorry..) that sounds like such a red tape clusterfvck....

I was wondering, would someone mind explaining, in a nutshell, what the SAVE system is?

Thanks so much...

LGG

[darkchilde794 5]

Damn Huggles... when you think youre done with government aggravation for another 2 years when getting your GC...

Goodluck!!!

[minnew 4]

Yikes huggles! At least you know what the problem was! I'm sorry this is happening to you! Is your Canadian licence still valid in the meantime?

[Sam and Ben 2]

Oh goodness, Huggles. This is all so insane.

I'm glad at least, like you said, that you somewhat have an idea as to what the bloody problem is already.

Hopefully it all gets cleared up quickly. ((hugs))

[Krikit 1,164]

Good grief, Huggles. Sorry you are having to go through this.

You may find the end of the last post in this thread a little bit informative: SSN Name Change

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Hey Huggles... sorry for your trouggles... (k, sorry..) that sounds like such a red tape clusterfvck....

I was wondering, would someone mind explaining, in a nutshell, what the SAVE system is?

Thanks so much...

LGG

After all this I still don't even know lgg It's basically a computer system that offices like the DMV and the SSN office use to verify your immigration status when you apply for identification. 9 out of 10 people don't have any problems with this at all.

Yikes huggles! At least you know what the problem was! I'm sorry this is happening to you! Is your Canadian licence still valid in the meantime?

Well, it is still valid, but nobody really knows if I'm allowed to be driving with it anymore. I asked two people at the DMV and the best answer I got was, "I don't know..." Online it says you are suposed to change your license over within 90 days, but it doesn't explicitly say you aren't allowed to drive on your old one. Unfortunately its basically impossible not to drive, so I do it anyways. I try to be smart on the road and let my husband drive whenever we're together, but sometimes I need to go do things on my own.

Good grief, Huggles. Sorry you are having to go through this.

You may find the end of the last post in this thread a little bit informative: SSN Name Change

Well, that helps me understand it a little. Its just a little frustrating to read stuff like that and realize that the lady at the first DMV I went to probably could have issued me a license since I had all the proper documentation to show the name discrepancy. Unfortunately she's made my life complicated by putting a flag on my file that now can't be removed without a clearance letter from SAVE. Obviously the people at the Denver SAVE office aren't doing their job when it took them 10 weeks to come back and say they can't figure the problem out when it was something so incredibly simple.

For those of you who are worried about facing a similar problem, I've been told by the woman at the DMV today and the immigrations officer last week that Colorado is one of the hardest states to get cleared for an ID card. So, I think what is happening to me is a pretty rare occurrence nationwide.

[Arabella 4]

So glad Sean doesn't have to get a name change.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Ok, this is the last time I'm going to revive this thread! I promise!

So, I went to one of Colorado's S.A.V.E centers today. I decided not to go to the big one in the Denver metro because its always so busy, and instead went about 2 hours south to small town Pueblo, CO. My husband works there every Wednesday so it made sense to tag along. The lady at the counter took all of my information and then proceeded to tell me I didn't exist in her computer. That was really reassuring! Then she admitted she didn't know what she was doing and got her supervisor to run my information. After about 15 minutes they called me back up to the window and said they cleared me, on the spot, no waiting required this time!

So, long story short, I got my CO state license today And believe it or not, it took longer than my entire AOS journey But I have it now and its valid until 2015! So good riddance DMV.

[smurfette1971 0]

Thanks guys

I think I'm going to try and make an infopass appointment for Friday and see where it goes. Its just annoying considering the closest USCIS office is about 30 minutes away and I hate to go all the way out there for them so say they can't help me. Do you actually get to talk to a qualified person at these things or is it a front line civil surgeon like at the DMV that may or may not have any idea whats going on? That's what I'm afraid of.

Oh well, I'm trying to put it all into perspective. At the end of the day its just a drivers license. Everything else immigration wise has worked out for me pretty well thus far. I just can't believe that someone with a permanent resident card can be denied a license because of a stupid issue like this. I have a marriage license, immigrations knows I changed my name, I can verify who I am, it seems like a non issue but apparently for them its a huge issue.

did you change your name to your married name after you got your OK to move to USA

cause i was told to keep my maiden name as that is what my passport has then change my name once i get to USA

any thoughts on this

is this the normal procedure

cause wont my greencard and ssn be in my maiden name

HELP????