How to Maintain Driver's Lisence During AOS...

[KalinaBerry 0]

Yesterday I realized that my DL is going to expire by the end of August. I went to DMV to clear the issue and they told me that:

- they cannot renew it, because my 2019 Form for J-1 visa covers the period till August 31, 2006 and I am going to be illegal after that date;

- the fact that I married USC and applied for AOS did not matter to them;

- neither NOAs, nor Employment Authorization are going to satisfy them and I have to wait for GC approval to renew my DL.

That's awful! I have no other means to get to my university than by car! AOS can take up to 2 years, but even 6 months of home arrest are bad for my career and personal life... My professor even offered to give me extention of 2019 but I believe that after filing for AOS I am not eligible for that. Any ideas?

[tomica52 0]

Where are you?? I know that New York State accepts EAD.

[vamsi 0]

Yeah, I thought most places would accept EAD. I would try and talk to a manager at the DMV office as they would be most knowledgable.

[ghallett 0]

I had some problems too when my original DL expired after 6 months. The DMV I went to accepted the AOS receipt eventually and I got the full 4 year license. Have you tried going to a different DMV and hopefully seing a more sympathetic officer?

[James&Christy 0]

Not sure if it's applicable to your case, but I've been told that I can take an NOA (in my case, form I797 apparently) and that is enough for them to extend my driving licence while the AOS is being processed. Perhaps you can use something like this?

[litlemo-nosleep 0]

Hi,

I'm in Virginia, and i took my NOA1 from AOS and that got me a driving licence which is valid for a year.

Hope this helps

Ally

[KalinaBerry 0]

Apparently, there is no legal option to pursue them to renew my lisence and I only depend on the sympathy of the officer? I am currently in DC area - Virginia, but we are going to move to DC Maryland this fall. So I can try to reapply there when I got EAD.

[Leasel7 1]

Apparently, there is no legal option to pursue them to renew my lisence and I only depend on the sympathy of the officer? I am currently in DC area - Virginia, but we are going to move to DC Maryland this fall. So I can try to reapply there when I got EAD.

Can you try another DMV office? I remember a prior poster from Virginia saying he had to try more than one DMV office but eventually found one that would give him a license with the NOA for AOS. And littlemo_nosleep just posted above that she was able to get a driver's license in Virginia with her NOA for AOS.

(This is of particular interest to me because I am in Virginia too, and my husband will soon be seeking to get his license while in "AOS pending" status.)

[nemu 0]

You should not have to depend on the sympathy of office

Here is list of required documents for getting DL in Virginia:

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv141.pdf

Since you did not disclose what you have, go through the list....

[FormerBrit 0]

Before my EAD, my license was only valid for 3 months. When I got my EAD, I went with that and all the other documents and they gave me it valid as long as the EAD is valid. Once I get the green Card, I'll go back and get it valid for the full period.

Edited August 2, 2006 by KikiDoug

[Leasel7 1]

You should not have to depend on the sympathy of office

Here is list of required documents for getting DL in Virginia:

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv141.pdf

Since you did not disclose what you have, go through the list....

I've looked over that list many times, but it is my understanding from anecdotal evidence that not all DMV offices interpret it the same way.

[Leasel7 1]

Also I just found this thread about obtaining a Virginia's driver's license showing how different DMV offices are interpreting the rules differently:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...ic=2576&hl=

[Dr_LHA 3]

Glad I live in PA, where NOA1 for AOS gets you a 1 year drivers license. Maybe VA do too, their document is vague. Trying a different DMV, or simply going back and asking on different day, may yield positive results.